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GMOF: A robust private hospital network needed to augment health service

Published

3 years ago

2023/05/8

By Shamindra Ferdinando

President of the Government Medical Officers Forum (GMOF) Dr. Rukshan Bellana says Sri Lanka needs a well-equipped private sector hospital network to augment the state health sector.Declaring the expansion of private hospitals and related facilities should be a priority for any sensible government, Dr. Bellana, who is also the Deputy Director of the National Hospital, emphasized the urgent need for a regulatory system to ensure proper management of private hospitals’ networks and other health services.

In the absence of an efficient regulatory mechanism, private hospitals fleeced communities, the former GMOA (Government Medical Officers’ Association) executive committee member alleged, while questioning the failure on the part of successive governments to address the issue. The Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government is no exception, he said. Bellana served as the GMOA Assistant Secretary during the 2000-2003 period.

Had there been a proper pricing mechanism, more people would have sought treatment at private hospitals, thereby lessening the burden on the government, the outspoken trade unionist said, responding to The Island queries that focused on the deterioration of the healthcare system. Dr. Bellana also functioned as the GMOA spokesperson in 2003.

Dr. Bellana said that the health sector crisis couldn’t be discussed or addressed in isolation. “We have to take into consideration Sri Lanka’s bankruptcy status, as well as continuing waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement, associated with the public health sector.” Widespread corruption accusations pertaining to medicine procured in terms of the USD 1 bn Indian credit line, received before the change of the government, last July, underscored the pathetic state of affairs.

The health administration should be ashamed of its failure at least to meet the basic requirements of those struggling to make ends meet, Dr. Bellana said, urging the Parliament to look into the catastrophic situation in the health sector.

Responding to another query, he said that Sri Lanka should establish at least one hospital, similar to that of Mount Elizabeth Hospital, in Singapore, to attract foreign patients. Pointing out that Sri Lanka had human resources to operate such a hospital, Dr. Bellana said that it would be definitely a worthwhile investment. Those who opposed further expansion of the network of private hospitals and demanded 100 percent free public sector health service never wanted to sensibly address the growing challenges in the health sector, Dr. Bellana alleged.

Successive governments, politicians and various interested parties repeated Prof. Senaka Bibile’s government managed procurement of pharmaceutical products policy like a mantra for their advantage, the GMOF President alleged. The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) should be probed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), Dr. Bellana said, urging the government to take tangible measures to restore public confidence in the regulatory body.

“Of course, that wouldn’t be an easy task as public confidence in almost all key institutions, including Parliament, has deteriorated over the years,” Dr. Bellana said. But, re-thinking of overall strategy was of paramount importance as Sri Lanka could no longer follow Prof. Bibile’s policy, Dr. Bellana said, declaring that the procurement process needed to be liberalized for the benefit of all. According to Dr. Bellana, in the current situation Prof. Bibile’s policy, or strategy, whatever one chose to call it, was irrelevant, the trade unionist said. “Let us comprehend the challenges and take required measures to overcome them. Unfortunately, we are playing politics with key sectors. Health is not an exception,” Dr. Bellana said.

The Federation of Teachers’ Associations’ (FUTA) refusal to evaluate GCE Advanced Level answer scripts for two months over the government’s tax package is a case in point, Dr. Bellana said. How FUTA could be so irresponsible, Dr. Bellana asked, also alleging other trade unions, representing professionals, of pursuing agendas. It would be a grave mistake on the part of relevant professional groups to look at problems only through their point of view. Disruption caused by FUTA underscored the need to be cautious in resorting to trade union action. Dr. Bellana appreciated the FUTA calling off strike in the wake of mounting pressure on them. Asked whether he was serious about declaring the doctors’ competence in replacing FUTA in the answer script evaluation process, Dr. Bellana said that a group of politically motivated people couldn’t be allowed to hold the student community to ransom.

