25 pc of new doctors to Eastern Province

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

COLOMBO: Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva will post 25 per cent of the newly-appointed doctors to the Eastern Province to strengthen civil administration in the Province, a Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said the Minister had thanked the nine new doctors who volunteered to serve in the North and had pointed out that when President Mahinda Rajapaksa re-establishes civil administration in the North and Eastern Provinces, more doctors would be able to serve there.

The Minister had also expressed confidence that the newly-appointed doctors to the Eastern Province would serve without hesitation.

De Silva had observed that while countries like India charged about Rs. 30 million for medical education from each aspirant, Sri Lanka offers medical degree free under the free education.

Sri Lanka is the only country which recruits 1,000 MBBS graduates into the State sector, he added.

The Minister presented intern appointments to 225 doctors at a ceremony at the National Blood Centre, Colombo.