GAG YOURSELF, IT’S AN ORDER

By Namini Wijedasa
The Presidential Secretariat has issued a fresh gag order to all public officials following a similar notice that was circulated by the Foreign Ministry among its missions.
The latest circular, signed by Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga was issued earlier this month to the secretaries of all Ministries and pertains to the release of official information to mass media or the public by public officers. Media learnt of its contents from confidential sources. “The attention of the Presidential Secretariat has been drawn to certain remarks made by public officers concerning sensitive aspects of government policy and references to the policy and key personalities of foreign governments ---which have been widely publicised and will adversely affect the country’s relations with friendly states as well as to articles that have been placed in the media without necessary approval,” it states. “All public officers are reminded that such conduct contravenes obligatory protocol and procedures which should be strictly observed at all times,” it stresses. “It is necessary in this regard to refer to the relevant section of Chapter XLVII of the Establishments Code relating to “books, articles, broadcast talks, etc” which require that any publication by a public officer should not embarrass the government.”“Accordingly no public officer is authorised to furnish articles, provide information or make statements to the media including the internet except in accordance with the official policy of the government vis a vis the contents of such material,” the circular insists. “Secretaries to Ministers are required to bring this to the notice of all public officers, especially to those whose duties includes the issuing of statement to the media and/or who contribute to the media under their own names.”