Don’t insult Forces to settle political scores, urges President

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday urged politicians and various individuals to desist from insulting war heroes to settle private or political scores with the Government.

Addressing a ceremony held to mark the handing over of appointment letters to more than 1,200 nurses, President Rajapaksa said any such allegations should be substantiated with facts.

“There is absolutely no discrimination on ethnic and religious grounds in Sri Lanka although several elements are trying to tarnish the image of the Government and the Security Forces by making baseless allegations. Even terrorists are treated at our hospitals,” President Rajapaksa said.

The President noted that many Tamil civilians readily seek refuge in cleared areas and Sinhalese majority areas in the South when major incidents occur in the North-East. Would they do that if human rights violations were rampant, he asked.

He said certain persons were spreading allegations that there are disappearances in Sri Lanka and people are being abducted.

“They may be not in good terms with me and may be having different opinions but we have to think about our country. When we fall sick there is no political, ethnic or religious differences. What they try to show is, that there is violence in Sri Lanka similar to 88/89 era but as citizens who have been living in Sri Lanka, I ask you whether there is violence now.”

“If someone accuses the Armed Forces, they have to come with relevant facts and without facts no one can disgrace heroic Sri Lankan Armed Forces who protect the country and the people. This is a chronic and incurable disease that some politicians have. You me or anyone else cannot cure it,” the President added.

The President said that as one country and one nation the Government is responsible for the well-being of all the people in the North and the South.

He noted that another 1,800 nurses would be appointed in July. The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has set a record in history as the only Ministry that gave appointments to the highest number of persons within a period of six months.

“We are going to recruit 15,000 nurses in order to meet the demand. One million rupees is invested to train one nurse. We are going to increase the number of rural hospitals. We allocated Rs.63 billion, the highest amount of money for the health sector this year. As a responsible Government we cannot stay idle saying we have a war.”

“Up to date nurses are the only professionals not subjected to bribery allegations. I hope you will protect this distinguished service and deliver an excellent service to the public,” said the President.

“The main objective of appointing these nurses is developing and taking forward the health sector under Mahinda Chinthana. President Rajapaksa has shown his gratitude towards nurses and their service by calling them to Temple Trees and handing over appointment letters himself.

Sri Lanka is the only country in the world that train nurses free of charge and pays them Rs.12,000 per month during the training period,” Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said.

“All the nurses have been given duty stations according to their skills and I request them not to go after anyone to get the duty station changed because as responsible citizens we have to think what we can do for the country and not what the country can do for us.

Now nurses can obtain leave and they can go abroad because we are going to get adequate nurses soon. Countries such as Italy, canada, U.S and U.S.A have made requests from Sri Lanka to get the services of Sri Lankan nurses and we will send 500 nurses abroad initially.

All nurses training Schools will be upgraded and nurses will soon be given the opportunity to obtain a Bsc in Nursing.

“We are doing all these things while fighting terrorism, facing internal and external conspiracies and despite a great danger to the President’s life.

The Government has never said there is no funds for the development of the health sector,” the minister added.