Padeniya files: GMOA ready for showdown

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) yesterday protested the victimization of its President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya for allegedly leading the campaign against the Malabe Private Medical College, and warned it would launch countrywide trade union action from Tuesday unless his personal file was returned to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) Director by noon on Monday.  

This comes in the wake of a statement from Dr. Padeniya being recorded by the Bribery and Corruption Commission on Tuesday over his two years of leave obtained for his postgraduate training at the Oxford University in Britain.

Dr. Padeniya told Daily Mirror that his personal file with all personal and official documents went missing and he did not know where it was. He expressed surprise and disappointment as to how it ended up at the Bribery commission leading to an inquiry against him.

After a special executive committee meeting last afternoon, the GMOA decided to write to Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena demanding that he conducts an investigation as to how and why Bribery and Corruption Commission got access to his personal file.

The letter states that the GMOA had learnt that Dr. Padeniya’s personal file had been taken out of his present working station at the Lady Ridgeway hospital after citing issues related to his leave.

Leave is an administrative issue and the GMOA General Committee which met yesterday decided to resort to trade union action from Tuesday unless the personal file was sent back to lady Ridgeway Hospital by Monday afternoon.

We request you to grant us an appointment to discuss this critical issue, the letter said.

Dr. Padeniya said the Bribery and Corruption Commission had nothing to do with his leave and if there was any irregularity it was up to the health ministry to conduct an internal inquiry and take appropriate action if he had done anything wrong.

“I was granted leave from 2008 to 2010 by the Health Ministry on the guidelines of the Health Service Minutes for Foreign Training to follow my post graduate degree on Pediatrics. I left Sri Lanka in February 2009 and returned in July 2010 even without remaining in Britain and using my extra months of leave. I was duly trained for a sub-specialist for 18 months as an obligatory requirement and returned after that,’ he added.

Dr. Padeniya said he considered the recording of a statement by the bribery commission as a move to harass  him as there was no complainant or a petition against him as far as he knew. (By Sandun A. Jayasekera)

GMOA threatens strike if Dr. Padeniya’s file not returned

September 29, 2011, 9:12 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe

The Government Medical Officers’ Association yesterday threatened to launch an island wide strike from Tuesday (04) if the authorities fail to return its President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya’s personal file by 12.00 noon on Monday (03).

GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Sankalpa Marasinghe told The Island that the decision had been taken when their general committee met on Thursday to decide the future course of action.

"We resorted to severe trade union action earlier, but no one harassed us," he said adding but this time their members were being harassed and intimidated when protesting against the Malabe Private Medical College (PMC).

The Bribery Commission had removed GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya’s personal file from the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, Borella on Monday (26) claiming that they wanted to check on some leave he had taken to do his higher studies overseas.

If a medical officer does wrong, it should be inquired into by the Health Ministry’s separate division, not by the Bribery Commission, Dr. Marasinghe said.

He said that this is a very cheap way to handle an inquiry against a government officer.

"Not only Dr. Padeniya, most of our members received threats after we protested against the PMC, but we will not give up our effort to stop it," Dr. Marasinghe said.

Issuing an extraordinary gazette notification numbered 1721 – 19 of Aug. 30, 2011, Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake legalized the Malabe PMC and University Grants Commission (UGC) awarded the MBBS degree awarding status to it.

The GMOA officially launched their protest against the PMC a month ago by threatening a countrywide strike, but it was postponed due to the Ministry’s assurance that a committee woild be appointed to investigate the standards of the PMC.

 

Non academics give Govt. four weeks to solve salary issue

September 29, 2011, 9:13 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe

University non-academics, including executive officers, who met the officials of the National Salaries and Cadre Commission (NSCC) yesterday, said they would give the government four weeks to resolve their salary problems or they will resort to trade union action immediately.

President of the Inter University Trade Union Federation (IUTUF) R. M. Chandrapala told The Island that they were not happy with the discussion at the NSCC on Thursday morning. Officials from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Higher Education Ministry also attended the discussion with the IUTUF and University Executive Officers Union.

"The UGC officials asked for two weeks to study and approve the NSCC proposal, prepared by us at the meeting, on rectifying anomalies in our salaries," he said.

Chandrapala said that the problem was passed from one to another from 2006, but this time they would definitely stage tough trade union action after a month from yesterday.

At the discussion, he said, the NSCC also asked for two weeks time to refer the proposal, once they get it from the UGC for approval and amendments.

Therefore the IUTUF gave the government four weeks to resolve the issue, Chandrapala said.

He said that the NSCC had however promised to meet their grievances before the budget.

GMOA to decide on counter measures against increased threats

September 28, 2011, 10:28 pm

By Dasun Edirisinghe

The General Committee of the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) will meet today (29) to decide on a strategy to counter the stepped-up threats on its President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya for spearheading the ongoing protest campaign targeting the Malabe Private Medical College (PMC).

GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Sankalpa Marasinghe told The Island their executive committee, which met on Wednesday, had decided to brief the Cabinet of Ministers on the threats directed at those campaigning against the PMC.

The supreme body of the GMOA is the General Committee, which includes representatives from all government hospitals. The GMOA didn’t rule out the possibility of resorting to trade union action if the ongoing harassment and threats were not stopped forthwith.

Dr. Marasinghe said that they had discussed ways and means of meeting the threat against the GMOA, which last week threatened to sue Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake for allegedly defaming Dr. Padeniya.

The GMOA reacted angrily to the Bribery Commission removing Dr. Padeniya’s personal file from the Lady Ridgway Hospital for Children on Monday. Dr. Marasinghe alleged that those involved in the PMC project had been acting in a threatening manner and Monday’s removal of Dr. Padeniya’s personal file was part of their overall strategy.

Profs., Lecturers take sabbatical leave to work at Malabe PMC

September 28, 2011, 10:29 pm

By Nilantha Madurawela

A number of professors and senior lecturers, who were attached to the Medical Faculty of the University of Sri Lanka, have either joined the permanent staff of the Malabe Private Medical College or lecture at the institute during the weekends.

Among them are 16 Professors and 12 senior lecturers. Seven professors have taken sabbatical leave from the university and are teaching permanently at the private medical college while the rest of the professors and senior lecturers are conducting lectures during the weekends.

Director of the private medical college Dr. Sameera Senaratne told the media that they had been recruited after calling for applications.

He said a committee has been appointed by the health ministry to review the medical colleges and it had not mentioned anything about not recruiting students and hence its academic affairs continue as usual.

Uni. Non-academics to meet NSCC tomorrow

Hopeful of positive response

September 27, 2011, 9:54 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe

University non-academics are scheduled to meet officials of the National Salaries and Cadre Commission (NSCC) tomorrow (29) to discuss matters relating to anomalies in their salaries, which have not been rectified since 2006. They will put forward their proposals on rectifying the anomalies.

Representatives from the University Grants Commission (UGC), Higher Education Ministry and the Treasury are also expected to participate in the discussions.

President of the Inter University Trade Union Federation (IUTUF) told The Island yesterday that their executive committee would meet tomorrow afternoon to decide the future course of trade union action, which would be based on outcome of the discussion.

"We have already planned to take trade union action if government fails to resolve the problem as soon as possible," he said adding they would decide what action should be performed, based on the discussion with NSCC.

Chandrapala said that they however expect a positive response from the NSCC to their proposal at tomorrow’s meeting.

University non-academics, including administrative officers, performed a sick-note campaign in universities island wide on September 12 and threatened a token strike within 14 days demanding that the government take urgent steps to rectify anomalies in their salaries.

Chandrapala said that all successive governments, after 2006, had failed to honour the pledges made to non-academics and the problem had worsened now.

"This time, we launched our protest by holding a demonstration opposite the UGC on August 03," he said adding they would cripple universities overnight if the government continues to disregard their agitation.

 

GMOA vows to take legal action

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) Central Working Committee which met recently has unanimously decided to take legal action if the Higher Education Ministry did not oblige to the demands of the union to shut down the private medical university in Malabe.

GMOA Spokesman Dr. Upul Gunasekara said the union would send a letter of demand to Higher Education Minister S.B Dissanayake this week and may choose to take legal action depending on the response.

“We have received an approval to go ahead with the legal process. But we will wait for a response from the ministry,” Dr. Gunasekara said.

He said the union had decided on two courses of action. If the ministry chooses to dissolve the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), the GMOA will resort to islandwide trade union action without prior notice. “According to the Medical Ordinance doctors cannot practice without having registered with the SLMC. Therefore our licence to practise medicine will be annulled automatically if the SLMC is dissolved,” he said.

He also said if the Health Ministry permitted the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) to use any hospital in the country as proposed recently, the GMOA would go on an all island protest. “Hospitals are run on people’s taxes. We cannot allow a private institution of this nature to use public resources,” he said. (By Olindhi Jayasundere)

 

 

GMOA summons hurried Exco meeting claiming harassment

September 27, 2011, 9:56 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA)has hurriedly summoned an executive committee meeting today (28) in Colombo to decide their future course of action claiming harassment of some of their members who are working actively against the Malabe Private Medical College.

GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Sankalpa Marasinghe told The Island yesterday that their general committee which included representatives from countrywide government hospitals too meets tomorrow (29) to take immediate action against what he termed harassment of doctors.

"GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya’s personal file has already been removed from the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, Borella," he said adding it happened on Monday as Dr. Padeniya actively worked against the Malabe PMC.

