The “Mehewara Passasum” recognition programme, honouring the highest-performing Divisional Secretariats in the Sabaragamuwa Province for 2025, was held yesterday (02) at the Ratnapura District Secretariat Auditorium, with Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne attending as the Chief Guest.
The programme was organised under the initiative to decentralise the services of the President’s Fund to Divisional Secretariat level, with the aim of providing the public with more efficient and timely services.
Six Divisional Secretariats, three each from the Ratnapura and Kegalle districts, were recognised for their outstanding performance in receiving applications submitted to the President’s Fund and responding to them promptly.
In the Ratnapura District, the Embilipitiya Divisional Secretariat secured first place, while the Ratnapura Divisional Secretariat and Pelmadulla Divisional Secretariat were placed second and third, respectively.
In the Kegalle District, the Kegalle Divisional Secretariat secured first place, followed by the Mawanella Divisional Secretariat in second place and the Warakapola Divisional Secretariat in third place.
The recognition programme reflects the efforts to improve the efficiency of public service delivery by bringing the services of the President’s Fund closer to the people through Divisional Secretariats.
Minister of Environment Dr Dammika Patabendi, Sabaragamuwa Provincial Governor Champa Janaki Rajaratne, Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep, and Members of Parliament Shantha Padmakumara, Sunil Rajapaksa and Attorney Niluasha Lakmali Gamage were among those present.
Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the President’s Fund Roshan Gamage, Sabaragamuwa Provincial Chief Secretary Upali Jayasekara, Ratnapura District Secretary M.G. Lalith Ananda, Kegalle District Secretary K.G.S. Nishantha and Secretary of the Provincial Ministry of Education Lakmali Udayakumari also attended the event, together with other public officials.
