Refrain believing dramatic statements by parties: AMA requests public

The Association of Medical Administrators (AMA) requested the health officials, public and all nursing officers to refrain from believing the dramatic statements made by parties with vested interests about the events that took place at Colombo East Base Hospital (CEBH).

AMA President Dr. W. D. Thilakarathna said that they observed officials refraining from facing an immediate probe into the alleged submission of a forged letter to Singapore authorities by a nursing officer attached to CEBH, ignoring the complaint made by the Health Ministry Director on December 6.

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) also requested that the Health Ministry launch an investigation into the nursing officer's actions.

"We are astonished to see that an immediate investigation was called against the director of CEBH on December 12. We are compelled to believe that the Health Ministry has been influenced by the nurses’ trade union and some other interested groups. Statements are being made by nurses’ unions that the employment quota of nurses to Singapore from the Sri Lankan government has been suspended due to this act of the director of CEBH.

 Accordingly, this nursing officer has found employment by herself through a private agency that holds a registration at the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau, way before the commencement of government-to-government cooperation for employment in Singapore," Dr. Thilakarathna said.

The AMA would like to emphasize that hiding the misconduct of an individual will not benefit the profession, society or most importantly, international relations.

"We believe that submitting forged documents is unnecessary for the government nurses in Sri Lanka to obtain employment in foreign countries because they already possess the required knowledge, skills and attitudes," the president added. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)