The executive officials of the province and the Northern Province Government Service Graduate Officers’ Association agreed to the request made by the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, that all parties should work together and carry out the development activities of the Northern Province smoothly, effectively and in unity.
A discussion between representatives of the Northern Province Government Service Graduate Officers’ Union, representing the development officers of the Northern Province and officials led by the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province was held this evening – on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, at the Governor’s Secretariat.
Following the protest held last Monday (17 August 2026), stating that the dignity and professional welfare of development officers had been affected, views were exchanged during this discussion regarding the current situation and the concerns raised by the development officers.
The Governor stressed the need for all parties to act with mutual cooperation and understanding so that the development activities of the Northern Province are not affected. At the same time, the importance of protecting the dignity and professional welfare of all parties serving in the public service was also highlighted during the discussion.
Furthermore, the Governor requested that any problems and differences of opinion that arise should be resolved through appropriate discussions, so that the undesirable situations that have occurred recently do not recur. He stressed that ‘both sides must act firmly to ensure that such undesirable incidents do not occur in the future’, and both sides participating in the discussion agreed to this.
The Governor also requested that, placing the welfare of the people and the development progress of the province at the forefront, it is necessary to work together beyond differences of opinion, and that all parties should cooperate for this purpose. All parties participating in the discussion agreed to this.
The discussion was attended by the Chief Secretary of the Northern Province, the Secretary to the Governor of the Northern Province, the Deputy Chief Secretary – Planning, the Secretaries of the Ministries of Education, Local Government and Health and five representatives of the Northern Province Government Service Graduate Officers’ Union.