Dr. Bellana said that having formed the GMOF in 2010, he received formal recognition four years later. Asked whether he was satisfied with the progress made, he pointed out that the public lacked awareness and it was not easy at all to convince them of how successive governments deceived them. The hospital administrator said that the vast majority of Sri Lankans in spite of being left oriented actually were rightist. They expected results overnight, Dr. Bellana said, pointing out that corrupt political parties, and trade unions affiliated to them, propagated free education and free health to deceive the public. Relief provided by the government at the expense of taxpayers’, too, contributed to the current crisis, Dr. Bellana said.

Sri Lanka, he said, needed to review its policies without further delay or prepare to face the consequences. He insisted that what the country required was a comprehensive social security network to provide assistance to the needy.

An irate Dr. Bellana said that perhaps one catastrophic result was the entry of 134 lawmakers, without GCE Ordinary Level, and 94, without GCE Advanced Level, to Parliament.

Dr. Bellana also questioned the role played by the executive in the deterioration of the country at every level. The politically motivated use of Prof. Bibile’s policy, over the years, ruined the medical supply chain as it couldn’t be applicable in the current context, Dr. Bellana said, urging political parties represented in Parliament to reach consensus on Sri Lanka’s path. “We have to decide on a course of action. Do we follow Russia and China or Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia?”

Commenting on the current state of the health sector, the maverick trade unionist said that the system was corrupt and undependable and the country couldn’t expect improvement in the near future. The exploitation of foreign tours indicated how, over the years, politicians, and top officials, and their associates, corrupted the entire system. Claiming that Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena had left the country, on six occasions so far this year, Dr. Bellana asked whether the Director General, WHO, had travelled so much, even though he served the whole world.

Dr. Bellana alleged that those aged senior officials, at key positions, should give an opportunity to young officials at the Ministry and doctors who served in rural areas. Dr. Bellana asserted that the country couldn’t benefit by repeatedly sending the aged for overseas assignments as they didn’t contribute to the improvement of health services, at all.

The free health service was nothing but propaganda as the country couldn’t allocate the required funds to maintain free health services, Dr. Bellana said, pointing out that since 2020/2021 the situation has deteriorated to such an extent, the overall services were crumbling, rapidly. “Can we continue to live in a lie?” he asked. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the population is gullible, political parties exploit them to the hilt, Dr. Bellana said, adding that continuing failure on the part of State revenue collection mechanism, to achieve targets, highlight the absurdity of the situation. “On one hand taxes are introduced whereas those who have been taxed, side step the taxman. If one bothers to peruse reports, issued by parliamentary watchdogs, over the years, the culprits can be easily identified.”

Dr. Bellana repeated his previous accusations against former GMOA Chief Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya over influencing the government, particularly in respect of the agriculture policy. There was no point in denying the fact the overnight ban on chemical fertilisers, in April/May 2021, delivered a devastating blow to the agriculture sector, Dr. Bellana said, comparing Dr. Padeniya’s strategy with that of FUTA.

Dr. Bellana said that FUTA exposed itself badly when it campaigned for allocation of six percent of GDP for education, in the run-up to the 2015 presidential election. Declaring the FUTA was on an international contract, Dr. Bellana alleged that a section of FUTA served the interests of various local and foreign sponsors, regardless of consequences.

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Steps are being taken to provide accommodation facilities for 16,000 university students – Prime Minister

Published

6 hours ago

2026/09/10

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that accommodation facilities will be provided for 16,000 university students through the new university hostel construction programme, and that steps have also been initiated to formulate a comprehensive policy on university student accommodation.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Wednesday (09 September) in Parliament while responding to questions raised in Parliament.

The Prime Minister stated:

“The University Grants Commission allocated Rs. 376 million in 2025 and Rs. 453 million in 2026 for the renovation of university hostels. The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education allocated Rs. 400 million in 2026 for hostel renovations and Rs. 1,500 million for the construction of new hostels in 2026. All these funds are from domestic allocations. We are implementing these hostel projects without resorting to borrowing. At the same time, allocations have been made through the 2025 and 2026 Budget Estimates for the construction of new hostels under foreign loan financing. These include Rs. 321 million allocated in 2026 for hostels under the Wayamba Urban Development Project, funded through the Saudi Development Loan.

