GMOA tries to justify its opposition to appointment

February 10, 2012, 9:38 pm , The Island.

By Don Asoka Wijewardena

Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya yesterday said that GMOA would never take arbitrary decisions against any person or any organization. The appointment of Dr. Shirley Herath to the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) by Health Minister Maithripal Sirisena was illegal in terms of the Sri Lanka Medical Ordinance, because the Health Minister had been vested power only to appoint four persons to the SLMC and had already appointed Prof. Narada Warnasuriya, Dr. G. Weerasinghe, Dr. Aruna Rabel and Prof. Colvin Gunaratne to it.

Dr. Padeniya said that Dr. Shirley Herath was appointed to the SLMC on January 12, but he was not registered with the SLMC. It was a requirement of the Sri Lanka Medical Ordinance under section 13 that to become a member of the SLMC, it was essential to get registered with the SLMC. But up to January 12 he had not been registered with the SLMC. At the same time there were no vacancies on the SLMC Board.

He pointed out that the responsibilities of any SLMC member were to provide quality health care services, streamline medical education and implement code of ethics for all doctors. A person appointed as SLMC member should have flawless character; integrity and ability take unbiased decisions. But there was a question as to whether Dr. Shirly Herath possessed all such qualities.

Dr. Padeniya said that Dr. Shirley Herath was the pioneer in opening of a private medical college in Piliyandala in 2005. But the SLMC had turned down the registration of the medical school. Later, the then SLMC President H. H. R. Samarasinghe’s residence was bombed and SLMC Registrar Dr. A. Pandithratna’s house was also fired at.

He noted that when taking above mentioned points into consideration, Dr. Shirly Herath was not eligible for any position in the SLMC. Around 43 medical organizations, including the GMOA expressed their dissatisfaction over the appointment. Minister Sirisena acted on the spur of the moment and removed him officially, when the wrong action was brought to his notice.