News
GMOF blames it all on Pavitra
Minister asked to clarify Dr. Godahewa’s claim of deliberate delay in Sinopharm use
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) President Dr. Rukshan Bellana says Health Minister Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi should accept the blame for the poor management of the health sector during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic crisis.
Dr. Bellana, in a brief interview with The Island, yesterday (26) discussed how the mismanagement on the part of the Health Minister contributed to the rapid deterioration of the situation. “The whole operation is in chaos,” Dr. Bellana said, urging the government to take remedial measures immediately or face the consequences.
Asked whether it was fair to hold one person responsible for whatever the shortcomings or failures when the government’s effort was being handled at different levels, including President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva and DGHS (Director General Health Services) Dr Asela Gunawardena, Dr. Bellana emphasized the role and responsibilities of the Health Minister couldn’t be compared with that of political and military leaders.
Referring to a statement issued by the Health Ministry on May 21, Dr. Bellana said that Minister Wanniarachchi had accused the social media of carrying out an organized campaign against the ongoing inoculation drive. Dr. Bellana questioned the Minister’s strategy in warning the social media for what she called lies and propaganda whereas the inoculation campaign was under heavy fire from many quarters.
Dr. Bellana asked who would take the responsibility for not managing the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine? Of 1,264,000 doses (500,000 donated by New Delhi, 500,000 bought also from the same source-Serum Institute, Pune, and the rest through Covax initiative), received in three stocks up to March 7, 925,000 were used in the first round. “Now, the government is struggling to procure over 600,000 Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines at any cost. This is a joke,” Dr. Bellana said, urging the cabinet of ministers to review the Health Ministry response to the threat.
Dr. Bellana alleged that Minister Wanniarachchi felt comfortable in dealing with the GMOA. How come the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and Association of Medical Specialists weren’t given sufficient opportunity to take up issues or included in discussions opened for the GMOA.
Dr. Bellana said that Minister Wanniarachchi should pave the way for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to name a new Health Minister by stepping down on her own. Recalling the then MP and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila’s declaration that all ministers should be properly graded and sacked forthwith in case they failed to meet their responsibilities, Dr. Bellana said Minister Wanniarachchi should be dealt with.
The Health Ministry said that an investigation was underway into ongoing slandering campaign undertaken by the social media. The Ministry emphasized that there is no basis for accusations that whatever the type of Covid-19 vaccines could be procured for money through Ministry officials and those close to the Minister.
Dr. Bellana said that the Executive Committee of the GMOF after having discussed the continuing deterioration of the Covid-19 battle decided to seek President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s intervention. The GMOF alleged that (1) Minister Wanniarachchi instead of giving leadership to the health staff divided them, (2) Minister Wanniarachchi being a cat’s paw of one union (GMOF was referring to the GMOA), (3) fails to work with relevant sectors, (4) Fails to unite senior officials of the Ministry, (5) Promotes myths instead of following proper procedures (6) Paves the way for corruption in the battle against Covid-19, (7) Appoints the retired instead of those suitable serving the health service, (8) Politically victimises workers, (9) Turns a blind eye to doctors promoting lies on television and (10) turns the inoculation drive to a joke.
Dr. Bellana said that the Health Minister should set the record straight. If the Minister believed she couldn’t perform as expected due to interference, then she should expose them.
Dr. Bellana pointed out that State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa recently acknowledged that the situation deteriorated due to nearly six weeks delay in using 600,000 Sinopharm doses in the government’s hands since March 30. Dr, Godahewa said that deaths could have been prevented if the Chinese vaccine was used in time. What would the Health Minister say to the State Minister’s statement? Was the delay deliberate as speculated by Dr Godahewa, Dr Bellana asked.
In a letter addressed to President Rajapaksa, the GMOF, having compared those who held the Health portfolio over the past 20 years or so with the incumbent, asserted that Minister Wanniarachchi is the worst.
A donation of Rs. 100 million was made to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund by Cargills (Ceylon) PLC.
The relevant cheque was handed over on Monday (22) by Imtiaz Abdul Wahid, Managing Director of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, to Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Dilanta Jayawardena and Chandana Kelegama of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC were also present at the occasion.
House Committee, BASL and TISL take common stand
The Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) has found fault with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for what it calls the inordinate delay in appointing a new Auditor General. CoPF Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva, in a letter dated Dec. 22 addressed to President Dissanayake, has pointed out that the Office of the AG remains vacant.
The SJBer raised the serious issue with the President close on the heels of the interventions made by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL).
Dr. de Silva has emphasised that the failure on the part of the President to fill the vacancy is a matter of serious concern. The Constitutional Council has repeatedly rejected the President’s nominee while questioning his suitability.
The following is the text of CoPF Chairman’s letter to the President: ” I wish to respectfully bring to your attention that the Office of the Auditor General has remained vacant since 7 December, following the conclusion of the tenure of the Acting Auditor General on 6 December. At present, there is neither a substantive nor an acting Auditor General in the country, and consequently, the Audit Service Commission remains without a chairman. Given the prevailing circumstances of the country, the continuous absence of this constitutionally mandated post is a matter of serious concern.
Under Article 148 of the Constitution, Parliament exercises full control over public finance. The effective exercise of this control is constitutionally dependent on the continuous functioning of an independent audit mechanism.
Article 154 of the Constitution establishes the office of the Auditor General and mandates the audit of all State institutions and the reporting of such audits to Parliament. The absence of an Auditor General disrupts this mandatory constitutional process. This mandate is further reinforced by Section 3 of tile National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018.
Moreover, the oversight functions of the Committee on Public Accounts, and the Committee on Public Enterprises in terms of Standing Orders 119, and 120 are directly dependent on audit reports issued by the Auditor General. The continued vacancy therefore materially undermines parliamentary financial oversight.
As the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) is responsible for reviewing the budget and work programme of the National Audit Office, I consider it my duty, as the Chair of the CoPF, to urge the immediate appointment of the Auditor General.
Accordingly, I respectfully request that urgent action be taken to appoint a suitable, qualified and experienced individual as the Auditor General in accordance with Article 153(1) of the Constitutional, without further delay.”
As part of India’s continued assistance to Sri Lanka under ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’, the Indian High Commission in Colombo, Assistant High Commission in Kandy and Consulate General of India in Jaffna conducted humanitarian assistance distribution drives for families affected by Cyclone Ditwah in different parts of the country, the Indian HC said.
The text of the HC statement: “On 18 December, High Commissioner of India Santosh Jha distributed relief kits among affected families in the Kolonnawa in coordination with All Ceylon Sufi Spiritual Association and among children of Bhaktivedanta Children’s Home ‘Gokulam’ at ISKCON Temple in Colombo. Earlier this month, the High Commissioner also distributed assistance among residents of Nayanalokagama, village specially designated for the visually impaired, and among affected families in Negombo in the Gampaha District.
Between 9 and 19 December, Assistant High Commission of India in Kandy distributed essential food items and supplies among hundreds of affected families in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla Districts.
Similarly, the Consulate General of India in Jaffna carried out several distribution drives for affected families in Mannar, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi, as well as island territories of the Jaffna District.
This assistance is over and above several tonnes of food and relief material handed over by India to the Government of Sri Lanka under ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’.”
Cargills (Ceylon) PLC Donates Rs. 100 million to “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund
Showers may occur in Uva province and in Ampara, Batticaloa, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya districts
CoPF Chief steps up pressure on Prez to appoint AG
Indian HC and Consulates extend humanitarian assistance to families affected by Cyclone Ditwah
Sri Lanka prepares to deploy fresh military contingent under UN command
New measures to protect environmentally sensitive Sri Pada region
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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