Don Asoka Wijewardena
The Government Medical Officers Association has decided to demand Rs. 300 million from Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayaka, claiming that he has defamed its president Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya.
GMOA General Secretary Dr. Chandika Epitakaduwa, addressing the media yesterday, said that Minister had falsely claimed that Dr Padeniya had failed his MD and thereby was not qualified to be an acting Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at Lady Ridgeway Hospital.
Dr. Epitakaduwa said that Minister Dissanayaka would have to prove that Dr. Padeniya hadn’t obtained the required qualifications.
He said that if Minister Dissanayake failed to pay the GMOA Rs. 300 million
the GMOA would be compelled to institute legal action.Dr. Epitakaduwa said that the medical qualifications of Dr. Padeniya had been recognised by Board of Management, Board of Study, Post Graduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM), Public Service Commission (PSC) and Health Ministry.
Minister Dissanayaka had made a statement that he would dissolve the Sri Lanka Medical Council(SLMC) unless it recognised the Malabe medical school degree, Dr. Epitakaduwa said claiming that the minister had no powers to do so. Only Parliament could dissolve the SLMC, he said.
IS