The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) alleged that the current Government including Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa is attempting to compel doctors to provide services against their will. Addressing a media briefing yesterday (1 April), GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Hansamal Weerasuriya stated that more than 23,000 doctors affiliated with the Association are not prepared to work under coercion.
Meanwhile, speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing held on Tuesday (31), Dr. Jayatissa defended the ongoing annual transfer process for doctors. He noted that approximately 6,000 transfers are scheduled to be completed by 10 May, with the process having commenced in early February (first week).
He emphasised that a formal, structured transfer process and system had not been effectively implemented over the past 13 years, alleging that certain individuals had remained in the same positions for extended periods, in some cases between 13 to 17 years. He further claimed that the new system and ongoing transfer process aims to eliminate such irregularities and ensure fairness and provide justice, particularly for the many doctors who had previously been disadvantaged and subjected to injustice due to being treated unfairly by the respective Association.
According to him, opposition to the process stems from individuals who had benefited from past irregular practices. Dr. Jayatissa stated that the Government is in the process of preparing and implementing a formal transfer mechanism for medical officers. He made these remarks in response to a question raised by journalists at the Cabinet press briefing, regarding the nationwide token strike initiated on Tuesday by the GMOA.
Addressing the media, he further alleged that although the Association claims to have served on transfer boards, some members of the Association had remained in the same positions for 13 to 17 years. “Therefore, all these irregularities are being stopped and an annual transfer process is being implemented,” he vowed.
“Those who don’t like this are those who abused their powers to keep their Executive Council members and the wives of their members in whichever places they like for years. Therefore, the relevant transfer process is being implemented,” he charged.
He also highlighted that until around 2018, the Health Ministry maintained a list for the Northern and Eastern regions, used to assign doctors during and after the war. “Even eight-nine years after the war ended, no one has tried to stop it. By 2020, it had evolved into a rural service list. In preparing that list, there are criteria from the Ministry. Although the Ministry should have established seven key criteria to prepare this list, various irregularities occurred due to this Association’s influence,” he said.
He added that, this time, the Ministry engaged with Directors and Provincial Directors of Health Services, conducting multiple discussions before preparing the Replacement List of Specialist Medical Officers based strictly on the seven criteria. “The Ministry does not require trade unions to prepare such lists. This is not the responsibility of unions, but of the Ministry. Accordingly, a list of 265 doctors was prepared and published. There is no necessity for union involvement in this process,” he asserted.
Responding to these remarks, Dr. Weerasuriya rejected Dr. Jayatissa’s claims, accusing him of making misleading statements. He highlighted that the GMOA had successfully facilitated a similar transfer process in 2019 with a reported success rate exceeding 98 per cent. He further noted that although the 2026 transfer process began in February, less than one-fifth of the planned 6,000 transfers have been completed over the past two months.
He criticised the Ministry’s performance, questioning its efficiency in implementing the program. Dr. Weerasuriya reiterated that doctors are not subordinate to the political authority and asserted that they are neither indebted to nor intimidated by any party. He stressed that GMOA members would not agree to work under pressure and warned that they are prepared to respond firmly to any challenges posed by Dr. Jayatissa.