New circular issued by Health Secretary on censoring officials

COLOMBO (NEWS 1ST) - A new circular has been issued by the Ministry of Health to all health officials, regarding providing information to the media without prior consent of department heads.

The circular signed by the secretary to the Health Ministry Janaka Shri Chandraguptha, states that disciplinary action will be taken against any official that provides information to media, without the consent of the Department head.

It was issued for all officers including Provincial Health Secretaries, Heads of institutions of the Ministry of Health, Provincial Directors of Health Services and Regional Service Directors.

Attention has been drawn to the judgement issued under supreme court case number SC/FR/371/2022, and that state officials do not have the legal right to release information to the state media without the prior permission of the department head.