The Hon. V.S. Radhakrishnan

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, amidst many challenges, Hon. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa is taking action to run the Health Ministry effectively. I believe he is a capable Minister and, compared to his predecessors, he can deliver better, with future opportunities to do so. Health is one of the most important ministries.

¶ 02 I wish to raise issues from Nuwara Eliya District. Hospitals in Maskeliya, Hatton, Kotagala, Mandaram Nuwara, Lindula, Watawala, Rikilagaskada, and Udapussellawa have seen little development. Many are legacy facilities established in colonial times. In Hatton’s Dickoya, the Sri Lanka–India Friendship Hospital was built with Indian funding. I believe it was inaugurated about ten years ago by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yet its staffing (cadre) remains unchanged. That cadre must be increased. During a recent bus accident, even admitting the injured there proved difficult; serious cases must be sent to Nawalapitiya or Nuwara Eliya. Please upgrade that hospital and increase its cadre.

¶ 03 Most Sri Pada pilgrims pass through Maskeliya; when they fall ill they go to the Maskeliya Hospital due to proximity. Please develop the Maskeliya Hospital accordingly.

¶ 04 Nuwara Eliya General Hospital is of good standard but faces cadre shortages; the MS informed me this morning that the cadre hasn’t increased for ten years. Please take action to increase it. The hospital has two sections: new and old. The Gynaecology Ward is in the old section; when patients must go to the new section, there is no ambulance facility. Given Nuwara Eliya’s rainy climate, you cannot carry patients by hand. Also, in the old hospital’s gynaecology ward, 10 patients share one toilet—please remedy this.

¶ 05 As Hon. Mano Ganesan also said, there are serious issues in plantation areas due to the ‘line room’ living pattern. Without addressing that, solving health problems is very hard. There are 502 estate (plantation) hospitals; the previous Government took over 448 of them, 44 were taken by the Government after that, and 25 more subsequently. Another 14 of that category still need to be taken over; beyond that, 390 estate hospitals remain outside Government control. Similar to how estate schools were taken over, the Health Ministry should take over these hospitals, and appoint doctors. Currently, most such facilities are manned by Estate Medical Assistants and dispensers, who hand out “colored tablets” with limited qualifications. That will not raise the community’s health status. Please develop a plan; if you need support, we will help.

¶ 06 On estate preschools: there are about 1,194 preschools; the mid‑day meal is provided to only about 194. Malnutrition among under‑fives is about 27%, and stunting around 10.2%. The Minister has said the Triposha program will be restarted, with funds allocated—we welcome that. Sanitation in estates remains poor—sometimes 10–20 families share 2–3 toilets—and more than 30,000 people lack safe drinking water though many water sources originate in Nuwara Eliya. As Minister of Special Area Development in the past, I proposed restrooms for estate workers who pluck tea leaves without any basic sanitation—please implement restrooms (4–5 per large estate).

¶ 07 The ‘line room’ lifestyle must be transformed; plantation health should be integrated into the national health system. Though the highlands are water‑rich, about 70% lack safe drinking water. Many die before reaching a hospital due to transport issues—especially pregnant women and elders. Sanitation is inadequate. These cannot be solved by the Plantation and Community Infrastructure Ministry alone; all relevant ministries—Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Water Supply, Women and Children’s Affairs, Education, and Health—must work together.

¶ 08 A national body, the All‑Island Tamil Journalists’ Union, has been formed. Journalists face many issues—no pension, no basic facilities, equipment, or housing; many rent homes. The Government should support them. The Indian High Commission has offered training opportunities abroad. We expect the Government to bring a similar program.

¶ 09 I have documents on issues in homeopathy; due to lack of time I table them, and request the Minister to resolve those issues.

¶ 10 This 10th Parliament has 21 doctors, including our Speaker. I half‑jokingly note they seem to have done more politics than medicine—which is why they are here. We value their contribution.

¶ 11 Thank you.