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GMOA: Authorities did not heed warning of docs’ exodus

Published

3 years ago

2023/08/19

By Rathindra Kuruwita

It would take about two years for the government and the public to see the real impact of health staff leaving the country, and by the time the cracks in the healthcare system become visible, the damage will be irreversible, Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), media spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe told The Island on Thursday.

The GMOA and other unions had warned the relevant officials that doctors were gearing up to leave the country from at least a year ago, the GMOA spokesman said.GMOA branches across the country had informed that doctors and other health professionals had started applying for foreign jobs since the start of the economic crisis, he said.

The staff shortages in hospitals have already crippled many peripheral hospitals, Dr. Wijesinghe added.

“The Health Ministry tried to scare doctors and other health staffers by threatening to take legal action. Some even threatened to stop doctors from emigrating at the airport. These threats have obviously not worked. Anyone keeping tabs on the news would have seen that the anaesthetist specialist at Hambantota Hospital has left without even informing anyone. This is a person who is qualified from a recognized foreign university and is attached to a big hospital. Given the highway, he is only three hours away from Colombo. Why has he left without informing anyone?” Dr. Wijesinghe asked.

Hambantota Hospital needs two anesthetist specialists. However, the government had not filled a vacancy for a long time, and the doctor who left had been doing the work of two people, the GMOA spokesman said.

“He had to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Now there is no one. The Director at Hambantota Hospital is trying to get other doctors to do the anesthetist specialist’s job. This is not fair to doctors or patients. Who will take responsibility if things go wrong? The shortage of anesthetist specialists is serious. The demand for consultant emergency physicians is high across the world. They also like Sri Lankans,” he said.

Various colleges of specialist doctors are receiving emails from the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK that they are willing to recruit from Sri Lanka, Dr. Wijesinghe said, adding that about 30 anesthetist specialists have left Sri Lanka in the last 18 months.

“There is no anesthetist specialist in Karawanella, Dehiattakandiya, several hospitals in Kalmunai, and Mahaoya. Soon, there will be no anaesthetist specialists in peripheral hospitals. Then it will be impossible to maintain emergency care units or any other unit that involves surgery. A specialist in anaesthesia must be present when any serious surgery is done. 842 doctors and 274 specialists have left the country between 01 June 2022 and 31 May 2023. About 250 who completed the internship didn’t accept their appointments. There were about 30 emergency care specialists, and now there are only seven. It’s obvious where this is going,” he said.

Dr. Wijesinghe mentioned that there is a systematic campaign to attack state healthcare on social media. The starting salary of a specialist is 88,000 rupees, and most of them in the periphery live in squalor, he said.

“No wonder that health staff are migrating.”

The GMOA said that apart from a few hospitals in the main cities, most state-run hospitals will have to be closed down in the next two years unless the migration of the health staff is not addressed.

“Poor people will suffer and die. Of course no one will take responsibility for the human tragedy when that happens,” he said.

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UPDATE: Flash flood on Nepal-Tibet border kills more than 100, with hundreds of tourists missing

Published

6 hours ago

2026/08/26

Priyan

More than 100 people have been killed in Nepal and Tibet, and hundreds of tourists are missing, after a massive flash flood and mudslide

The missing tourists include more than 100 from India, 54 from the US, and 33 from the UK, as well as more than 100 from Nepal itself, according to Nepal’s tourist board. The area is popular with pilgrims and trekker.

Dozens of police officers and army prtxonnel are also missing, as well as power workers. My family was swept away in front of me, one woman tells us – she and her son survived by climbing to a rooftop

In Tibet, Chinese state media report three dead and 265 missing, CCTV from Tibet shows a wall of water and mud hitting buildings at a border crossing.

Authorities initially thought an earthquake may have triggered a landslide – the US Geological Survey now says the sesimic energy was instead generated by a landslide.

(BBC)

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Advisory for High Waves for the sea areas extending from Colombo to Pottuvil via Galle, Matara and Hambantota

Published

12 hours ago

2026/08/26

Priyan

Advisory for High Waves
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre Issued at 03.30 p.m. on 26 August 2026 Valid for the period until 03.30 p.m. 27 August 2026

An advisory for high waves has been issued for the sea areas extending from Colombo to Pottuvil via Galle, Matara and Hambantota and naval and fishing communities engaged in activities in the aforementioned sea areas, as well as coastal communities living in the aforementioned nearshore areas, are advised to remain vigilant in this regard

The swell waves (about 2.0 m – 3.0 m) height (This is not for land area) may increase in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Pottuvil via Galle, Matara and Hambantota. There is a possibility that near shore sea areas off the coast extending from Beruwala to Matara via Galle, may experience surges due to swell waves.

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We must create social awareness to ensure the physical and mental well-being of children with disabilities – PM

Published

13 hours ago

2026/08/26

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that, given their particular vulnerability children with disabilities require protection, and stressed the need to foster social awareness to protect them from negative social influences while promoting their physical and mental well-being. She emphasized the need to implement awareness programmes for parents, teachers and other members of society towards this end.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Tuesday [August 25] while visiting and observing the National Institute of Special and Inclusive Education – Shishyodaya, located in Veniwelkola.

The purpose of the Prime Minister’s visit was to observe the institutional structure and gain an understanding of the areas that require further development.

The Prime Minister emphasized that a systematic mechanism should be established to transform the institution, which was established in 2019 outside the basic standards and plans for Inclusive Education, into an institution that provides quality education to children and fulfills the targeted objectives of inclusive education. She also proposed appointing a special committee to make the necessary recommendations in this regard.

The Prime Minister further stated that steps would be taken in coordination with the Ministry of Health to address the shortage of therapists and medical professionals required to provide clinical services to students at the institution. She also stressed that the maintenance of equipment and buildings should be carried out properly using the financial allocations provided for such purposes.

The Prime Minister further noted that finding sustainable solutions to the issues faced by the institution is essential, while immediate interventions should be made to address issues that can be resolved without delay. The welfare of the teachers serving at the institution was also discussed during the visit.

Member of Parliament Anura Panagoda, Chairman of the Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha Kasun Rathnayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, ministry officials, parents and students were present.