President Anura Kumara Dissanayake attended the progress review meeting of the Ministry of Energy this morning (15 October), the President's Media Division (PMD) said. 

He pointed out that, like other countries where the energy sector plays a significant role, Sri Lanka has also prioritized the energy sector. He noted that the Ministry of Energy is a revenue-generating entity, and with increased earnings, there are ongoing societal discussions about potential irregularities.

The President stated that during the recent presidential election, the public voted with certain expectations, and he is committed to fulfilling that mandate. He highlighted that the people have placed their trust in a new political tradition due to dissatisfaction with the previous political culture, the economic difficulties they face, and the poor performance of the public sector.

The President mentioned that the public believes corruption, fraud, and mismanagement are behind the country's economic collapse and that the mandate given to him is to address these issues. He pledged to uphold the trust placed in him by the people to combat corruption and fraud across the public sector and urged public servants to fulfill their responsibilities diligently.

He emphasized that public wealth must be safeguarded, likening its protection to the care of religious property, and stated that no one has a legitimate right to misuse that wealth for fraudulent or corrupt purposes.

The President noted that the commitment of public servants is crucial in creating an efficient and effective public service that meets citizens' needs. He is prepared to take all necessary steps to achieve this goal. He also stressed that public servants must act responsibly and be held accountable to meet the structure, goals, and expectations of the mandate. He assured that his leadership team is ready to provide the necessary guidance.

Furthermore, the President stated that he stands by all public actions taken in the public's interest within the scope of official duties and will not hesitate to take corrective action if improper acts occur.

An in-depth review was conducted on the current projects in the energy sector and those planned for implementation over the coming years. Discussions were also held on how to achieve the energy sector's goals over the next three years, along with short-term and long-term relief measures for the public.

Professor Udayanga Hemapala, Secretary of the Ministry of Energy; Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya, Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board; Engineer K.G.R.F. Comester, General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board; and Janaka Rajakaruna, Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited, participated in the event along with several other officials from the Ministry of Energy. (PMD)