.GMOA THREATENS STRIKE IF NO REPLY

Dailymirror

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) yesterday threatened to resort to countrywide trade union action if it did not receive a favourable response to a letter sent to President Mahinda Rajapaksa weeks ago outlining the grievances of the medical profession in the country.
The letter addressed to President Rajapaksa from 40 medical organisations requested an urgent meeting with the President to discuss critical issues pertaining to the medical profession which needed to be immediately addressed.
The letter which was handed over to the President’s office on December 6 received an acknowledgement from Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge but there were no visible signs of receiving an official response on the matter, GMOA Assistant Secretary Sankalpa Marasinghe said.
“We were prepared for an all-is-

“There are so many other parties that are also concerned about the problems. They will also respond appropriately. We are getting ready for any eventuality. The ball is in their court. We will response accordingly, land strike when the government failed to address our concerns over a private medical college during which time we were assured that a five-member committee would be appointed to inquire the issue in two months. However there is no sound of it now. If they continue at this rate and ignore our appeals we have no option but to go on strike,” Marasinghe said.
He said the GMOA General Committee would meet at the end of the month at which time a decision will be made on the next step to be taken by the association. “There are so many other parties that are also concerned about the problems. They will also respond appropriately. We are getting ready for any eventuality. The ball is in their court. We will response accordingly,” he said.
Some of the issues stated in the letter to the President are attempts to transform the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) to a public enterprise and remove SLMC chief Dr. Lalitha Mendis, the setting up of private medical colleges and measures taken to change the cut off marks for Act 16 examinations among many other concerns.
“The SLMC is the sole authority that is vested with the responsibility of assuring that the public is given a safe medical service by all medical professionals in the country. The SLMC is an autonomous body run with its own funds. However there are certain individuals who attempt to influence or undermine the powers of the SLMC. We are appealing to the government to respond urgently,” he said.

Colombo Uni dons want ragging stopped

December 16, 2011, 9:17 pm , The Island.

Teachers of the Arts Faculty of the Colombo University have come under pressure from pro-government student activists to deny that there is ragging on the campus, The Island learns.

Although the government tried to eliminate ragging by means of a leadership training programme conducted at military camps for prospective university entrants, first year Arts students at the Colombo University undergo severe ragging at the hands of students affiliated to the ruling party, according to sources. This newspaper recently published a letter by a victim highlighting their traumatic experience.

The Island has secured a copy of a statement Arts Faculty teachers have prepared but not yet released to the media due to pressure from the pro-government student groups.

Full text of the teachers’ statement:

The Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association, University of Colombo (AFTA-CU) vehemently condemns the reported ongoing ragging of first-year students at the Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo.

Ragging is reportedly carried out by senior students as well as by first-year students living in hostels, under cover of a so-called ‘probationary period’ imposed on first-year students. Hostel students ragging of non-hostel students pose the threat of clashes developing between these two groups of students.

According to reports, senior students are:

* Enforcing a dress code on first year students

* Demanding that first year students make themselves easily identifiable to seniors by always carrying a special cardboard file with their assigned nicknames

* Ordering male students to cut their hair and beards

* Directing verbal abuse at first-year students, and carrying out many other acts of harassment.

These are clearly violations of the bodily and mental integrity of new students.

AFTA-CU strongly believes that the newcomers to the University should be treated with respect and dignity. They should be encouraged to engage in the University’s academic activities with full freedom and without any fear of being intimidated and harassed by any other student, senior or peer.

Women constitute the overwhelming majority of Arts Faculty students. We recognize that any harassment or verbal abuse directed at female students can be open to the charge of sexual harassment. We vehemently condemn such acts.

AFTA-CU strongly recommends that:

* Senior students stop ragging first-year students,

* First-year hostel students stop ragging first-year non-hostel students

* First year students take the initiative to voice their anti-ragging sentiments openly in order to bring an end to ragging.

FUTA threatens trade union action again

December 16, 2011, 9:17 pm , The Island.

by Dasun Edirisinghe

The Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) has written to Higher Minister S. B. Dissanayake expressing its displeasure at his ministry’s failure to sort out its members’ salary issues.

FUTA Secretary Dr. Terrance Madujith told The Island yesterday that his association had suspended trade union action three months ago following an assurance given by the government to solve university teachers’ problems.

FUTA wanted the salary proposal implemented in three steps, to which the authorities agreed. As per the consensus reached, the basic salary of university academics should be raised by 20% by January 2012, he said.

In addition, Dr. Madujith said that at the time of suspension of FUTAtrade union action, Secretary to the Treasury had, in his letter dated 21.07.2011, clearly stated that the Treasury had no objections to the implementation of the proposals submitted by FUTA such as increasing the rates for setting question papers, marking, supervision, visiting lectures etc.

"It was also promised in his letter that low interest housing loans would be given through banking institutions," he said.

FUTA also requested the government to consider allocating approximately 6% of GDP for the education sector.

Dr. Madujith said that FUTA was of the view that the government had made no genuine effort to address the issues raised by university teachers.

FUTA would be compelled to resume its trade union action unless the government honoured its promises, he warned.