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SL’s health sector has now plunged to a new low – GMOF
Sri Lanka’s health sector has plunged to its lowest depths since independence. It’s an absolute failure and a big disappointment all round, says the Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF).
“It should be realized even at this late stage that what’s crucial to put the house in order are not military medals, but hands-on administrative experience”, the trade union’s president, Dr. Rukshan Bellana said.
The deterioration all round is evident over the past 10 months with Covid-19 control falling short of expectations, drugs in short supply coupled with hospital services in terms of quality care at a low ebb and a breakdown in discipline especially among minor workers, the GMOF said in a statement.
The healthcare workforce is demotivated due to lack of proper leadership. This has resulted in those down the line not working with 100% commitment, it said.
Incompetence at the highest level has led to the creation of an environment of whipping boys and fall guys. The first ‘victim’ of this set up was Dr. Anil Jasinghe and the latest was Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva, it noted.
Moving out these two experienced medical administrators is an irreparable loss to the country’s health system. At a time Sri Lanka is fighting a raging pandemic, their services are invaluable in bringing the situation under control, the statement further said.
Edging out competent professionals who are a threat to round pegs in square holes seems to be the order of the day. That’s how those who bluff their way through continue to safeguard their positions, the GMOF asserted.
Veteran singer and musician Professor Sanath Nandasiri has passed away at the age of 81
Govt. MPs make contradictory statements on state of economy
By Shamindra Ferdinando
UNP National List MP Wajira Abeywardena on Sunday (26) disclosed the issuance of a circular by the Finance Ministry to restore overtime and other payments in the public sector.
The declaration was made in Galle soon after Transport and Media Minister Bandula Gunawardane lamented that the government was short of billions of rupees to pay public sector salaries, pensions, Samurdhi payments and meet recurrent expenditure.
Minister Gunawardena and UNP National List MP Abeywardena addressed the local media after the handing over of several buses to the Galle SLTB depot.
Cabinet Spokesman Gunawardena said that the government needed as much as Rs 196 bn before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year and its projected revenue was Rs 173 bn. In addition to that Rs 500 mn was required to settle what Minister Gunawardena called bilateral debt.
Minister Gunawardane said that a part of the first tranche of USD 333 mn from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would be utilised to pay public sector salaries.
Of the USD 333 mn received so far, USD 121 had been used to pay the first installment of USD 1 bn credit line secured from India early last year, according to State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera in the second week of August last year revealed as much as Rs 3 bn had been paid as overtime to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) workers for several months. This disclosure was made in response to a query raised by Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella.
One of the major demands of the public sector trade unions on the warpath over the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government’s new tax formula is the restoration of overtime.
Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (27) urged Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to act speedily on the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) request to summon Finance Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena before the parliamentary Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
Addressing the media on behalf of the Freedom People’s Alliance, the former External Affairs Minister said that the Treasury Secretary had challenged the parliament by withholding funds allocated in the budget 2023 to the Election Commission thereby sabotaging the election.
Prof. Peiris said that there couldn’t be a far worse violation of parliamentary privileges than a government official undermining Parliament.
Instead of appreciating the intervention made by the Supreme Court to facilitate the delayed Local Government polls, the ruling party had sought to challenge the apex court, Prof. Peiris said, urging Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to fulfill his obligations.
Prof. Pieris said that if the government lacked funds, just one percent of USS 333 mn received from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was sufficient to conduct the election.
The ex-minister said that the IMF wouldn’t oppose the utilisation of a fraction of the first tranche of USD 2.9 bn loan facility provided over a period of four years to guarantee the constitutional rights of the Sri Lankan electorate. (SF)
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