BY AMILA JAYASINGHE
The Cabinet Secretary should take action against, the Director General of the Health Services, Dr. Ajith Mendis, before he resigns on 6 August, Public Services Trade Union Confederation Secretary, ( PSTUC) Saman Rathnapriya, demanded yesterday.
“It is the Cabinet that holds the appointing authority and it is the only body which is allowed to take action with regard to this issue,” Rathnapriya said explaining that the Former Director of the Medical Suppliers’ Department, Dr. Sarath Weerabandara, had lodged two complaints with the President, which led to the Presidential Investigation unit conducting a probe during which certain malpractices were uncovered,”. “After Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga had perused the report, which was submitted by the Presidential Investigation Unit, it was revealed that there were misappropriation of money when the Director General was importing Rs 18 million worth of surgical gloves from an expired company while they already had stocks.
But, after the report was sent to the Secretary of the Health Ministry, Dr. Ravindra Rubero, he hadn’t released the report to the Cabinet,” Rathnapriya alleged adding that they had carried out their campaign on bribery and corruption for a month and it did raise some awareness and if things don’t turnout right we will carry out a leaflet campaign next week.”
