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It appears that the National Transport Commission (NTC) which was set
up primarily to safeguard the interests of the commuters are now joining
hands with the private bus operators and readily agree to their demand
for fare hikes.
Recently they announced that the fare increases for short distances
would be only 17.5 per cent. But when the fare for two stages which was
Rs. 6 goes upto 8, the increase is 33.33 per cent while the three stage
fare which was Rs. 8 earlier becomes Rs. 11 after the revision, the
increase is 37.5 per cent.
Private bus operators do not adhere to any of the rules and
regulations of the NTC and neither does the NTC make any attempt to
enforce them.
Some of them are;
1. No tickets are issued to passengers
2. In inter-city buses passengers getting off mid-way have to pay the
full fare.
3. In inter- city A/C buses there are always five to six standing
passengers even though none is permitted.
4. A child of 8 or 10 years occupying a seat has to pay the full
fare.
5. Buses are supposed to have doors which should be closed once the
bus starts moving. There are no doors in most buses.
6. A First Aid box with medicines should be there. since there are no
such boxes an injured passenger is dropped off to seek treatment on his
own.
TILAK FERNANDO - Colombo 6
I refer to the letters of Mr. Azhar dated June 12 and Dr. Thilak
Fernando’s letter dated June 21.
The 1st Homoeopathic Medical Council lasted for 10 years from 1978 to
1989 was appointed by the Minister of Health which consisted of
institutionally qualified homoeopaths.
There were so many loopholes in the Homoeopathy Act which encouraged
registration of quacks and various other malpractices since the
Homoeopathy Act had not been drafted by professionals to meet accepted
professional standards at present times.
During the term of the 1st Homoeopathic Council, all institutionally
qualified homoeopaths were registered and as the Act demanded in most
unprofessional terms, quite a umber of lay homoeopaths too have been
registered.
The registration of another group of 43 applicants was rejected by
the Homoeopathic Council after testing them for a number of times within
the course of five years from 1983 to 1988.
Most of this category of people did not have even the basic academic
qualifications. Thereafter as for the provisions of the Homoeopathic
Act, registration of new practitioners was restricted only to the
institutionally qualified practitioners as and when they return to the
country after qualifying.
All institutionally qualified homoeopaths have undergone 4 1/2 years
course of study in recognised Homoeopathic Colleges and hospitals in
foreign countries since there is no recognised Homoeopathic College or
teaching hospital in Sri Lanka up to now.
The biggest damage caused in the process of registration of
practioners was the number of lay homoeopaths outnumbered number of
institutionally qualified homoeopaths and the worst part was both these
categories have been registered in one register with similar status.
The first Homoeopathic Council and various other interested
organisations, professionals pointed out to successive Health Ministers
and specially to Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva the importance of
bringing amendments to the Homoeopathic Act before the election of
Second Homoeopathic Council since there was a danger that in the Second
Homoeopathic Council that there would be majority representation by lay
homoeopaths if elected without amending this Act. This never
materialised due to various reasons.
The second Homoeopathic Council was elected in 1988, which consisted
of lay homoeopaths in majority as predicted.
The President of this Council as the first official work registered
his wife who had been his dispenser for some years, under
institutionally qualified group of practitioners and also this council
violating most of the provisions of the Homoeopathy Act fraudulently
registered all those applicants who had been rejected by the first
council ten years ago.
The only Health Minister who understood all these issues as a
professional was P. Dayaratne when he was the Minister of Health.
He was very particular about bringing in the amendments to the
Homoeopathic Act and requested the Indian Government to provide services
of a homoeopathic consultant to advise him on the development of
homoeopathic system of medicine in Sri Lanka.
Fulfilling Minister Dayaratne’s request, the Government of India sent
Dr. Ishwaradas, a consultant in homeopathy to the Government of India to
Sri Lanka for a period of one year.
Unfortunately, by the time Dr. Ishwaradas arrived in Sri Lanka, Sri
Lanka Government had changed and the worst thing was the subject of
Homeopathy had been transferred to Ministry of Indigenous Medicine from
the Ministry of Health for the second time.
Dr. Ishwarada’s recommended amendments to the Homoeopathy Act as the
first measure and obtained proposals from four recognised Homoeopathic
Institutions in India to open well equipped Homoeopathic College and
hospital in Sri Lanka with no cost to Sri Lankan Government. But nothing
materialised under the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine.
Subsequently the third Homoeopathic Council was elected in 2006 and
the worst situation was that this council consisted mainly by lay
Homoeopaths from that fraudulently registered 43 group of applicants
who’s names have been removed from the provisional register by the first
council, including the name of present president of the Third
Homoeopathic Council.
The president of the third or present Homoeopathic Council is also
the president of his own private association through which he collects
money from the public indirectly promising registration by making use of
his position as President of the Government Homoeopathic Council.
There was an advertisement which appeared in a newspaper on June 25,
2006 calling for applications from those who practice medicine without
registration with a deposit of Rs. 200 from each applicant and this
amount to be credited to the account of the President of the
Homoeopathic Council.
The latest development was that this President of the Homoeopathic
Council had publicly announced an opening of a non existing and
imaginary first Homoeopathic College on May 4, 2007 at the Government
Homoeopathic premises by way of an invitation through his private
association where it was stated that the chief guest was the Minister of
Indigenous Medicine and the 1st student will be enrolled on that day.
There had been another two circulars requesting contribution of Rs.
50,000 as donation for opening ceremony of the Homoeopathic Medical
College and also requesting Rs. 3,600 from each applicant as admission
fees for this non existing Medical College which was to be opened by the
Minister of Indigenous Medicine as the invitation card indicated.
We also understand classes are already being conducted for the past
few months at the premises of Welisara Government Homoeopathic building
by a group of people including the President of the Homoeopathic Council
in the name of his private association.
It is a threat to dignity, ethics and professional conduct of
institutionally qualified Homoeopathic doctors as well as a tremendous
health hazard to the unsuspected suffering humanity, when these quacks
who have had no any form of medical training if permitted to practice
destroy the entire system of homeopathy.
DR. G. G. A. APONSO
Founder President Professional Association of
Homoeopathic Medical Practitioners Member of the First
Homoeopathic Council, Colombo 4
I am a Sri Lankan living in Australia for the last 20 years. I am
keen in establishing some contacts with people of all walks of life in
our beautiful Motherland to which I am returning to live for the rest of
my life in the near future.
Fellow Sri Lankans of all walks of life may be interested in opening
a dialogue of mutual interests with me may be able to write to me by
email [email protected] or write to me by post Ranjith Perera, PO
Box 1020, Merrylands, NSW 2160, Australia.
RANJITH |
