Public Administration
Public Administration tests how Sri Lankan government is organised and how an ICT officer works inside its rules. Expect accountability, delegation, financial control and service delivery.
Core rules
- The President is head of state and executive; Parliament is unicameral with 225 members; the Public Service Commission handles public-service appointments, promotions and discipline within the Constitution.
- Ministries set policy; departments implement; District Secretariats coordinate at district level; Divisional Secretariats and Grama Niladhari officers serve at local level.
- The Establishments Code governs personnel matters; the Financial Regulations govern financial propriety; procurement guidelines govern buying; the Auditor General audits public accounts.
- Official languages are Sinhala and Tamil, with English as the link language. RTI promotes transparency.
Worked example
A supplier invoice arrives for ICT equipment. Reasoning: check the purchase order, goods received note, contract terms and budget availability; certify the work; route for the correct delegated financial approval; then pay and file. Skipping the goods-received check risks paying for undelivered items and an audit query.
Traps
Do not confuse administrative delegation with political direction; do not use the Establishments Code for a procurement question; do not assume budget allocation alone authorises spending; and do not release personal information in response to an informal request.