The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Madam Presiding Member, the Adjournment Motion presented by the Hon. Ruwan Wijeweera today particularly states that there are many issues such as overcrowding at Outpatient Departments (OPDs), deficiencies in facilities and service quality, lack of trained staff, and problems in providing and maintaining equipment to state hospitals, and that in certain cases, private OPDs operate without proper standards causing suffering to patients. I thought he would present numerous points in that regard. However, five months have passed and every Member who speaks talks with people about these problems but not about a work plan to resolve them. From morning till night, the Opposition only talks about the “aragalaya” and such matters. Please understand, this Government is yours now. So first, attend to your responsibilities.

¶ 02 Recently I raised the issue of the President’s Fund. I wrote to the Presidential Secretariat requesting details—specifically for the years 2004 to 2010—of the amounts Members of Parliament obtained from the President’s Fund. They replied that it was difficult to provide details. I requested those details; they have still not been given. I have now filed an appeal; they have asked for another 21 days. I think as long as this Government exists, those details will not be provided. Therefore, please produce the information from 2004 onwards. Then we can clearly see who did what. Please present that as well, without mudslinging, and let us proceed with our duties.

¶ 03 With the time I have, I also want to speak about pharmaceuticals. Madam Presiding Member, our Health Minister clearly said that unless the Medical Supplies Division, the NMRA, the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation and the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation work together—