New institute planned to train politicians

Disna Mudalige

The Government’s attention has been directed towards establishing a separate institute to train politicians, said Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena. He observed that in many developed countries there are similar institutes and that the need of such a body is highly felt in the country.

He was addressing a ceremony to launch a Health Promotion Diploma to train health sector employees. This diploma is offered by the Colombo University Medical Faculty to various groups including nurses, dentists, ayurvedic doctors, registered and assistant medical officers, public health inspectors and family health officers. He said the absence of such an institute is a defect in the Sri Lankan political sphere.

“There are separate courses to teach the way to speak at public audiences, associating with the public, dining etiquettes and other social manners which will help build the image as a public figure.

A politician does not only mean a Member of Parliament. According to our Constitution there are four institutions in which candidates are selected by elections for administration. They are Local Governments, Provincial Councils, the Parliament and the Executive.

The training of politicians will help promote their position step by step,” Sirisena said.

He said that numerous criticisms directed at politicians and problems they face could be reduced by establishing a separate institute for their training.

“When I entered Parliament it was through Parliament Consultative Committees that I learned.

If there are 30 ministries there are 30 Consultative Committees, and the problems related to each ministry are discussed in them”, he said.

Colombo University Medical Faculty Dean Dr Harshalal Seneviratne and Human Resource Development Unit Director Dr Kumara Hirimburegama also participated.