Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister K. D. Lalkantha has said he is suggesting that public servants cut the amount of rice they eat by two-thirds.
The Minister made the remark at a ceremony on Wednesday, 11 November, while expanding on an earlier statement.
“My suggestion to state servants is to reduce the rice they now eat by two out of every three portions,” he said. “They scold me for this now. Many state servants are just sitting around.”
He did not give a reason for the figure in the remarks reported, and no official instruction or circular to public servants was mentioned.
Background
Rice is the staple food in Sri Lanka and forms the main part of most daily meals. The ministry Mr Lalkantha heads covers agriculture, livestock, land and irrigation, which includes the paddy sector and the irrigation schemes that supply rice farmers.
Public servants are employed across ministries, departments, provincial councils and state institutions, and their working conditions are set by government circulars and the Establishments Code rather than by remarks made at public events.
What it means
The remark is a personal suggestion from the Minister. It does not change any rule for state employees, and no measure to put it into effect has been announced.
