News
GMOF: Docs leaving country cannot be entirely blamed on economic crisis
finger pointed at seniors holding onto lucrative posts
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) Chief Dr. Rukshan Bellana yesterday (25) said that doctors including specialists, leaving the country couldn’t be entirely blamed on the developing economic-political-social crisis.Dr. Bellana said that though the continuing economic crisis and political instability being push factors couldn’t be denied, the decision- makers should take remedial measures, having examined all issues at hand. It would be a grave mistake on the part of the health administration to blame it all on the political crisis, Dr. Bellana warned.
The trade unionist currently functions as Acting Deputy Director, National Hospital.Responding to The Island queries, the GMOF President asserted that many relatively young specialists opted to leave the country as they were deprived of an opportunity to serve major hospitals.
The seniors, including those who have been granted the opportunity to serve till 63 years of age, served at major hospitals, Dr. Bellana said. The bottom line is that those who served major hospitals served the lucrative private hospital network, Dr. Bellana said.
Unfortunately, those at the helm at political and administrative level have so far conveniently failed to examine the increase in the number of doctors, including specialists, leaving the country, the trade unionist said. Some have deliberately misled the public, alleging doctors, including specialists, migrated due to increase in taxes, Dr. Bellana said, urging the government to study the impact of the 2020 decision to extend the retirement of all public servants to 65, bring it back to 60 two years later and then create a special category for medical specialists for them to continue till 63 years of age.
DR. Bellana insisted that doctors migrated even in the ’80s. The current situation couldn’t be examined without taking into consideration the opening up of so many vacancies, not only for doctors, including specialists but nurses, para-medics and caregivers at various levels in the ever expanding global private hospital networks.
Instead of warning against doctors, including specialists, seeking employment overseas, the government should introduce far reaching changes to regulate appointments.
GMOA spokesperson Dr. Chamila Wijesinghe said that grievances of the medical fraternity should be addressed. Regardless of the developing crisis, the vast majority of doctors, including specialists, remained committed to serve the country, Dr. Wijesinghe said, but the government under any circumstances couldn’t ignore how the economic crisis and the failure on the part of the government to restore public confidence in financial stability influenced many professionals to leave the country.
Dr. Wijesinghe stressed that even not so old specialists were among those who left the country over the past year.
Asked whether the GMOA expected improvement in the situation, Dr. Wijesinghe said that of approximately 20,000 doctors and 2,600 specialists here, over 90 percent represent the GMOA. “Let those interested in working abroad to leave the country. In line with current arrangements, each will have to send USD 500 to Sri Lanka,” Dr. Wijesinghe said.
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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces and Monaragala and Hambantota districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 4.00 p.m. 08 May 2025, valid for 09 May 2025
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces and Monaragala and Hambantota districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
News
EC asks winners to name heads of majority-controlled LG institutions; bargaining continues in hung councils
Chairman of the Election (EC) Commission R. M. A. L. Ratnayake said yesterday that the EC would direct the political parties and independent groups that have secured absolute majorities in local government bodies to name the heads of those institutions.
The ruling NPP and the Opposition parties are vying for control of the hung local councils including the Colombo MC. Both the NPP and the SJB have offered to coalesce with independent groups to muster majorities.
Ratnayake said that notifications would be sent to the General Secretaries of parties and independent groups that have won local government bodies with a majority of more than 50% of the vote.
The results of the 2025 Local Government election held on Tuesday (6) were released on Wednesday (7).
The NPP won 266 out of 339 local government institutions. The SJB and the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi won 13 and 37 councils respectively. Independent groups and regional Tamil political parties won the other councils.
However, the winners have failed to secure more than 50% of seats in a majority of the local government institutions.Ratnayake said that the members elected to local government institutions at the ward level would be officially gazetted in the coming days.
The heads of the non-majority councils will be elected by their members. The government and the Opposition are accusing each other of using financial inducements to make some councilors switch their allegiance ahead of the election of the heads of the hung local councils.
The NPP has said it is confident of forming stable administrations in 134 local councils, but the Opposition is of the view that the NPP will not be able to do so in about 186 councils.
The Supreme Court yesterday (8) turned down an appeal filed by former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, seeking the dismissal of a case against him and three others by the Attorney General over a road accident that took place in Rajagiriya in 2016.
This decision was announced by Supreme Court Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, with the concurrence of Chief Justice Murdu Fernando and Justice Gamini Amarasekera.
They ruled that the appeal lacked merit and directed the High Court to proceed with the trial.
The Attorney General filed the indictment on charges including concealing evidence regarding the alleged hit-and-run incident where the vehicle the former Minister was travelling in collided with a motorcycle in Rajagiriya, causing life-threatening injuries to its rider, and the alleged fabrication of evidence related to the accident.
The Supreme Court ordered the Colombo High Court to take up the indictment filed against the defendants for examination.
Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces and Monaragala and Hambantota districts
Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Northern and North-central provinces.
EC asks winners to name heads of majority-controlled LG institutions; bargaining continues in hung councils
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