BY Rathindra Kuruwita
The government’s actions were forcing thousands of health professionals out of the country and it would become impossible to manage the healthcare sector, Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) spokesman, Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said.
“There is already a crippling shortage of medicine, and hundreds of doctors have left the country for economic reasons. I don’t know how many other healthcare professionals have left the country. How can we maintain the system at this rate? The government doesn’t care,” he said.
Dr. Wijesinghe said they had been engaged in continuous discussions with the government on resolving issues in the health sector. The government has always tried to evade responsibility by pointing the finger at the IMF, he said.
“During a meeting with the President, we were asked to discuss these issues with IMF officials. This is not a positive attitude,” he said.
Dr. Wijesinghe said that whenever serious problems arise, the government tries to downplay the issue by making absurd claims and by trying to divide the people.
“For example, a large number of people, who are not affected by the tax reforms, have stood with us. And the government and its lackeys are laughing at these selfless people for fighting for another group. We are not taking union action because of taxes alone,” he said.
Dr. Wijesinghe said that the people of the country have made enormous sacrifices and 47 unions have come together to fight the unjust social and economic policies of the government because the government has shown no consideration to the grievances of the people.
Federation of University Teachers’ Association FUTA Spokesperson, Charudatta Ilangasinghe said that they do not believe the government’s claim that the economy is recovering.He said that a lot of university students are uncertain about their future.
“Despite what the government is saying, the ground realities are quite worrying. Sri Lankan people deserve to live in a country where they are not plagued by anxiety all the time,” he said.Ilangasinghe claimed that the government has not shown any consideration to the plight of the people, and this is why there are continuous strikes.