News
GMOA flays PSC official, asks Prez to intervene
Dispute over appointments and transfers:
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s intervention to prevent L.A. Kalukapuarachchi, Secretary, Health Sub Committee of Public Service Commission, from interfering in the appointments and transfers of medical officers.
GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya has urged the President to ensure that appointment and transfer process proceeds smoothly.
The following is the text of the letter, dated Nov 23: “Deployment of Medical Officers throughout the length and breadth of the country, in an equitable manner, is achieved by scientifically formulated appointment and transfer policy and process which has been proceeding smoothly.
This has resulted in Medical Services of Sri Lanka being repeatedly commended at international level.
As Your Excellency is well aware, the medical services were provided uninterrupted during periods of state emergencies such as the Civil War and tsunami, as well as the current global pandemic of COVID-19 as the aforementioned deployment process was smoothly proceeding without any interruption with the cooperation of the Public Service Commission.
The duty of the Public Service Commission is to ensure that Transfer Procedures adhere with the Government policies, rules and regulations.
However, with the recent establishment of the Health Committee of the Public Service Commission, the Secretary of which Mr. L. A. Kalukapuarachchi has been giving contradictory definitions for the circulars challenging the decisions of Transfer Boards.
Such conflicts have created a hindrance in appointments and transfers of Government Medical Officers
Most recent disagreement occurred when the PSC defined the “Effective Date of Grade Medical Officers Annual Transfer List” as the date of reporting to the relevant station, while the respective Circulars and Gazette Notifications declare otherwise.
We have been informed that the Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena has convinced the Health Committee of PSC regarding the “Effective Date” in a meeting on 10.11.2021. Despite that, Mr. Kalukapuarachchi issued a letter dated on 15.11.2021 giving a de novo definition for the “Effective Date of Grade Medical Officers Annual Transfers”
The above matter has affected the Medical Officers’ Transfers delaying allocations including rural stations.
As the Government Medical Officers Association, we have repeatedly requested to rectify the above matter by writing to the Minister of Health and Secretary to the Ministry of Health. We are making representations to Your Excellency as all our efforts have failed to rectify the situation.
Hence, we earnestly request Your Excellency to intervene in this issue in order to ensure appointment and transfer process proceed smoothly in adherence to policy, rules and regulations.
This will ensure smooth functioning of our health care services with special emphasis on equitable distribution of human resources.”
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath will represent Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican City, the Ministry said.
The funeral is scheduled for today.
About 50,000 people came to pay their respects to the late Pope on Thursday, the Vatican news service said.
“Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square, marking the beginning of the Novemdiales, an ancient tradition of nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of the late Pope’s soul,” according to the Vatican news service.
“The Novemdiales Masses will be held each day at 5:00 PM (GMT +2) in St. Peter’s Basilica, except for the Mass on Divine Mercy on Sunday, April 27, which will take place at 10:30 AM in St. Peter’s Square.”
An underworld hitman who attempted to break into a house in the Andiambalama area of Katunayake to kill a businessman was arrested in Rajanganaya by the police and the Special Task Force (STF) on Thursday night after the attempt failed and he escaped by jumping over a wall.
Investigations have revealed that this individual is connected to a number of murders, including the recent killing of a businessman known as “Indikatu Jude” in the Seeduwa area a few weeks ago, as well as several other criminal activities.
Police said that the suspect was responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a man sleeping in a three-wheeler in the Gampaha area and attempting to assassinate another person at the Negombo market.
The suspect arrived in Andiambalama with another underworld assassin to murder a businessman engaged in money lending from his residence.
At the time of the incident, the businessman attempted to close his electric gate. The contract killer and his accomplice tried to shoot the businessman, but their weapon malfunctioned and did not fire. A struggle ensued between the businessman and the two assailants, after which the assailants tried to escape by jumping over the wall of the house as the would-be victim ran into the house.
During the escape, one of the suspects fell from the wall and fractured a bone in his leg. Local residents captured him after assaulting him and handed him over to the police.
The other contract killer managed to flee the scene but was later apprehended in the Rajanganaya area.Investigations are being carried out under the supervision of Negombo Division SSP Ashoka Dharmasena.
By Hemantha Randunu
The Committee of Inquiry investigating IGP T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon over alleged gross abuse of power has formally requested the Acting IGP to nominate a police investigation team to assist its work. The request was made during the Committee’s second meeting, held yesterday (25 April) in the Parliamentary complex.
The Attorney General has appointed Additional Solicitor General (President’s Counsel) Dileepa Peiris, and Deputy Solicitor General Rajitha Perera, to support the Committee’s proceedings.
At the session, the Committee held initial discussions on how to proceed with the investigation and involve key stakeholders. It was agreed that the next meeting will be held on 28 April, 2025, to decide on the next steps.
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