There is currently a controversy surrounding the individuals appointed to the Medical Council by the previous Minister of Health. It is being suggested that the Minister violated the Medical Ordinance in making these appointments.
The controversy revolves around the alleged violation of Section 29 (f) of the Medical Ordinance. This section states that at least two council members nominated by the Minister should not be employed by the government or receiving a government pension.
It has been revealed that the former Minister appointed four members in clear disregard of these regulations. Out of these four members, three are known to be employed by the Ministry of Health: Dr. Kapila Jayaratne, Dr. Anwar Hamdani, and Dr. Janaka Rajapaksha.
Therefore, these appointments appear to be in violation of Section 12(f) of the Medical Ordinance, which allows the Health Minister to appoint only two members who are employed by the government.
Furthermore, the only council member who was not receiving a salary or pension was removed without a valid reason. It is reported that the President of SLMC requested this removal, as the ousted member had raised concerns about irregular activities within the council.
In light of these developments, specialists and medical practitioners are urging the new Health Minister to thoroughly investigate this matter and ensure that council members are appointed in strict compliance with the Medical Ordinance.
