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SLMC hijacked by unionists; public interest ignored: Rajitha

Published

5 years ago

2020/11/5

by Saman Indrajith

Former Health Minister and SJB Kalutara District MP Dr Rajitha Senaratne told Parliament on Tuesday that the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) had been hijacked by medical unionists, posing a threat to academic and professional standards of doctors as well as Sri Lanka’s standing in international forums in the years to come.

Participating in a debate on two regulations under the Medical Ordinance, Dr Senaratne said the SLMC had been set up to protect the health care seekers by ensuring the maintenance of academic and professional standards, discipline and ethical practices.

“While we were in the government we did not interfere with the matters of the SLMC. We let them function the way it wanted to because the SLMC is not there for the sake of medical practitioners and professionals but for the sake of the people. It is there to accept complaints on medical practice, ethical violations by medical practitioners and to ensure maintenance of standards. The medical council is no longer appointed by vote but as per the need of individuals. Trade unions have infiltrated the council. Prof. Colvin Gunaratne resigned from the council because he foresaw this situation. There is one GMOA member there blocking appointments and another with the powers of influencing transfers of doctors. The incumbent health minister will understand the danger very soon.

“Today, the Associations of Medical Specialists have issued a statement on the present crisis in the SLMC. I quote from their statement: We the Associations of Medical Specialists are gravely concerned of the recent developments at the SLMC which we have come to know through mass media. Medical specialists have noticed gradual deterioration of the autonomy and forthrightness of this supreme institution which is to safeguard medical ethics and standards of medical education in this country. We noticed that the current crisis is strongly linked to trade union initialization of the SLMC. There is an imminent threat of the trade unions taking the reins over the SLMC which would mark the beginning of the end of the ethical practice of medicine in Sri Lanka. We also notice that the Hon. Minister of Health has basically been held to ransom with a trade union action notice to get the Assistant Registrar of the SLMC suspended. To our knowledge this is the first time in the history of SLMC where the Minister of Health has used his/her power to suspend a SLMC official”. There ends the quotation.

“This is the current situation. Look at the situation in medical faculties. If the government fails to improve the situation in the medical faculties, we will face a bigger problem in 2023 when the World Federation of Medical Education will remove all recognition of the countries which do not maintain standards. The recognition the Lankan medical practitioners have in EU countries, the US, Australia would be removed. The Ministry should get its act together and improve the situation in medical faculties and get the SLMC free from unionists. I request the Prime Minister to take this matter into serious consideration and strengthen the hands of the Health Minister to save the medical profession and medical education in this country.”

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President and Exco of Sri Lanka Cricket step down

Published

11 hours ago

2026/04/29

Priyan

Sri Lanka Cricket has announced today (29) that the President of Sri Lanka Cricket and members of the Executive Committee have tendered their resignations.

The decision has been formaly communicated to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time

Published

18 hours ago

2026/04/29

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 28 April 2026, valid for 29 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle,
Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time.

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

Treasury chief’s citizenship details sought from Australia

Published

19 hours ago

2026/04/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

Nagananda / Harshana

New controversy erupts over missing USD 2.5 mn:

Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.

According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. Suriyapperuma is also the Secretary to the Treasury.

The former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Suriyapperuma (from November 2024 to June 2025) is embroiled in a deepening controversy over the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.

The leader of the Vinivida Foundation said that he intended to move court against Suriyapperuma for entering Parliament through the NPP National List in violation of the country’s Constitution (Article 91(1)(d)(xiiii).

Kodituwakku said: “This is clearly an accountability and integrity issue and violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and also this act contravenes the law of a member in the Commonwealth.”

USD 2.5 mn paid to a third party was meant to be an instalment of a loan taken from Australia. Suriyapperuma neither responded to an SMS nor answered his hand phone.

Geetha Kumarasinghe (UPFA/Galle District) and Diana Gamage (SJB National List) lost their seats in 2017 and 2024, respectively, over citizenship issues.

Meanwhile, public interest group ‘Free Lawyers’ that exposed the theft of Treasury funds questioned the failure on the part of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), to pressure President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to temporarily remove Suriyapperuma to facilitate unhindered investigations.

On behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday expressed concern over the way the CoPF, under SJBer de Silva’s leadership, handled the issue at hand. Issuing an open letter, Tennakoon, urged the CoPF chief to explain his stand on a spate of vital issues which needed to be addressed without any further delay.

By Shamindra Ferdinando