The Ministry of Health has appointed new directors to 17 hospitals and health institutions, including Castle Street Hospital for Women, De Soysa Hospital for Women, Mahamodara Teaching Hospital, the National Eye Hospital and Matara General Hospital.
According to the Health Ministry, the letters of appointment were presented recently at the Ministry by Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Jayatissa said the ministry would not take decisions for political advantage or popularity and that every decision would be assessed according to its contribution to the future progress of Sri Lanka’s health service and the country’s development. Some decisions may appear unfavourable in the short term, but we take them in the long-term interest of the health service, he said.
At the ceremony, Consultant Dr S. D. U. M. Ranga received appointment as Director of Castle Street Hospital for Women; Dr C. Perera as Director of De Soysa Hospital for Women; Dr K. M. Somaratne as Director of Mahamodara Teaching Hospital, also known as the German-Sri Lanka Friendship Women’s Hospital; Dr B. I. Kurukulasooriya as Director of the National Eye Hospital; and Dr J. P. Ranasinghe as Director of Matara General Hospital.
The minister also presented appointment letters to Dr A. M. S. Bandara as Provincial Director of Health Services, Sabaragamuwa; Dr N. Saravanabavan as Provincial Director of Health Services, Eastern Province; Dr A. M. T. K. Attanayake as Regional Director of Health Services, Badulla; Dr P. A. D. D. S. Ponweera as Regional Director of Health Services, Puttalam; Dr W. A. S. S. Wickrama as Regional Director of Health Services, Kandy; Dr S. T. A. P. Serasinghe as Regional Director of Health Services, Monaragala; Dr C. Murage as Regional Director of Health Services, Kalutara; Dr B. Kayalvili as Deputy Provincial Director of Health Service, North Western Province; Dr E. Rajapaksha as Director of Mental Health; Dr J. K. M. N. Jayakody as Director of the Anti-Malaria Campaign; Dr J. M. S. A. Jayasinghe as Director of the Anti-Leprosy Campaign; and Dr N. H. Dharmathilake as Director of the Food Administration Control Unit.
Congratulating the appointees, Minister Jayatissa described the appointments as an important step forward for the health service. He said the nine Deputy Director General appointments made earlier, the 17 director appointments made now, and the health administration appointments due to follow are the result of sustained work by the Ministry Secretary and senior officials.
The minister said the ministry had resolved several long-standing issues. The ministry decisions are taken with a clear policy and a long-term vision. He described the appointment of Deputy Directors General as one of the most significant measures taken by the Ministry in recent times.
Minister Jayatissa urged the new directors to understand the mandate of the government. He said it did not matter whether they had voted for the government or not, but they had a responsibility to help turn that mandate into public policy and serve the people with commitment.
He said the government put in hard work and sacrifice to recover from repeated crises. The stability during the past 18 months, including the stabilisation of the economy, was the result of that effort, he said.
The minister Jayatissa said directors, as heads of institutions and divisions, had a duty to connect health staff with the public. If an institutional head worked with strength, purpose and direction, the institution would show clear progress, he said. He also stressed the importance of implementing decisions taken at ministry and national level.
The minister said the new directors would have the environment needed to make decisions for the future development of the health service, without political interference. He said the government and the Ministry needed strong institutional heads and would grant directors a level of authority they had not enjoyed before. (Newswire)