Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Harin’s remaks rile docs A showdown in Badulla today

By Dilanthi Jayamanne-February 22, 2016, 9:29 pm

Government doctors in the Uva province yesterday expressed their displeasure at what they called snide comments made by Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure (TDI) Minister and Badulla District MP Harin Fernando against Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) President, Dr Anurudda Padeniya. The controversial comments the minister made at a media briefing in Badulla were telecast by Derana TV news on Saturday (20).

Uva Provincial Coordinator and General Committee Member of the GMOA EX-Co, Dr. Palitha Rajapaksa said more than 600 doctors would stage a protest at 12 noon today (23) at the Provincial General Hospital, Badulla against the minister. He said Fernando’s conduct was unbecoming of a responsible minister.

Minister Fornando referring to the GMOA as a group of villains, questioned their qualifications to comment on the Indo-Lanka Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) and the IT sector. There were professionally qualified persons to talk about the IT sector, the Minister said, lashing out at the doctors union during a media conference in Badulla. "The GMOA President has been voicing his opinion on health, on IT, on vehicle permits and food," Fernando said.

The Minister accused the doctors’ union of working with a narrow political agenda.

Referring to Minister Fernando’s outburst, the GMOA Provincial Coordinator said it had been very unethical of the Minister to talk about the union or its President in such a manner. "He should take a look at himself in the mirror to see who the real wrongdoers are," he said.

Meanwhile, the GMOA head office said that the Minister Fernando was attempting to obtain a Court order through the Police to prevent today’s (23) protest.

However, contacted for comment, Minister Fernando said that he could not get such a court order. "Why should I try to get a court order through the Police. The police called and asked me if the people were planning a protest against the doctors." He said he had every right as the Minister of TDI to make such remarks. Doctors, he said, should concentrate on issues pertaining to the health sector.