SLMC sackings: GMOA reiterates accusations, backs Minister Pavithra

… election likely in March

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Reiterating its support for the controversial sacking of five members of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) yesterday (16) claimed that the group got to know about what was really going on only after some of its members received appointments therein.

The GMOA-backed members in the SLMC include four elected representatives, namely Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya, Dr. Naveen de Zoysa, Dr. Nalinda Herath and Dr. Harris Pathirage. 

Dr. Pathirage, however, has since quit the Council citing personal reasons. The vacancy hasn’t been filled yet. Sources emphasised that all of them contested as medical officers and not as members of the GMOA and were elected.

GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando, in a brief statement issued yesterday alleged that the SLMC had registered those without required educational qualifications and even those who had not sat its examination. Dr. Fernando claimed that thousands sans qualifications had received recognition.

GMOA officials told The Island that those who had been sacked by Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi following a proper inquiry were all political appointees. In the absence of a laid out procedure to remove those who had been appointed by the Minister whoever held that post reserved the right to take action, sources said, adding that the GMOA was ready to face legal challenge in that regard.

Minister Wanniarachchi removed SLMC Chairman Specialist Consultant Pediatrician, Prof. Harendra de Silva, Prof. Narada Warnasuriya, Dr. Pushpika Ubesiri, Dr. Upul Gunasekara and Dr. Sunil Ratnapriya subsequent to an inquiry conducted by a panel of doctors-two of them happened to be members of the GMOA.

Sources said that the Attorney General’s Department and three President’s Counsel were also consulted before the Minister acted. Those who had challenged the move conveniently forgot that Dr. Rajitha Senaratne made the appointments in his capacity as the Minister and Pavitra Wanniarachchi did the same.

Sources said that with the consensus reached on election of four specialists at the next round, there would be 12 elected members with one each from Medical Faculties, one representing AMPs, Dental et al. Sources said that the total number of members, including those appointed by the minister could be as many as 30. Elections were likely in March 2021.

A senior GMOA official said that in case those who challenged the minster’s action resorted to legal action the proceedings could be quite revealing. The official challenged those who had been defending appointments made during the previous administration to state their stand on accusations pertaining to acceptance of students sans AL qualifications.

The GMOA emphasized that it did not move against political appointees clandestinely. “We requested Minister Wanniarachchi to take action in writing,” a senior Association spokesperson said, warning opponents not to suspect their resolve to clean up the SLMC.