News
Prof. Malalsekera outlines vision to shape ‘Tomorrow’s Surgeon’
Professor Ajith Malalsekera, on Saturday, set out an ambitious three-pillar vision to shape “Tomorrow’s Surgeon” as he assumed office as President of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, pledging stronger emphasis on academia, integrity and accountability to meet future healthcare challenges.
Delivering his Presidential Induction Speech 2026 at the College headquarters in Colombo, Professor Malalsekera paid tribute to Noel and Nora Bartholomeusz, whose benevolence laid the foundation for the institution. He said successive Presidents, Councils and members had remained faithful stewards of that trust, developing the College for the benefit of surgeons, trainees and, ultimately, patients across the country.
He acknowledged the contributions of past Presidents, Council members and surgeons whose work spans national health policy, clinical guidelines, training, research and innovation. “Our surgeons provide a seamless, cost-effective service, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, reaching every corner of the country, from Point Pedro to Dondra, and from Colombo to Batticaloa,” he said.
Highlighting the College’s regional and global standing, Professor Malalsekera noted strong collaborations through the South Asian Surgical Care Society, with members across South Asia, as well as partnerships with the Academy of Medicine of Malaysia, the three Royal Colleges of the United Kingdom, the Royal College of Surgeons of Australia and several international surgical associations. These links, he said, had cemented the College’s position as the apex body for surgeons in Sri Lanka.
Turning to the future, the new President stressed the need to invest in the next generation of surgeons. Under the academic pillar, he underscored the importance of simulation-based training, including cadaver-based programmes already conducted in multiple surgical specialties. Drawing a parallel with flight simulators used in aviation, he said the College would actively promote simulation to enhance technical mastery and patient safety.
Research, he noted, remained a longstanding challenge due to time constraints, limited funding and lack of support infrastructure. To address this, Professor Malalsekera announced plans to launch a Collaborative Research Programme with industry partners, aimed at developing study proposals, linking local and international units, and providing research assistants and data management under the College’s umbrella.
On integrity, he said surgical practice must be guided by a strong “surgical conscience” knowing when to operate and when not to while adopting new technologies equitably and always in the patient’s best interest. Greater attention would also be paid to non-technical “power skills”, where many errors occur. Monthly cross-border case discussions with American surgical groups are to commence this month to promote ethical, evidence-based practice.
Addressing accountability, Professor Malalsekera said surgeons had a duty to deliver cost-effective care, particularly amid economic pressures. He cited past decisions, such as the introduction of laser technology for stone disease, which had yielded long-term national benefits, as examples of balanced, forward-looking investment.
He also referred to the shortage of 1,139 specialist doctors revealed by Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, warning that migration continued to drain national resources. To counter this, the College plans to enhance the professional environment and introduce a mentoring programme for newly returned surgeons, supported by senior volunteers.
“If we cultivate and beautify our garden, the birds will flock to it,” Professor Malalsekera said, calling for unity and resilience not only in times of hardship, but also in times of opportunity to take Sri Lanka’s surgical services to greater heights in 2026 and beyond.
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has granted approval to increase electricity tariffs with effect from 1st April .
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) requested a 13.56% electricity tariff revision for the second quarter of this year.
The revision announced by the PUCSL for domestic consumers:
0–30 units category, electricity tariffs will rise by 4.3%,
31–60 units category, tariffs will rise by 6.9%,
61–90 units category, tariffs will rise by 6.9%,
91–120 units category, tariffs will rise by 7.2%,
Above 180 units, electricity tariffs will rise by 25.3%
The PUCSL has decided not to increase electricity tariffs for religious and charitable institutions that consume below 180 units monthly and a 9.6% increase for institutions that consume above 180 units.
Ectricity tariffs for the general and household consumer categories has been increased by 8%, while the electricity tariff increase for the industrial sector is 8.7%, the increase in tariff for government institutions is 14.4%.
