Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to speak on the Health allocation. Free healthcare delivers immense benefits, and we thank the Minister, Secretary, and officials.

¶ 03 At the Consultative Committee meeting, I raised: 1) The list of those who died of COVID-19, earlier requested in this House by SLMC Leader Hon. Rauff Hakeem. The Minister promised to table it soon. Thank you.

¶ 04 2) Pottuvil Base Hospital: I explained the dire staffing shortages—22 Medical Officer vacancies, 3 Consultant vacancies, and 40 Nursing Officer vacancies—hampering services in a major tourist area (Arugam Bay). I tabled documents at the Committee and now in this House. Please fill these urgently.

¶ 05 3) An ENT unit at Palamunai Hospital, to be combined with Akkaraipattu Base Hospital. Although the Eastern Province Governor approved it, it has not been implemented. The Health Secretary agreed to take action. This will benefit the entire Eastern Province; please proceed.

¶ 06 4) The shortage of the medicine “imigran” in the East (absent since 2004 in many government facilities). Patients’ conditions worsen without it. The Minister said it would be made available in outside pharmacies; please expedite to avoid complications.

¶ 07 On Indigenous Medicine: Over 2,500 Ayurveda graduates have awaited government employment for years; this harms their livelihoods and the health sector. In 2023, 61 appointments were given to fill retiree vacancies, but Unani posts were neglected while Ayurveda and Siddha were included, which is unfair. All Indigenous systems—Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha—have long served our people. However, due to legal frameworks, all are grouped as Ayurvedic Medical Officers, undermining Unani’s distinct identity and jobs. Please address this inequity and also inform when the remaining 2,500+ graduates will be recruited.

¶ 08 On Mass Media: The SLBC Muslim Service has aired nightly since 1951 and generates considerable revenue. During Ramadan it needs more time, but it has been reduced from 60 to 40 minutes. This has distressed the community. Please restore it to one hour.

¶ 09 Ramadan has begun; two matters are troubling the community, and I ask the Minister’s attention. The Ministry is performing well, working with balance and listening to the Opposition. We raise these to help the country move forward. Please continue the good work.

¶ 10 Thank you.