News
SLPP MPs urged not to protect Health Minister
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The rebel SLPP group yesterday (04) urged the ruling SLPP not to protect Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella at the vote on no-faith motion against the Kandy District lawmaker.
Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera said the vote would be held on Friday (08) following a three-day debate, commencing on Wednesday (06).
SLPP National List MP Prof. G. L. Peiris, on behalf of the dissident group, warned that those who voted against the motion would have to face drastic consequences.
The rebel group consists of 12 MPs.
The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) moved the no-confidence motion against the failure on the part of Minister Rambukwella to halt the deterioration of the public health sector. The SJB won 54 seats at the last general election, though about four switched their allegiance to the government since then.
Addressing the media at the Nawala Office of Nidahasa Janatha Sabhawa, Prof. Peiris said the motion couldn’t be carried through without the backing of the SLPP parliamentary group, still the largest in Parliament, regardless of over 20 members quitting the government.
Rambukwella contested the Kandy electoral district on the SLPP ticket. Pointing out that the head of the National Medical Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Prof. Jayaratne publicly acknowledged the continuing crisis in the health sector, including the importation of inferior quality medicines, the former External Affairs Minister asked whether the SLPP was ready to pay the price for Minister Rambukwella’s misdeeds.
Prof. Peiris dealt with several other issues, including the possibility of the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa contemplating putting off presidential elections that are statutorily due October next year and pressure being exerted on the judiciary.
At the commencement of the briefing, the academic asserted that President Ranil Wickremesinghe couldn’t put off the presidential election, too, the way he deferred both Provincial Councils and Local Government polls. Referring to concerns expressed over the Referendum called by the then President J.R. Jayewardene soon after winning the 1982 presidential election, Prof. Peiris explained that was to ask the electorate whether to extend the life of Parliament by six more years.
Prof. Peiris said that by late July or early Aug., 2024, the presidential election process should get underway leading to nominations in Sept., elections in Oct., and new President in office in early Nov.
The SLPP elected UNP leader Wickremesinghe in July last year to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term, secured at the Nov. 2019 presidential election.
Regardless of bombastic declarations made by President Wickremesinghe and some members of his government, they feared the electorate, Prof Peiris said. There couldn’t be any other explanation for refusal to conduct Local Government polls months after the Supreme Court issued specific instructions to the relevant authorities in that regard.
Prof. Peiris explained how President Wickremesinghe relentlessly put pressure on the judiciary to reign in judges while issuing warnings to those who declined to toe the government line. The former Law Professor alleged that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena played a central role in the despicable government project, directed at the judiciary. During the briefing, Prof. Peiris made reference to instances of controversial statements made by the President at Nuwara Eliya and at the Sri Lanka Foundation to justify criticism of Wickremesinghe’s actions.
Condemning the sharp increase of both petrol and diesel prices from Aug. 31 at a time the CPC was making huge profits, Prof. Peiris said that the increase of LP gas on Monday (04) would drive up the cost of living further. Accusing the government of being insensitive to the public woes, the former minister said that waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement continued unabated at every level.
There couldn’t be a better example than the crisis in the health sector to prove how corruption could destroy a vital service, Prof. Peiris said, pointing out the government never inquired about a spate of serious allegations made by the health professionals. Interested parties exploited the procurement process to their heart’s content while low quality medicine, discarded drugs and continuing shortage of life-saving drugs plunged the health sector to an unprecedented crisis situation.
The ex-minister declared that the damages caused to the public health sector were irreparable and those responsible should be punished, regardless of their social standing. Declaring that food security was cause for serious concern, Prof. Peiris said that the health crisis was far worse as unlike food, people couldn’t forgo medicine.
Interdicted Deputy Director at the National Hospital, Sri Lanka (NHSL) Dr. Rukshan Bellana yesterday (29) alleged that the powers that be moved against him for seeking the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption) investigation into a massive fraud at the NHSL laboratory.
Dr. Bellana said so in response to The Island query regarding the circumstances the Health Ministry interdicted him on 18 December, through a letter, as directed by the Health Committee of the Public Service (PSC) Commission. “That letter has been signed by an Additional Secretary, as Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe was overseas,” Dr. Bellana said.
