GoSL stipulates national anthem daily - and local food

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 March 2007, 14:37 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government has ordered all public sector institutions to play the national anthem at the commencement of work, press reports said Saturday. A circular to this effect was issued by the Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry, The Island newspaper reported. The circular also states that ‘indigenous foods’ should be given priority at any functions hosted by the institutions, the paper said. The moves are to protect native culture in the face of “predatory global invasion” the circular states.

Circular No 04/2007 also ordered that all reception officers and officers in telephone exchanges in every public institution, including public corporations and statutory boards, “should as appropriate to the situation receive guests with clasped hands and address them with the words Ayubowan / Vanakkam / Assalam Alaikkum.”

During the normal functions in all Institutions and during special occasions for guests, priority should be given to indigenous foods, the circular said.

The circular had informed the secretaries of ministries, provincial councils and heads of departments, heads of public corporations and statutory boards to make necessary arrangements to implement the new provisions with immediate effect.

"Most of the countries of the world have not neglected the programmes for safeguarding constructive features of their native culture even in the face of predatory global invasion,” it said.

“The reality is that it is not possible for a country to safe-guard the real benefits of development outside the cultural elements unique to any country.”

“Having taken this situation into consideration the Cabinet of Ministers has decided on the recommendations of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage that all Institutions in the Public Sector should take in following action as a pioneer step in the vast effort of inculcating into the minds of masses the Sri Lankan traditional ethics and customs," the circular added.