“The provincial council system is unnecessary, a burden to the country, an unnecessary distortion. I was against the provincial council system then, today and tomorrow. It is my personal opinion. I will say it anywhere.” State Minister of Pharmaceuticals Supply and Regulation Prof. Channa Jayasumana says.
This was stated by the Minister of State Prof. Channa Jayasumana while participating in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Multipurpose Building of the Galenbindunuwewa Yakalla Huruluwewa Hospital.
The building is scheduled to be completed with the intervention of the Army Corps of Engineers at a cost of Rs. 80 million and the building is scheduled to be opened to the public by April next year.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Channa Jayasumana said, “When I came to inspect a tank repair work in the area, I came to know that the mother of a friend of mine had been admitted to this hospital for treatment. It was only after I came to the hospital to see her that I saw the condition of the hospital buildings.
In fact, the condition of the hospital is deplorable and shameful. The hospital kitchen and maternity ward are dilapidated. I have visited the Teaching Hospital in the Anuradhapura District, the Base Hospitals, the District Hospitals and all the Regional Hospitals and inspected and facilitated them.
Primary care units will also be inspected in the future. Considering the Kurunegala district and our district we are at zero level. At present two buildings are being constructed at Thambuttegama and Eppawala hospitals. They have not even been opened. But you can’t find a corner without a crack. There is something wrong with this system. But look, the Negampaha Maradankadawala Kalawewa Hospital built during the D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, Bandaranaike, era in 1948-1950 is still in the best condition. Once painted and renovated, those buildings can be used again.
Buildings are being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 70-80 million to Rs. 150 million. Where is the standard of those buildings? These are done either from loans or by collecting taxes from the people of the country.
I was against the provincial council system then, today and tomorrow. That is my personal opinion. I say it anywhere. This system is not a system that Sri Lanka needs but only an unnecessary burden. The provincial council system has created an unnecessary distortion in decision making regarding health and education. In the future there will be a constitutional amendment under the leadership of the President.
The Minister further said that a model project is being carried out in a manner that is fair to the cost, the building is being constructed and the dilapidated building is being renovated.
Mahesh Wijesuriya, Anuradhapura