GMOA sees saboteurs within the union

January 22, 2012, 9:58 pm

By Don Asoka Wijewardena, The  Island

Reacting to reports that a new group was about to break away from the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), its General Secretary Dr.Chandika Epitakaduwa claimed yesterday that there was rebel faction in the GMOA. A few rejected members were trying to sabotage the union, he said.

Two trade unions the pro–JVP All Ceylon Government Medical Officers’ Association and the Association of Medical Specialists had already been formed by thebreakaway groups.Those two unions were representing only five per cent of the doctors whereas the GMOA had a membership of 16,000. It was up to those doctors to elect office bearers or reject them at elections if the welfare of members was not taken care of, Dr. Epitakatuwa told The Island in a brief interview.

Dr. Epitakaduwa alleged that a few doctors had tarnished the image of the GMOA for their personal gains. They had been expelled from the union after a disciplinary inquiry, he said. Those doctors had formed alternative trade unions on the pretext of protecting doctors’ rights and privileges.

Dr. Epitakaduwa added that there were some GMOA members advancing their personal agendas. "I have found serious malpractices in the postal voting and some doctors even attempted to sabotage the postal voting," Dr. Epitakaduwa said adding that the GMOAhad thwarted their efforts.

The GMOA was in the process of amending the Constitution because it had not been revised for a long time. Some provisions of the Constitution needed amendment to suit the present-day needs, Dr. Epitakaduwa said.