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SLMC imbroglio: Why sack only five for collective decisions taken by apex body-Dr. Swarnakumar
The Sri Lanka Orthopaedic Association has questioned the controversial sacking of five members of the Sri Lanka Medical Council by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi as decisions taken therein were taken with collective responsibility.
Dr V. Swarnakumar in his capacity as the President of the Association, while challenging the ministerial decision, has requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s immediate intervention to settle the dispute. In a letter dated Dec 23 addressed to the President, Dr. Swarnakumar has said: “All the decisions made by the SLMC are taken with collective responsibility, either by the entire SLMC or by a majority vote and they are binding on all the members of the SLMC council. Hence, sudden removal of ONLY five members of the council based on the recommendations of this questionable committee is arbitrary and unethical.”
The following is the full text of the letter: “As the main professional body representing all the orthopaedic surgeons in both the state and private sector in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Orthopaedic Association (SLOA) is gravely concerned about the current situation in the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC).
The Sri Lanka Medical Council is the continuation of what was the Ceylon Medical Council established under the medical ordinance 24 of 1924. Its primary purpose is to protect the public/patients’ rights by ensuring a disciplined and ethical practice of its members while maintaining the academic and professional standards of its members.
The truth is that the ordinance that was legislated at a time when there was but a single medical School in existence is woefully inadequate to resolve the issues that are present today; arising from a multitude of local as well as foreign medical graduates and an increasing number of specialties and sub specialties. Compounding this truth is the unfortunate reality of the pervasive influence of politicians and trade unions on almost every single independent institution, in which the SLMC is not alone.
SLOA firmly believes that as the regulatory body for the academic, professional and ethical standards of the medical practitioners, SLMC should be free from all extraneous influences, political or otherwise to carry out their functions independently.
SLOA council notes that the recent termination of the tenure of office of FIVE members of the SLMC, including its President was based on recommendations of a committee appointed by the Minister of Health.
With reference to the above committee report, we observe following key points which we believe are the observations of all the right thinking medical community.
1. The terms of reference of the said committee were of a fact finding nature. We understand that its mandate does not include making recommendations of a punitive nature.
2. All the decisions made by the SLMC are taken with collective responsibility, either by the entire SLMC or by a majority vote and they are binding on all the members of the SLMC council. Hence, sudden removal of ONLY five members of the council based on the recommendations of this questionable committee is arbitrary and unethical.
In the light of above, we, the SLOA urge your Excellency to please intervene early to resolve this matter, so that the SLMC will once again enjoy the trust that the public had invested in it and function as a true independent body with the necessary integrity of a statutory body of its caliber. “
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
