(Lanka-e-News -11.May.2020, 11.30PM) Secretary to the Ministry of Health Bhadrani Jayawardene has been removed from her post and the Commanding Officer of the Army Medical Corps and the Director General of the Army Health Service, Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe, has been appointed to the position, He assumed office today. (Shown in photo)
Sanjeewa Munasinghe was born in Kaluthara and he is a radiologist by profession. He joined the army in 1986 as a captain. His wife is also a doctor and a brigadier in the army medical corps. Sanjeewa’s younger brother was also an officer of the Gemunu regiment but unfortunately died in the war.
Munasinghe has also served in the director board of Lanka Hospitals when Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was the Secretary of Defense. Sanjeewa Munasinghe has not been charged with any state financial frauds. There is no shortage of funds as both he and his wife work in private practice. Sanjeewa Munasinghe is a well-respected doctor and military officer in the Army but he is quite famous for his maladministration.
Today the health ministry deserves a public administration specialist. For the first time, a military officer has been appointed as a specialist radiologist to the post of Secretary of the Ministry of Health. One of the main demands of doctors working at the Ministry of Health is to appoint a person who has followed a post graduate degree in Medical Administration as the secretary of the Ministry. If not, at least a senior member of the Public Administration. This means the person appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Health must have the basic qualification of administration. In that context, it is doubtful whether the appointment of a radiologist like Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe to the post of Secretary of the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka is feasible.
However, during the time of Gotabhaya's reign, military officers were appointed as the administrators of many state institutions, and the heroes who protested against those are often seen with their mouths shut, their ears tapped and their tails tucked within. The best example is the Customs Department. Ports authority is another example. Former Navy Commander Admiral Jayanath Colombage is to be appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs. Under this context, if an army officer was appointed as the secretary to the health ministry people can see how the GMOA doctors would show their agitation and outcry.
Meantime another retired major general A.K.S. Perera is to be appointed as the secretary for the post of Mahaweli, agriculture, irrigation and village development ministry.
However few more secretaries were appointed for several ministries as follows.
Ms. S.M. Mohamed – Judiciary, Human rights and law reforms ministry
J.J. Rathnasiri – Public administration, home affairs and provincial councils ministry
S. Hettiarachchi – Tourism and civil aviation ministry
H.K.D.W.M.N.B Hapuhinna – women affairs, child protection and social welfare ministry
Ms. J.M.B Jayawardene – Internal trade, food security and consumer welfare ministry
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by (2020-05-12 01:16:15)
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