Issuing an extraordinary gazette notification numbered 1721 – 19 of Aug. 30, 2011, Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake legalized the Malabe PMC and University Grants Commission (UGC) awarded the MBBS degree awarding status to it, which is similar to the government medical faculties, he said.

The GMOA officially launched their protest against the PMC a month ago by threatening a countrywide strike, but it was postponed due to the Ministry’s assurance on appointing a committee to investigate the standards of the PMC.

Dr. Marasinghe said that everyday their members are receiving threatening calls. Active members who work against the PMC are being followed by unidentified persons from last week.

He warned they would continue the protests despite all the threats and harassments.

"The Health Ministry appointed the committee recently to investigate the standards of the PMC as they promised to us," Dr. Marasinghe said adding that they will launch their future protests with the outcome of the committee’s findings.

Health Ministry spokesman, W. M. D. Wanninayake, when contacted by The Island for comment said that the ministry has appointed a five member committee to investigate the standards of the PMC.

He said that the ministry has also requested the PMC not to enroll students until the committee submits its report within two months.

"We will act according to the committee’s report," said Wanninayake.

FUTA awaits NSCC recommendationsby Dasun Edirisinghe

September 27, 2011, 9:57 pm

University teachers who were on warpath against the government for its inability to increase the salaries are now waiting for the National Salaries and Cadre Commission’s (NSCC) recommendation to resolve their grievances.

FUTA Secretary, Dr. Terrance Madhujith told The Island yesterday that the NSCC accepted their proposal to increase the salaries at a meeting held on September 21.

"We proposed to the NSCC to add 20% to the basic salary of university teachers as the increment," he said adding that the NSCC officials promised to come back as soon as possible after consulting their superiors.

Dr. Madhujith said that the government had a history of reneging on promises it made to university teachers since 2008, but this time the Higher Education Ministry promised to grant their dues in the 2012 budget.

Representatives from the University Grants Commission (FUTA), Treasury, FUTA and NSCC participated in the discussion, he said.

University teachers resorted to trade union action to pressure the government to rectify their salary anomalies, with a token strike on March 15, 2011. They resigned from university administrative posts on May 09 to further press their case.

"We stopped our trade union action based on several promises given by the Government," he said.

The FUTA proposed, Dr. Madhujith said that to create a special professional category for university teachers, but the government has yet to responded to that.

He said that they also urged that 6% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Production) be allocated to education and it too has yet to be accepted by the government.

 

Science News, The Telegraph, UK

Science world in shock after Cern light speed claim

Scientist have been accused of making an "embarrassing gaffe" in claiming to have recorded particles breaking the speed of light.

Prof Stephen Hawking, the world's best-known physicist, expressed doubts, saying: 'It is premature to comment on this. Further experiments and clarifications are needed' Photo: MARTIN POPE

By Nick Collins, Science Correspondent

11:42PM BST 23 Sep 2011

165 Comments

A British physicist even promised to eat his boxer shorts on live television if it turned out to be correct.

Scientists at CERN, the world's largest physics lab near Geneva, stunned the world of science on Thursday night by announcing they had observed tiny particles known as neutrinos travelling slightly faster than light.

The claim – if true – would be inconsistent with Einstein's theory of special relativity, a cornerstone of modern physics which states that nothing can travel faster than light.

Researchers were so astonished by their findings that they spent months checking their data, without finding any errors that would disprove their claim, and cautiously invited the world to prove them wrong.

Reacting to the news yesterday, scientists working on the project – known as OPERA – stressed the need for the results to be checked before drawing any conclusions about our understanding of the universe.

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Prof Jim Al-Khalili, professor of Physics at Surrey University, said: "The scientists are right to be extremely cautious about interpreting these findings. If the neutrinos have broken the speed of light, it would overturn a keystone theory from the last century of physics.
"That’s possible, but it’s far more likely that there is an error in the data. If the CERN experiment proves to be correct and neutrinos have broken the speed of light, I will eat my boxer shorts on live TV.”
Prof Stephen Hawking, the world's best-known physicist, also expressed doubts, saying: "It is premature to comment on this. Further experiments and clarifications are needed."
Others said that, while the accuracy of the experiment needs to be verified, its impact on our understanding of science and the world around us could be almost unprecedented.
Brian Cox, the TV presenter and physicist, told BBC Radio 6 Music: "If it is confirmed it will be the most important discovery in physics in at least the past 100 years.
"It is a very big deal, it requires a complete rewriting of our understanding of the universe ... it is such an extraordinary claim that it is difficult to believe."
But Dr John Costella, an Australian-based physicist, accused the researchers of making an "embarrassing gaffe" in their calculations.
In a paper published online yesterday, he wrote: "Any physicist worth even a fraction of their weight in neutrinos will be shaking their head, knowing intuitively that the OPERA result is simply wrong."