“Public service is a blessing. Perform your duties with dedication and become exemplary officers. Your service should contribute to further developing the sports sector in the Northern Province. You must create a situation where both the public and your superiors request that you specifically be appointed to serve in their areas,” emphasized the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, Nagalingam Vethanayahan, while addressing the newly appointed Sports Officers.
The event to issue appointment letters to 11 newly selected Sports Officers (Grade III) of the Northern Provincial Council was held today afternoon – on Tuesday 24 February 2026, at the Governor’s Secretariat of the Northern Province. The Governor made the above remarks while participating in the ceremony and handing over the letters of appointment.
Continuing his address, the Hon. Governor further stated:
“We have been continuously submitting requests to the Central Government to address staff shortages. Although we have not received full approval to fill all existing vacancies in accordance with our requests, obtaining approval to fill 11 vacant Sports Officer positions in the Department of Sports is indeed a great blessing. Under the current circumstances, securing a government appointment is extremely difficult. You must make proper use of this rare opportunity.
After assuming public duties, you must carry out your responsibilities with great commitment and competence. While many individuals state that they are willing to serve anywhere in the country until they receive their appointment, once appointed, it is often seen that they prefer to serve close to their homes. There have even been instances where some have resigned from service due to not receiving transfers. Therefore, you must avoid such situations and act as exemplary role models to others.
At present, the sports sector in the Northern Province is progressing along a highly promising path. All eleven of you who have been newly appointed must work together to further strengthen and advance the sports sector,” the Governor requested.
Following a call for applications by the Provincial Public Service Commission of Northern Province for recruitment to the post of Sports Officer (Grade III), 125 qualified applicants sat for the competitive examination. Based on the examination results, 20 candidates were invited for interviews, and appointments were granted today to the 11 candidates who were found suitable.
The event was attended by the Chief Secretary of the Northern Province, the Secretary to the Governor, the Secretary of the Provincial Ministry of Education, the Secretary of the Northern Provincial Public Service Commission, the Director of the Department of Sports – Northern Province, Assistant Secretaries of the Ministry of Education and the newly appointed sports officers, among others.
