Don’t grab all, share with others – president
- Thursday, 19 December 2013
At a meeting of the SLFP committee at Temple Trees that began at 7.00 pm yesterday (18), the president’s attention was drawn mainly to the repeated defeats of Pradeshiya Sabha budgets.
He said, “I inquired into these continuing losses of budgets. The issue is that our chairmen grab all and do not share with others.”
The ministers present at the meeting could not comprehend as to whether they should laugh, or keep wry faces at this remark, but senior ministers told among themselves, “That should have started from the boss himself.”
Although invitations had been sent to 1,400 committee members, only nearly 800 were present. As we reported previously, there were clashes of opinion within the SLFP with regard to the venue of the meeting, and a Temple Trees hall refurbished for CHOGM had been used for the purpose.
The agenda for the meeting was prepared not by Maithripala Sirisena, general secretary of the party, but by minister Dullas Alahapperuma. Well known to be a person who runs everything he lays hands on, his agenda violated tradition and the party song was sung after religious observances, not the customary remembrance of the past leaders of the party. It was during the party song being sung that they had remembered tradition and Mr. Sirisena intervened to remember the past leaders thereafter.
At this meeting, the president has hinted at his intention of holding a presidential election in the coming year, saying, “There is talk everywhere about going for a presidential election. I saw today in astrology papers that a presidential election will be held within the next few months. It cannot be said yet whether it will be a presidential or a parliamentary election.”
Responding to this, a senior minister told a colleague that he had not seen such an article in any of the astrology papers. “Now, it seems the boss is going to print astrology papers too.”
The ministers present at the meeting could not comprehend as to whether they should laugh, or keep wry faces at this remark, but senior ministers told among themselves, “That should have started from the boss himself.”
Although invitations had been sent to 1,400 committee members, only nearly 800 were present. As we reported previously, there were clashes of opinion within the SLFP with regard to the venue of the meeting, and a Temple Trees hall refurbished for CHOGM had been used for the purpose.
The agenda for the meeting was prepared not by Maithripala Sirisena, general secretary of the party, but by minister Dullas Alahapperuma. Well known to be a person who runs everything he lays hands on, his agenda violated tradition and the party song was sung after religious observances, not the customary remembrance of the past leaders of the party. It was during the party song being sung that they had remembered tradition and Mr. Sirisena intervened to remember the past leaders thereafter.
At this meeting, the president has hinted at his intention of holding a presidential election in the coming year, saying, “There is talk everywhere about going for a presidential election. I saw today in astrology papers that a presidential election will be held within the next few months. It cannot be said yet whether it will be a presidential or a parliamentary election.”
Responding to this, a senior minister told a colleague that he had not seen such an article in any of the astrology papers. “Now, it seems the boss is going to print astrology papers too.”
Media Release Doctors for Refugees
- Friday, 20 December 2013
Doctors for Refugees welcomesthe news that 15 doctors working on Christmas Island have spoken out about conditions in the detention centre.
"The conditions revealed in the letter – long delays in transfer to mainland hospitals, resulting in potentially life threatening risks and unsafe care of pregnant women - these should be shocking, but unfortunately we have heard it all too often from professionals who have witnessed them first hand," said Dr. Barri Phatarfod from Doctors for Refugees.
"Particularly alarming is the mass exposure to tuberculosis, due to inadequate time for its diagnosis. The government has responded by closing down the Immigration Health Advisory Group, the only official independent body reporting on the health of refugees and asylum seekers.", said Dr Richard Kidd
Doctors for Refugees is a group of concerned medical professionals who are campaigning for fair and humane treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia. We believe doctors have a responsibility to raise our concerns about the human cost of indefinite detention.
Dr Phatarfod observes “It is understandable that the doctors involved in these practices express fear they could be putting their medical registration at risk ‘by participating in unethical conduct and in gross departures from clinical standards.’ This reinforces the fact that it is a health issue and therefore one that should concern all doctors.”
We encourage all doctors and health professionals to join our organisation.
Contact:
Dr. Richard Kidd Ph: 0411191433
Dr. Barri Phatarfod Ph: 0412090304
Email: doctors4refugees@gmail.com
Dr. Richard Kidd Ph: 0411191433
Dr. Barri Phatarfod Ph: 0412090304
Email: doctors4refugees@gmail.com
