Dinesh moves Motion on SAITM in P’ment

Saturday, 24 June 2017 01:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Recalling the insurrection took place in 1988-89, the UPFA joint opposition group leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena moved a Motion at the Adjournment Time on the “Incident that took place at the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine on 21 June” in Parliament yesterday.

According to MP Gunawardena, unless the Government stops its action to suppress protests, public action will be inevitable.

“As a result of the clash between the Police and students, over 88 students were injured. The Medical Faculties have not been functioning for over 6 months as over 8,000 medical students have been boycotting classes. The quality of medical education is more important than the business of one or two individuals. You cannot allow SAITM to produce half-baked doctors. I ask the Government to be fair,” he said.

MP Gunawardena also stressed that the Neville Fernando Hospital has not been recognised or registered as a teaching hospital, adding that a medical college could not operate without a teaching hospital. In response, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Rajitha Senarathne warned the student movement to avoid resorting to rebellious actions to solve matters, especially on SAITM.

“Outdated socialism does not help you and it lacks any practical value today. Do not talk of arming yourself with clubs and poles. When you come with poles and clubs to the streets against SAITM they would come with T56 rifles. Finally, you would have to take the blame,” the Minister said.

However, Opposition lawmaker JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti pledged that they would continue the struggle against SAITM.

“We vow to take this struggle forward till the Government shuts down SAITM. If the Government hesitates to do that, it will be sent packing. The Battle of Waterloo marked the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte despite the many of his successful campaigns prior to that. Likewise, the SAITM struggle will mark the end of this Government. Now this is a battle being fought in the streets,” he warned demanding the release of IUSF Convenor Lahiru Weerasekara. (AH)