The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education

¶ 01 Answers:

¶ 02 I. Objectives of “Clean Sri Lanka”: 1. To drive transformative change in Sri Lankan society by leading through example, motivating and directing people, and emphasizing the need for change. 2. To reposition Sri Lanka as a developed nation by integrating and facilitating all national efforts with social, ethical and environmental priorities. 3. To affirm good governance concepts for development while safeguarding environmental, economic and social sustainability. 4. To establish recognized values and ethics for human interactions and relationships across all social strata, thereby building a beautiful country of smiling people.

¶ 03 II. Implementation mechanism: 1. A Presidential Task Force of 19 members comprising experts and social activists from diverse fields has been established to make national-level conceptual and policy decisions. 2. A “Clean Sri Lanka” Secretariat under the Presidential Secretariat is being established for planning, coordination, implementation and progress review, staffed by serving public officers and contracted subject specialists. 3. District-level “Clean Sri Lanka” Councils will be instituted on a formal legal basis to ensure public participation, engaging political authorities of the district, selected social activists, professionals, private sector, business leaders, youth and women representatives, community and environmental civil activists, on a voluntary basis. Their tasks include: identifying district policies and programmes, public awareness, resource management support, channelling village-level proposals to the national level, facilitating implementation, coordination, monitoring outcomes, addressing obstacles with relevant institutions, and conducting post-evaluations, in coordination with District Coordinating Committees. 4. Village-level “Clean Sri Lanka” Councils will be instituted at Grama Niladhari Division level on a legal basis for broad-based community participation, to identify, implement, mobilize and follow up local policies and actions. 5. All Ministries, Departments, Statutory Boards and Semi-government Institutions, Provincial Councils, District Secretariats, Local Authorities, Divisional Secretariats and other relevant State bodies shall integrate identified social, environmental and ethical programmes of “Clean Sri Lanka” into their action plans. 6. In addition to budgetary allocations to Ministries/Departments, special projects identified under “Clean Sri Lanka” will be supported through annual budget provisions and the “Clean Sri Lanka” Fund via a transparent mechanism.

¶ 04 III. Public participation: 1. Provide ideas and proposals to the “Clean Sri Lanka” Secretariat, District Councils and village-level councils; volunteer participation. 2. Participate and comply at individual, family, community and institutional levels across social, environmental and ethical activities and raise awareness. 3. Live by and model the programme’s identified values and ethics, actively contributing to the desired social transformation. 4. Contribute financially to the “Clean Sri Lanka” Fund as able, and contribute knowledge and labour to common programmes.

¶ 05 IV. Contributions to the Fund and envisaged activities: 1. Domestic contributions can be made to the account of the “Clean Sri Lanka” Fund publicized via the official website and Secretariat. 2. Details for foreign remittances will be announced shortly. 3. A formal system ensuring strong transparency in fund management has been established.

¶ 06 Activities: - National-level priority projects and programmes identified by the Presidential Task Force and Secretariat across social, environmental and ethical spheres. - Priority projects and programmes identified at village and district levels by respective “Clean Sri Lanka” councils. - Public awareness on the programme and modes of participation.