The Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government has issued a statement pertaining to state officials expressing their views on media.
The statement issued undersigned by the Secretary of the Ministry Priyantha Mayadunne, states the following in Sub Section 3:2, Chapter XXXI, Volume I of the Establishments Code, revised by Public Administration Circular No. 6/2019 dated 27.02.2019, Sections 6 and 7, Chapter XLVII, Volume II of the Establishments Code, and Public Administration Circular No. 4/2015 dated 29.01.2015 issued on “Issuing statements to the mass media”.
Accordingly, expressing opinions on social media by a public officer without following the provisions of Sections 6 and 7, Chapter XLVII, Volume II of the Establishments Code constitutes an offence that leads to taking disciplinary action as stipulated in Section 03 of the Public Administration Circular No. 04/2015.
Furthermore, carrying out an activity that should not be carried out by an officer who is not entitled to the exercise of political rights as per Section I, Chapter XXXII, Volume I of the Establishments Code, through social media by an officer not entitled to the exercise of political rights also constitutes to an offence that leads to taking disciplinary action.
Accordingly, disciplinary action should be taken against such officers.