Dr. Bellana stated that the government had paid for reagents, contaminated or close to expiry dates, obtained from a leading local medical supplier, since 2022. He emphasised that his complaint to the CIABOC, and subsequent complaint to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), were entirely based on the issues raised by the National Audit Office (NAO).
Responding to another query, Dr. Bellana said that the public funds, amounting to Rs. 900 mn, had been spent on chemical reagents past expiry dates. Regardless of the intervention made by the NAO, the NHSL continued to procure supplies from the same company, Dr. Bellana said, adding that he had received the unconditional support of the civil society. Among them were Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, President of Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA), President of Academy of Health Professionals Ravi Kumudesh, and leader of Mage Rata Sanjaya Mahawatta.
Dr. Bellana said that he had complained about the scam to the CIABOC in June this year.
Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, who also lodged a complaint with CIABOC, regarding the same matter, is on record as having said in September this year that the reagents had been procured over a three-year period without the proper approval of the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry. Dr. Sanjeewa has alleged that some of the reagents were either contaminated or close to expiry dates, while contracts had been given to a single company at unapproved prices.
Dr. Bellana said that had there been a proper system for CIABOC and law enforcement authorities to act on findings made by the NAO they wouldn’t have personally intervened in the NHSL laboratory matter. “Parliament should look into this. Did Parliament take up the NHSL laboratory matter at the relevant watchdog committee or at the Sectoral Oversight Committee that handled health?” Dr. Bellana asked.
Asked whether the letter that informed him of his interdiction gave any specific reason for the action taken, Dr. Bellana said the Ministry had found fault with him for speaking to the media. The irate ex-official said that he never hesitated to take a stand against injustice. “When former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was accused of corruption, pertaining to medical procurement, I condemned the Minister. Lambasted those responsible for wrongdoings.”
Dr. Bellana said that the NAO had dealt with mega crime involving the public and private sector. “That is the undeniable truth. Parliament should look into this as public money is its responsibility. Having vowed to stamp out corruption, the NPP was allowing and encouraging those who had been making money at the expense of the sick, Dr. Bellana said.
Dr. Bellana said that as many as 10,000 tests were conducted daily at the NHSL. The racketeers had been active during Aragalaya as the NHSL and the private supplier reached agreement in 2022 and the process continued even after the last presidential election, conducted in September 2024.
Dr. Bellana said that the long delay in finalising the Auditor General’s appointment exposed the government. If those holding high political office were genuinely interested in fighting corruption, they wouldn’t have allowed that Office of AG stay vacant even for a day.
Dr. Bellana noted the tough statements issued by the Bar Association, Transparency International Sri Lanka and the Committee on Public Finance demanding the immediate appointment of AG.
Health Ministry officials were not available for comment.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
BIA unions, including those affiliated to political parties, are demanding bonuses equal to five months’ basic salaries.
A group of workers yesterday (29) protested outside BIA urging the Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd to increase their bonuses. They claimed that the Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd., Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Harsha Abeywickrama, had assured them that they would be paid bonuses worth five times their basic salaries.
The SriLankan Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) of the airport, the Podujana Sewaka Sangamaya, the Pragathishili Sewaka Sangamaya, the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, and the SLNSS of SriLankan Airlines joined the protest.
The Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority has issued an urgent safety warning to residents living along the banks of the Kotmale Oya and the Mahaweli River, as water levels in the Kotmale Reservoir are reaching maximum capacity.
According to a special weather advisory issued by the Department of Meteorology on December 26, 2025, heavy rainfall is expected in the catchment areas over the coming days.
In response, the Mahaweli Authority released a statement on December 27, warning that spill gates may have to be opened to manage the water flow.
Eng. A.M.A.K. Seneviratne, Resident Engineer and Deputy Director of the Kotmale Reservoir, stated that the opening of spill gates would lead to a significant rise in the water levels of both the Kotmale Oya and the Mahaweli River.
Areas on Alert
Residents in the following Divisional Secretariat divisions are urged to remain extra vigilant:
• Nuwara Eliya District: Kotmale West and Kotmale East.
• Kandy District: Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Doluwa, Pasbage Korale, and Ganga Ihala Korale.
Authorities have advised the public in these low-lying and river-adjacent areas to monitor the situation closely and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety and the protection of their property.
By S.K. Samaranayake
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Dr. Bellana: “I was removed as NHSL Deputy Director for exposing Rs. 900 mn fraud”
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