Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr Harini Amarasuriya, has emphasised that the Government must assure the public that Sri Lanka is steadily building a clean, transparent, efficient and people-centred public service free from corruption and fraud.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the launch of the Ministry of Education's National Clean Week programme at the Isurupaya Ministry premises on Sunday (July 27). The initiative forms part of the nationwide "Clean Culture – Clean Sri Lanka" campaign aimed at promoting integrity and accountability across the public sector.
National Clean Week will be observed from July 27 to 31 under the joint coordination of the Presidential Secretariat and the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat. The programme is intended to support the Government's broader objective of transforming Sri Lanka's public administration into a transparent, accountable and high-quality service focused on the needs of citizens.
Addressing ministry officials after taking the National Clean Pledge, Dr Amarasuriya said citizens expect an efficient and ethical public service and stressed that the campaign must become a practical and meaningful initiative rather than a symbolic exercise.
She noted that the public has high expectations for a governance system that is free from corruption, efficient and democratic, adding that the Government has a responsibility to demonstrate its commitment to those principles.
The Prime Minister also highlighted that the programme seeks to cultivate a public service guided by self-discipline, accountability, transparency and ethical conduct, with the welfare of the public placed at the centre of decision-making.
As part of the initiative, ministries and their affiliated institutions will carry out activities aligned with the themes of National Clean Week. A dedicated digital platform is also expected to be introduced to enable the public to report corruption and service-related issues while monitoring actions taken by institutional heads.
Dr Amarasuriya stressed that meaningful change must begin with individuals, urging public servants to uphold fairness and integrity in every decision they make. She said officials should listen carefully to the concerns of citizens and ensure that public confidence is strengthened through responsive and impartial service delivery.
Referring to education and healthcare as the two public services that have the greatest impact on people's daily lives, she said officials in the education sector have a special responsibility to make decisions based on transparency, fairness and the best interests of children.
She further stated that creating the society Sri Lanka aspires to achieve cannot be accomplished through legislation alone, but also requires cultural and moral transformation. Encouraging officials to act according to their conscience, she expressed confidence that the National Clean Week programme would help foster a more ethical and accountable public service.
Senior officials, including Additional Secretaries of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, were also present at the event.
