• Claims lack of clarity in Govt. direction, seeks clear programme
• Tells Govt. to prepare basic job descriptions for services lacking same instead of covering up failures by blaming public service   

In response to the warning issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the Government would remove and replace public officials after next month (May) if they continue to resist change, the Sri Lanka Government Officers’ Trade Union Association (SLGOTUA) stated that the Government should first present a clear and consistent programme for public servants to follow.

Speaking at the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025–2029 in Colombo, the President said that a six-month grace period had already been given for public servants to align with the Government’s new direction, and warned that those who continue to disregard it would be replaced after May.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, the SLGOTUA National Organiser, B.A.P. Basnayake said that the Government should first present a clear and consistent programme for public servants to follow, instead of making conflicting statements at different times. "If the system needs to change, then, the Government should clearly tell us what that system is. We hear different things at different times. How are we, as public officials, supposed to know what path to follow? There is still no clarity about the direction that the Government intends to take.”

He also said that the Government should address the longstanding issues within the public service sector in order to harness the full potential of the public servants for a better future. “For many services, not even a basic job description has been prepared. The Government should fix these issues first and then clearly tell officials: this is your role, and this is your responsibility. Then, we’ll do it. However, they keep blaming public servants to cover up their failures. If this continues, instead of sending public officials home, the Government may end up having to go home.”

President Dissanayake said that the current administration had made clear efforts to free the fight against corruption from political interference, and that the responsibility now lies with the public servants to align with this direction.