Under the project to establish the Faculty of Medicine at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Rs. 331 million has been allocated under the Saudi Development Loan for the construction of a hostel.

A further Rs. 10.46 million has been allocated for the renovation of hostels under the Wayamba Urban Development Project. Accordingly, Rs. 466 million was allocated for 2025 and Rs. 662.46 million for 2026.

A total of 55 new hostels are scheduled to be constructed during 2025 and 2026 and in the period ahead.

The number of students expected to benefit from these accommodation facilities is 16,000. The University Grants Commission is currently formulating an overall policy on accommodation facilities for students of Sri Lankas state universities. The policy also includes guidelines relating to private student accommodation.

There are instances where university students obtain accommodation in privately operated hostels or rented houses. However, there have been no guidelines governing such accommodation. Until now, there have been no established guidelines regarding charges or minimum standards that should be maintained. We are now in the process of developing guidelines to ensure the safety of students and to prevent them from being subjected to economic exploitation.

The proposed policy is currently being reviewed by the state universities under the purview of the University Grants Commission. The programme will be implemented by the University Grants Commission in direct collaboration with state universities, and there are currently no plans to involve local authorities.

The objective of this policy is to ensure fair, transparent, safe, affordable, accessible and inclusive accommodation facilities for students. In particular, we intend to address the accommodation requirements of university students with disabilities through this programme.

The policy also recognises that students who are unable to obtain university hostel accommodation may obtain accommodation in registered private hostels.

Under the proposed provisions relating to private hostels, minimum standards are expected to be introduced covering accommodation facilities, sanitation, safety, accessibility, affordability and student welfare. The provisions also include arrangements for the fair allocation of accommodation, with particular priority given to students with disabilities; the establishment of a committee to oversee private student hostels; regular inspections; and necessary action against hostels that fail to comply with the required standards. Following consideration of observations and recommendations received from the universities, the draft policy will be revised and subsequently submitted for the process of finalisation.

Of the 55 hostels, priority has been given to universities located away from urban areas. We commenced this project with two hostels at the University of Vavuniya. Accordingly, priority has so far been given to universities such as the University of Vavuniya, the University of Jaffna – Kilinochchi Campus, the South Eastern University, the Uva Wellassa University and the Sabaragamuwa University, where the accommodation issue is particularly acute. Another aspect being considered under the accommodation policy is the limited availability of private accommodation in all parts of the country. Therefore, we are also considering the possibility of constructing additional hostels through a public-private partnership arrangement. For example, the Government could provide land under an agreed arrangement to facilitate the construction of additional accommodation facilities. Discussions are currently being held with the universities regarding this matter”.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated that steps are also being taken to look into hostel facilities and student welfare activities at vocational training centres, as well as at the Ocean University of Sri Lanka and the University of Vocational Technology.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

GL / Harshana

Opp. lashes out at Justice Minister for disparaging remarks about CLA

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Joint Opposition yesterday (09) tore into Justice and National Integration Minister Harsha Nanayakkara over some disparaging remarks about the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) in Parliament on Tuesday (08).

The Convenor of the Opposition grouping, former Law Professor Peiris questioned Minister Nanayakkara’s declaration that the CLA was a private club that granted membership on payments received. Emphasising that the CLA consisted of those in the legal profession in Commonwealth countries, Prof. Peiris told the weekly media briefing at the Flower Road Office of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe that the views expressed by the organisation couldn’t be discarded under any circumstances.

Prof. Peiris dealt with Nanayakkara’s response to the CLA’S concerns about several issues, including the composition of the five-member panel of judges. “How could Minister Nanayakkara dismiss concerns raised by CLA on the basis of the paid-membership of the organisation?” Prof. Peiris asked. If membership became an issue, the government would have to reconsider Sri Lanka’s UN membership, the ex-External Affairs Minister said, pointing out that the country had to make regular payments to retain membership of other UN agencies, as well.

