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Dr. Ariyaratne insists reform of health system must be thorough
“… work with honest doctors and administrators and take action against corrupt elements”
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Sri Lankan leaders were insensitive to the deterioration of the country’s healthcare system, Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) President Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne said.
The entire healthcare system was in crisis, he added. A person who goes to a state hospital knows that there are no drugs, there are issues with the quality of drugs and that there are shortages of medical staff, he mentioned.
“If they cared, the changes made at the helm should have been made a few months ago. However, at least the President has appointed a new Health Minister. We hope that the new Minister and the government take immediate steps to address the pressing concerns of the sector.”
Dr. Ariyaratne said the state healthcare sector has not collapsed totally due to the dedication and resourcefulness of the medical staff.
“But individual commitment is not enough. The government must step in,” he added.
The procurement and regulatory mechanisms in the health sector have broken down. The reform processes with regards to drugs and food must be thorough, the SLMA President said.
“In the last few years, these mechanisms have broken down. If you have the right connections, you could bring any drug and insert it into the system without any problem. Political interference also played a big role.”
Dr. Ariyaratne said that for over a year the director board at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) did not have the prescribed number of medical specialists. It was the SLMA that played a leading role in filling these vacancies.
“The NMRA act specifies that certain subject experts should be represented in the NMRA. This is to ensure that the drugs are safe. By not appointing the specialists, those in power had deliberately crippled the regulatory mechanism for drugs.”
The SLMA head said that some doctors are leaving the country because of the instability. There was a research on this by the University of Kelaniya which found most of the doctors that immigrated did so because they do not trust the leadership of the country.
“Even now most doctors are working under adverse circumstances. In 2022, the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government encouraged state sector employees to go abroad and that was a disastrous decision. This triggered the best people to leave,” he said.Dr. Ariyaratne urged the new Health Minister to work with honest doctors and administrators and take action against the corrupt elements of the medical sector.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
