COLOMBO : “Integrity means doing the right thing, in accordance with one’s conscience, even when no one is watching.” – Secretary to the President
National Integrity Week, held under the theme “A Culture of Integrity – A Cleaner Sri Lanka”, commenced this morning (27) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. The week-long programme will be observed from 27 to 31 July.
To mark the occasion, the National Integrity Pledge was administered across all government institutions, including the Presidential Secretariat. In conjunction with the launch, the Code of Ethics for Officers of the Presidential Secretariat was formally presented to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, by Senior Assistant Secretary to the President and Head of the Internal Affairs Unit, Ms Chanaki Ranatunga.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake emphasised that the true meaning of integrity extends far beyond being free from bribery and corruption. He noted that integrity is about doing the right thing in accordance with one’s conscience, even when no one is watching.
Accordingly, the Secretary to the President emphasised that even if a public official is not involved in bribery or corruption, their integrity is compromised if they fail to perform their official duties diligently and responsibly.
He further noted that it is not the Government’s policy to regard public officials as inherently corrupt or lacking integrity. Instead, he stressed that the primary objective of National Integrity Week is to strengthen and nurture the integrity that already exists within the public service and to reinforce public officials’ commitment to doing what is right.
The Secretary to the President added that the initiative aims to enhance the quality, efficiency and transparency of Sri Lanka’s public service while fostering an exemplary system of governance free from corruption. Its broader objective is to establish an ethical, accountable and transparent public service, guided by self-discipline, self-regulation and personal accountability, where public officials consistently act in accordance with their conscience and the highest standards of professional conduct.
The Secretary to the President noted that when a society begins to tolerate bribery and corruption, it poses a serious challenge to individual integrity. He stressed that not only the public sector, but also the private sector and the wider public, must uphold the rule of law and demonstrate the highest standards of ethical conduct and civic responsibility.
Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake further stated that one of the core objectives of the Clean Sri Lanka programme is to elevate the moral and ethical standards of society by promoting positive values and strengthening good character. He observed that the concept of integrity is intrinsically linked to this national initiative.
The Secretary to the President also pointed out that, for many years, the principles of integrity had not received the recognition or importance they deserved within society. He emphasised that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is committed to reversing this decline and fostering a society founded on integrity, accountability and ethical governance.
Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake stated that, over the past eighteen months, Internal Affairs Units have been established in approximately 350 public institutions. He noted that members of the public can report misconduct or irregularities directly to these units, and that mechanisms have also been developed to monitor their performance through an online system.
He further emphasised that, rather than waiting for society to change on its own, the Government has introduced new institutional mechanisms within the public sector to create the conditions necessary for citizens to embrace a culture of integrity.
The Secretary to the President reaffirmed that the Government’s objective is to build a public service and a society founded on the highest standards of integrity. He also called on all public servants, including officers of the Presidential Secretariat, to support this national effort and contribute to strengthening ethical governance across the public sector.
Among those in attendance were Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Additional Secretary to the President (Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat) S. P. C. Sugeeshwara, Director General of Legal Affairs at the Presidential Secretariat and Senior Attorney-at-Law J. M. Wijebandara, Senior Additional Secretary Prasanna Chandith, Additional Secretary Chandima Wickramasinghe and several other officials.