Prof. Peiris said that indefensible attacks on international organisations could cause irreparable damage to the country. Appreciating the CLA’s report on the Supreme Court proceedings on the 01 and 02 September, Prof. Peiris stressed the importance of what he called total transparency in the judicial process. He said that whatever the outcome of a particular legal process, it couldn’t be done behind the backs of the public.

Referring to legal processes regarding the 6th Amendment and 13th Amendment, in 1983 and 1987, respectively, Prof. Peiris said, on both occasions the then Chief Justices Neville Samarakoon and S. Sharvananda constituted benches consisting of all Supreme Court judges.

But, the incumbent CJ Preethi Padman Surasena, in spite of the majority of petitioners demanding all available 13 justices to hear the case, decided to leave out those on the seniority list from second position to fourth position.

The government got offended because the CLA pointed that out for the whole world to take notice, Prof. Peiris said. The former parliamentarian noted that the CJ hadn’t even give a reason for declining the widespread call to involve all available 13 judges. According to him, there had been instances where CJ’s appointed seven justices to hear a particular case. Prof. Peiris cited the 2018 bench of seven judges that heard the petitions against President Maithripala Sirisena over the dissolution of Parliament and a panel constituted in 2023 to hear the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage that claimed the lives of 270 people.

The issue at hand is that the five-member panel of judges hadn’t been selected on the basis of seniority, Prof. Peiris said, once the SC determination was sent and released through the Speaker, they would meticulously examine that to make their position known to the people. Prof. Peiris said that what they really wanted to know was that if seniority hadn’t been the basis for selection what the criterion was.

News

Sri Lanka reiterates its territory won’t be used against India

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh listening attentively to President Dissanayake (pic courtesy PMD)

The Indian Defence Ministry in a statement issued yesterday (09) quoted President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as having assured visiting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that Sri Lanka would never allow its territory to be used for activities inimical to India’s security interests.

The text of the Indian press release: “Visiting Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo on September 09, 2026. The two leaders held substantive discussions on issues covering the entire spectrum of the multi-faceted partnership between the two nations, characterised by traditionally warm relations and mutual trust.

The two sides reaffirmed that as civilisational twins, close neighbours and maritime partners, India and Sri Lanka would continue to work together for their development and welfare of the people while working jointly to ensure the safety, security, peace and prosperity of the region. The senior Indian Minister conveyed greetings on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and underlined that the citizens of the two countries share deep friendship based on strong historical & civilisational links and people-to-people exchanges.

Extending a warm welcome to Mr. Singh, President Dissanayake recalled his interactions with PM Modi and reiterated that Sri Lanka would never allow its territory to be used for any activities inimical to India’s security interests.

President Dissanayake expressed his gratitude for the relief assistance provided by India as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu during Cyclone Ditwah and the comprehensive rehabilitation package extended by New Delhi to facilitate reconstruction and rehabilitation work across different parts of the island. The powerful Indian Defence Minister emphasised that as a closest friend and neighbour of Sri Lanka, India considered it not a favour, but a responsibility to provide assistance as the first responder and would continue to do so in the future as well.

Both leaders virtually inaugurated three Bailey Bridges constructed by the Indian Defence Forces. The two sides also exchanged MoUs on upgradation of L70 Guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force, and cooperation between National Cadet Corps (NCC) & National Defence Colleges (NDC) of both the countries. The MoU on Upgradation of six L70 guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force falls under a Government of India grant. The upgradation of these air defence guns will significantly strengthen the air defence architecture of critical assets in Sri Lanka. These air defence guns were earlier provided to the Sri Lanka Air Force by India.

The MoU on academic cooperation between NDC, India and NDC, Sri Lanka will facilitate knowledge sharing which will be a significant step in further strengthening the academic bonds between both the sister institutes. The MoU on NCC cooperation will formalise the NCC youth exchange programme between India and Sri Lanka. This exchange programme provides a valuable opportunity for NCC cadets from multiple countries across the world to come to New Delhi every year and participate in NCC events.”