SRI LANKA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Intercollegiate Committee
Wijerama House, No 06, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7
Tel: +94(0)11-2693324 Fax: +94(0)11-2698802
email: office@slma.lk website: www.slma.lk

CHAIRPERSON
Prof. (Dr) Samath D. Dharmaratne 7th April 2022
Sri Lanka Medical Association
His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa
CONVENOR President
Dr. G. Mayurathan Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Your Excellency,

Dr. Gihan Abeywardena
Dr. Duminda Abeysinghe Re. Urgent corrective measures for the crisis affecting the Health and Wellbeing
Dr Arosha S. Dissanayake of the people of Sri Lanka
Prof. Asita de Silva
Dr. Suren De Zylva We, the Presidents of Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), Medical Professional
Dr LakKumar Fernando Colleges and Associations (working in collaboration as SLMA Medical Intercollegiate
Dr. Chaminda Garusinghe Committee (SMIC), are writing this letter with the objective of drawing your kind
Dr. Dammika Gunawardena attention to yet another evolving crisis in Sri Lanka, directly related to the health and
Dr. Harsha Gunasekera wellbeing of its people.
Dr. Romesh Gunasekera
Dr. Satish K. Goonesinghe Our urgent concerns are listed below.
Dr. Kisali Hirimuthugoda
Dr. Nandika Harischandra
1. There is an acute shortage of essential medicines, reagents, equipment and
Dr. Ajith Jayasena
consumables in government hospitals and the private healthcare sector in Sri
Dr. W. A. Dileep Karunaratne
Lanka. Already decisions have been made to curtail some services such as routine
Dr. Ravini de Silva Karunathilake
surgical operations and even limit the usage of available material to life-
Dr. K.D.R.A. Kirihene
threatening illnesses.
Dr. L.P.C. Saman Kumara
Prof. Sarath Lekamwasam
This is not at all a sound policy as, what is considered non-emergency situations
Dr. Ananda Lamahewage
could turn into life-threatening problems within a few hours. In addition, this is
Dr. Sanath Lanerolle
not a sustainable policy and unless urgent replenishment of supplies is made,
Dr. D.K.D. Mathew
within a matter of weeks, if not days, emergency treatment will also not be
Dr. G. Mayurathan
possible. This will result in a catastrophic number of deaths, which is likely to be
Dr. Gamini Pathirana
in excess of the combined death toll of COVID, Tsunami and the Civil War.
Dr. Geethika Patabandige
Dr. Dilshan Priyankara
Dr. Anoma Perera
2. Health encompasses physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing of people.
Prof. Sharman Rajindrajith
Hence, we are greatly concerned about the shortages of food and essential
Dr. R. M. S. K.Rathnayake paraphernalia for people to provide themselves with basic needs such as nutrition,
Dr.Sonali Rodrigo transport and electricity. We are also concerned gravely about the need to preserve
Dr. Harsha Sathischandra fundamental rights and guarantee basic freedoms such as right to information as
Dr. Rajitha Samarasinghe these encompass important aspects of mental and social wellbeing of a population.
Dr. Geethani Samaraweera
Dr. Ranmini Seneviratne We have identified how we, as a group of professionals, could extend our help to the
Dr. Lakshmi Somatunga authorities to overcome the crisis, and list them below.
Dr. Chandani Udagedara
Prof. Mandika Wijeyaratne 1. We accept that the current crisis has no immediate solutions and are willing to
Dr. Preethi Wijegoonewardene extend our expertise, guidance and advice to you at this moment.

2. We have initiated discussions with our members on preservation of the existing

stocks of medicines and consumables to last for as long as possible (which may be
only a very short-term solution) by prudent use. We do appreciate that even
patients having non-emergency and non-urgent illnesses require optimal care and
withholding their treatment will pose medical and ethical problems for the doctors
of the country. 1
 SRI LANKA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Intercollegiate Committee
Wijerama House, No 06, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7
Tel: +94(0)11-2693324 Fax: +94(0)11-2698802
email: office@slma.lk website: www.slma.lk

3. We pledge to regularly meet and discuss with the ministers holding health related portfolios as
well as your good self and provide guidance and advice to provide the most equitable
distribution of severely restricted medical supplies.

In addition, we request your kind cooperation on the following aspects.

1. We urge you to discuss with ministers holding relevant portfolios, public officials such as
Secretary to Treasury, Secretary Health and Governor of the Central Bank about securing
funding to fulfill the basic needs of the hospitals and the National Immunization Programme of
the country. This is an urgent priority.

2. Whilst accepting the immediate crisis, we wish to know from you and relevant officials details
of your plans to meet the exigencies related to health and wellbeing of the population. We
request a clearly laid out road map with time frames to be provided at the earliest possible time.
We can then in turn do our duty in reassuring the medical community as well as the general
public that solutions to the pressing health and wellbeing issues are forthcoming.

We do accept that these are difficult times for you as well as all the citizens of the country. The need of
the hour is to be truthful, compassionate and for you to use the country’s intellectual resources in the
form of expert advice and guidance from professionals.

We in the medical profession stand firmly committed to doing everything possible to preserve the health
and wellbeing of the people of Sri Lanka in this crisis. We do believe that you share our ideals and
sentiments expressed regarding the health of the nation and its people.

Please be kind enough to grant us an urgent appointment to meet your Excellency with top officials of
the Ministry of Health to discuss and develop a contingency plan. We will provide our fullest support
to mitigate the crisis.

We wish to thank you, in advance, for your most kind consideration of the contents of this
communication.

Yours faithfully,

Profesor Samath D. Dharmaratne

President
Sri Lanka Medical Association and Chairperson Intercollegiate committee (SMIC)

Dr. W. A. Dileep Karunaratne Prof. Asita de Silva

President, Sri Lanka Collège of Radiologist President, Sri Lanka Association of Clinical
Pharmacology and Therapeutics

2
 SRI LANKA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Intercollegiate Committee
Wijerama House, No 06, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7
Tel: +94(0)11-2693324 Fax: +94(0)11-2698802
email: office@slma.lk website: www.slma.lk

Dr. Kisali Hirimutugoda

President, Collage of Chemical Pathologist of
Sri Lanka Dr. Anoma Weerawardena
President, Sri Lanka College of Haematologists

Prof. Arosha Dissanayake

President, Ceylon College of Physicians

Dr. R. De S. Karunatillake
Prof. Shaman Rajindrajith President, Sri Lanka College of Pulmonologists
President, Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians

Dr. Sonali Rodrigo

President. College of Pathologist of Sri Lanka
Dr. L. A. P. Perera
President, Sri Lanka College of
Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists of Sri
Lanka

Dr. Geethika Patabendige

President, Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists
Dr. Ganaka Senaratne
President, Sri Lanka College of Internal
Medicine
Dr. G. Mayurathan
President, Sri Lanka College of Cardiology

Dr. (Mrs.) Chandani Udagedara

President, Sri Lanka College of Dermatologist

Dr. W. D. Dilshan Priyankara

President, Ceylon College of Critical Care
Specialists
Dr. Gihan Abeywardena
President, Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists