Jaffna Interns say minister is trying to limit their placements to NE

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva is trying to get the cabinet approval to offer placements only in the north and east for the graduates from Jaffna university, Interns said.

They say the proposal is against the decades-long practise of offering placements based upon merit.

Based upon merit

A spokesman for the group expecting placements, Dr. Kremlin Wickaramasinghe, told journalists in Colombo that the government is trying to create havoc in the system.

The minister is trying to destabilise a system that worked smoothly for over 35 years Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe

"The minister is trying to destabilise a system that worked smoothly for over 35 years," he said.

745 Interns were to be offered placements on Monday. 68 Interns are graduates from Jaffna Medical Faculty.

Dr. B Muralitharan said he expected to be offered a placement in a hospital based on merit but not where he completed his Medical degree.

GMOA letter to President

"This is a clear violation of our FR," Dr. Muralitharan said.

the merit-based system should not be destroyed just because the government is finding it hard to fill the vacancies in north east hospitals, according to the Medical Interns.

They say minister's proposal would not find any solution as Interns could not replace senior doctors.

In a letter to the authorities including the President, the General Medical Officers' Association has said that the government should not discriminate any group of professionals including the doctors.

Minister de Silva could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.