The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Madam/Mr. Presiding Member, I intended to raise a point of order under Standing Order 91(i).

¶ 02 I do not need to raise a point of order now. I only wanted to point out, under Standing Order 91(i), that Members should speak to the subject.

¶ 03 I wanted to point out that Members should speak according to the subject. If I am not given the opportunity to say that, what are you going to do?

¶ 04 First, I wish to remind the Hon. Speaker of an important matter. Earlier, I attempted to raise a point of order. You are now in the Chair. Under Standing Order 143 regarding the Panel of Chairmen, those named must sit in the Chair. None of the ten named have come to Parliament today. The Hon. Speaker should ensure at least one of the ten sits in the Chair. What is happening now? Another Member comes and occupies the Chair, and when any Member raises a question, it is not permitted, and we are told to wait until the speech is over. I wished to raise a point of order under Standing Order 91(i). I clearly told you it was under Standing Order 91(i). But you did not allow me to raise it and stopped me until the Hon. Deputy Minister finished. That is wrong. One should know these before sitting in the Chair.

¶ 05 I am making this point so that such a situation does not arise in the future. Otherwise, when such things keep happening, some think we are trying to disrupt.

¶ 06 Therefore, I request the Hon. Speaker to ensure that procedure is followed.

¶ 07 Now I will present my question.

¶ 08 Regarding Allied Health graduates, a Gazette was issued on 2024.06.14 by the Ministry of Health—a Gazette drafted a year before. This Allied Health graduates issue has dragged on for years. I have raised various proposals at various times; I have spoken on this three or four times in this House. There are currently 294 vacancies for Medical Laboratory Scientists. There are 200 vacancies for Physiotherapists. Under that 2024 Gazette calling for limited (residential) training, there were 154 vacancies relevant to service entry and 94 vacancies for Physiotherapists. According to the Gazette, 277 graduates applied. Therefore, especially the university—

¶ 09 I will finish my remarks and then present the questions. I have asked adjournment questions many times before.

¶ 10 In 2021, an attempt was also made to hold an IQ test in this process. All the students opposed it, and it was cancelled. In 2024, again an IQ test was held. When attempting that again, the students raised many specific objections.

¶ 11 Our fundamental question is why an IQ test is being held for these recruitments. These candidates have scores. If recruitment is done according to those scores, there is no problem. Now this is not just the Minister’s or Ministry’s issue; several others are involved. The same people tried this during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s time and during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s time—without any proper understanding of the process.

¶ 12 Hon. Deputy Minister, I request this: for this IQ test, the state university graduates did not sit because they boycotted it. Those who sat were mainly from KDU and foreign/private institutions. Now there is an issue: for recruitment to these posts, requirements include at A/L Chemistry a “C” pass and Physics an “S” pass. Whether those who came from abroad or KDU and sat this test have those qualifications is now in question. As such, a grave injustice has arisen against Allied Health graduates from state universities.

¶ 13 Therefore, I request that you intervene. They have not been afforded discussions with you, with Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa, or with the Secretary. That is why they protested outside, and it ultimately became an IUSF-led protest, and they were assaulted and taken by police.

¶ 14 There are substantial vacancies in Allied Health. If you recruit to fill these, only a small number will remain, and such issues will not arise. First, I ask that fairness be afforded to state-university Allied Health graduates from 2020 onwards, and thereafter to those from abroad and KDU as appropriate. That is not what is happening now.

¶ 15 My questions:

¶ 16 1) How many Allied Health graduates are currently in the country?

¶ 17 2) What measures has the Government taken for their recruitment?

¶ 18 3) What is the number of vacancies, by category, for posts accessible with this degree, including Medical Laboratory Scientists and Physiotherapists?

¶ 19 4) It is learnt that a General Knowledge and IQ test was held. How many applicants sat for it?

¶ 20 5) Will all Allied Health graduates be recruited accordingly? If not, why?

¶ 21 After your answers, if I have further points, I will raise them.

¶ 22 Further clarification: You too know only about a hundred turned up for the IQ test; others decided against it. The core issue is that after four years of study, they say there is no need for another IQ test. Your figures show substantial vacancies. Our health service is today hampered—even exams cannot be held in some disciplines. You have the vacancies and eligible candidates. The problem lies not with you or politicians but within the administrative process. Please urgently attend to this so these graduates do not have to protest on the streets. Their only request is recruitment strictly by obtained marks, in order. If you keep insisting on IQ tests, this will become a serious issue. Please engage them and resolve this—then both the Ministry’s and graduates’ concerns will be addressed. I believe you will attend to this.

¶ 23 Thank you for your reply.