It was decided at the committee appointed to oversee the distribution of essential goods to appoint five officials from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to cover all ministries in order to examine fuel-related issues and undertake the necessary interventions.
It was further discussed that the responsibility of these officials would be to examine fuel-related issues arising in institutions under each ministry and to intervene in providing solutions by maintaining coordination with the Corporation.
These matters were discussed at a meeting of the committee appointed to oversee the distribution of essential goods, chaired by Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake held on Friday (27) at the Presidential Secretariat.
It was also noted, with particular attention, that requests have been made by industrialists indicating that the current fuel quota allocated to vehicles for the distribution of their products across the country is insufficient. It was further discussed that, if these concerns are not addressed, there is a likelihood of an increase in the prices of goods, which could in turn cause significant hardship to the public during the festive season.
The committee also discussed the issuance of fuel for the distribution of essential food items by state and private institutions, including supermarkets such as Sathosa, wholesale importers, tourism-related service providers, hotels and other service-providing organisations.
Accordingly, it was discussed that requests for fuel quotas submitted by these institutions should be carefully considered and prompt action taken as necessary and that such requests should be forwarded to the Ministry of Energy through the relevant ministries.
Attention was also drawn to the need for the swift implementation of a QR code system for the issuance of fuel to other sectors, including agriculture and the fisheries industry, based on letters issued on the recommendations of the relevant government officials, including agricultural research officers, instead of the previous method of direct fuel allocation.
Minister Bimal Rathnayake emphasised the need to ensure a continuous and properly managed fuel supply, with particular focus on providing goods to the public without shortages and preventing excessive price increases during the forthcoming Sinhala and Hindu New Year season.
The discussion was attended by a group of government officials, including Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Deputy Minister of Power Arkam Ilyas, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Kapila Janaka Bandara and Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, D. J. Rajakaruna.
Parliament:
… sexual harassment claims dismissed
Recommendations made by retired High Court Judge Ms. Sujatha Alahapperuma, following an inquiry into claims by a female employee of the Department of Information Systems and Management of Parliament, regarding sexual harassment, denial of due salary increments and other forms of harassment, were yet to be implemented, sources familiar with the investigation said.
The retired HC Judge handed over the report to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne on 24 November, 2025. Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera was also present on that occasion.
The retired judge has recommended that administrative decisions be taken expeditiously to grant her salary increments due for 2024 and 2025, reevaluation of all employees attached to the Department of Information Systems and Management and keep them under close scrutiny and strengthening of the ‘Helpdesk’ to meet the requirements.
Sources said that none of the recommendations have been implemented and the concerned employee in spite of still being the Senior Helpdesk coordinator remained attached to the Supplies and Services Office. She had been ordered to report to the Supplies and Services Office in January 2025 following a continuing dispute with the top management of the Department of Information Systems and Management.
Parliamentary Staff Advisory Committee on 25.07.2025 decided to conduct an external investigation into the issue after the employee refused to accept the outcome of the internal inquiry conducted in the wake of SJB lawmaker Mujibur Rahman raising the issue in Parliament.
The retired judge has emphasised the urgent need to take tangible measures to address administrative issues with a view to enhance discipline and human resources management among other issues.
However, the retired judge has declared that the complainant or any other female employee attached to the of Department of Information Systems and Management hadn’t been subjected to any form of sexual harassment as alleged.
The retired judge further asserted that the complainant had been prejudicially treated by two interview boards when she appeared before them seeking posts of Database Administrator and Parliament Officer.
The retired judge has also asserted that the Supplies and Services Office where the complaint continued to serve even now was not suitable and not in line with her qualifications. Some of those who had appeared before the retired judge during the inquiry claimed that was a temporary transfer. However, the report dismissed that claim declaring that transfer appeared to have been done outside acceptable procedure and her increments stopped without giving any justifiable reason.
The retired judge has stated that for want of proper procedures and systems, the administration seems to be in turmoil.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Electricity tariffs to be increased from 1st April
A QR code system to be introduced for agricultural lands and other sectors requiring fuel
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