A new Parliamentary Act will be soon introduced giving unrestricted power to the Public Relations and Public Affairs Ministry to entertain and investigate complaints against public officials and recommend redress or take legal action against those who ignore ministry directions, a senior official said.Ministry Secretary C. Herath said yesterday a memo would be submitted for cabinet approval on June 6 by subject Minister Mervyn Silva calling for legal provisions for a ‘Public Request Act’ and to set up a special unit under the Ministry with legal authority to investigate and make rulings and recommendations on officials attached to ministries, departments, semi-government institutions and statutory boards with complaints being attended to within a specified time.
“We will give a maximum period of three months to public servants to take action on the recommendations or rulings. Under the existing administrative and legal provisions it is extremely difficult for a person to get redress for a discrimination or unjust act committed against him or her by a public official or an official of a semi government institution. The new unit will fill this gap,” Mr. Herath said.