At the Colombo District Coordination Meeting, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya delivered a no-nonsense message to state officials attend with accurate facts and readiness or stay away. Her stern warning comes amid mounting frustration over delays and lack of preparation in government development project reviews.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has issued a stern warning to state officials, telling them to either come prepared for government progress review meetings or not attend at all.
Speaking at the Colombo District Coordination Meeting on August 12, the Prime Minister expressed deep frustration at the lack of preparedness among some officials tasked with reporting on government development projects.
“It is absolutely unacceptable for those who arrive without preparation and waste time,” she declared. “If you cannot come fully informed, with facts and solutions in hand, then do not attend. These meetings are not for guesswork — they are for decision-making.”
She stressed that only those able to provide accurate, up-to-date information should participate in these sessions. “Come ready. Otherwise, these development programs cannot be implemented effectively,” she said.
Chairman of the Colombo District Coordination Meeting, Lakshman Nipunaarachchi, supported her remarks, highlighting chronic issues with attendance and engagement.
“Some state officials attend these meetings casually, without prior preparation,” he said. “They come empty-handed, with no data, no answers, and no concrete updates. This is the only forum to review district development work and make decisions, yet some avoid it deliberately or send junior staff who lack the necessary knowledge.”
He criticized those who evade their responsibility by scheduling other work on meeting days, despite being notified of the dates in writing at the beginning of the year.
“Do not come if you cannot provide clear, accurate progress reports,” Nipunaarachchi insisted. “We don’t need vague responses like ‘I’ll tell you in a week’ or ‘It’s being done.’ This is the platform for facts, solutions, and action, not empty talk.”
The Colombo District Coordination Meeting serves as a critical hub for assessing the status of government development projects, addressing bottlenecks, and setting the path for timely completion. With the Prime Minister’s latest directive, the expectation for accountability and professionalism has been set higher than ever before.
