Government Medical Officers’ Association, Sri Lanka (GMOA) has sent a semi-celebratory SMS to the membership about Dr. Saman Kelegama‘s death.
The wordings in the SMS goes on to read “ECTA chief architect Dr. Saman Kelegam passed away. We are in the final stage of drafting the key framework of ‘National Trade Policy”. (please see the screenshots below)
“This was as the news hit that he passed away. I mean isn’t this unbelievably insensitive? Also they seem to believe that it is ‘Karma’ having a go at Dr Kelegama,” a member of GMOA told Colombo Telegraph.
According to him, in an another SMS the GMOA has unethically divulged the condition of the STF officer who led the team at the Health Ministry during last week’s clash between anti-SAITM university students and ministry officials. In a SMS the GMOA said: “SFT officer-in-charge who led attack on students got [Edited out by Colombo Telegraph] just after beating and was admitted to NHSL [Edited out by Colombo Telegraph] done.”
“Patient information is a ‘holy secret’. They can’t do this. They are a terrorist organization. If you look up the definition of terrorism, they fit it. I’ll give my resignation from GMOA” he told Colombo Telegraph on the condition of anonymity.
Samuel Jayaweera / June 26, 2017
Neurologist, paediatrician to be that lunatic not thinking twice about his service but rather work on the former highly abusive men is connected with the perks these men enjoyed under MR adminstration.
I think it is high time, STATE to remove these men from their services going through prevailing laws in the country.
Once these highly abusive men are out of GMOA, it will be feeling like THE DEAD virus is gone.
This Paddeniya the key person should think twice about the danger he has been making to the country today.
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Jagath Fernando / June 26, 2017
Hope the days are numbered for these executive committee members of GMOA.
The rest of the membership simply votes them in because they get all their dirty work done through these guys such as car permits and school admissions and transfers etc.
Yahapalanaya govt is a disgrace for not controlling these guys. I am no fan of Rajita and Kiriella and S B but credit to them for standing against these thugs.
If not for the three of them GMOA would have been even deciding the minimum bus fares and retail price of milk powder!!!
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Champa / June 27, 2017
The professional conduct of the GMOA is at question. They better change their name as “Government Medical Butchers’ Association”.
Doctors have a moral obligation to consider patients’ lives as priority. For Medical Butchers, it is the least priority.
While enjoying high salaries from public funds, a second income from private practice, duty free vehicles and privileged school enrolment for their children, denying health care for low income patients, is not suitable for such an honourable profession.
I believe the President was quick to issue a Statement, which I see as an empathetic action, after considering the near social devastation caused by dengue. I wish to remind the President that he can no longer pet Butchers. The public has a right to healthcare. It is time we give some medicine to the Doctors and help them recover from their ‘false sanctity’.
1. Even Butchers have a right to go on strikes. We can’t stop them. Did anybody check how these Medical Butchers apply for leave? According to Government rules and regulations, leave can only be approved if there is someone as Acting? The person who signed for Acting is obligatory to stay at the hospital. Whoever who is approving leave for Butchers, should follow the correct procedure.
2. Medical Butchers have a ‘right to deny’ healthcare for patients. The public is also have a ‘right to deny’ their Day’s Pay if they are not in hospitals to treat patients. Isn’t it the reason we pay salaries to them?
3. The Government should get the assistance of prestigious Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps.
Government should look beyond GMBA and take necessary action to provide healthcare to people.
One day Government Medical Butchers’ Association will realize the difference between a knife and a stethoscope.
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Champa / June 28, 2017
Continuation…….
I forgot to add 2 more points.
4. Doctors who denied treatment and or deliberately slow in attending to the injured STF Officer should be expelled from the Medical Service.
No patient should be descriminated healthcare based on his or her profession or any other reason for that matter.
The Ministry of Health should take disciplinary action against those doctors as it presents a wrongful example to the society. If there are doctors of this nature, what will they do if one of their enemies come for treatment? They might even inject poison. How could we trust these GMOA doctors?
4. CID should investigate into these SMSs divulging the medical condition of the STF Officer. The patient has a right to keep his medical condition confidential. Without the written consent of the patient, doctors have no right whatsoever to divulge the medical condition of patients.
This the a serious violation of patient’s trust and confidentiality. Medical information of a patient is priviledged and sharing it with the whole country via SMS is appaling. The STF Officer should sue the doctor who sent the SMS and not only demand compensation but he can even request the Court to cancel the license of the doctor. This is no joke.
Both these cases should be inquired into for the benefit of patients and punish the culprits, as there is no gurantee they will not be repeated. GMOA has forgotten that medical profession is bound by moral and ethical law unlike any other profession.
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Sinchoappu / June 28, 2017
GMOA has been like that from that day on, that is why policians repeat.
In EUrope, doctors have no time for such strikes. They are exaggerated by their schedules. In Germany, Switzerland and Austria, they have no space in their usal calendars to even waste few minutes. That part of the world, hopsital medical doctors suffer not having their sufficient time even for their meal times. On reture from every day work loads, even at home, they have to be busy with the the thoughts, about patients.
Instead, lanken ( absolutely a part of this world, that doctors seem to be abusing the tax payers funds.. for their authoratarian practises) just hang on with their kind of sinister acts.
Just looking back the manner these men led by GMOA to have wasted, how much time on behalf of SAITM…. how many hours they have worked as a medical doctors during this period ?
All these should be discussed by people s forum. Then only, the hatred growing on Doctors have go up rapidly.
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Simon De Silva / June 27, 2017
This particular addeniya who I dont want to call as a degree holder can NEVER be a real academic if he would further stay harboured to the agendas of former Leader Rajaapkshe.i THINK LANKENS IN GENERAL underestimate their FREE EDUCATION after them becoming what they are in the society. To produce a MBBS holder, state spends nearly 100 lacks (10 millions) of rupees. If a poor man would be given a shelter for a 5- lacks of rps, then a medical student s wastage could well cover lives of 20 famlies by giving them a proper shelter. Now it is said, 1200 students study in local university faculties. So so 24000 poor famlies could be blessed with the funds being wasted by these students per years.
When considering all these, it is a shame to entire educated folks the manner GMOA medical graduates to create new problems, thinking that they should be the one to command the govt to do the due.
There are masses among the students that long for their dreams. I have no doubt, any student that have got their ALEVELS with distinctions should be blessed with a placement for their choice of university degree courses:
In Germany, there are over 50 huge Universities for population of 82 millions ( 4 times more than that of srilanka) Apart from that
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Simon De Silva / June 28, 2017
People today have no whatsoever resecpt on medical doctors. They in general feel, medical professionals in the country are highly abusive men, let politcians to manipulate them easily.
I think it is high time, President of GMOA, Paddeniya to reithink about the strikes bieng continued by them. There is indeed an issue that the masses of youth meet in this country. Just not even 16%of the students that yearly pass out their uni entrance exams which is called in the country ALevels have the chance to get selected to study at a state Univ. Rest 84% could go for study the courses, if the state or pvt colleges would be ready to provide them with the placements. The ground reality, for decades, politicians have failed to find proper systems fulfilling the need of the demand. Only less than 25 000 or much less are reproted to leave the country for foreign universities, the numbers have been much less due to high costs they have to bear at foreign universities.
If the lanken authorities, here it hsould SLMC could bring laws provisions that can gurantee the QUALTIY of the degrees, why do they stand on the way, if any paties would start PVT medical colleages. What matters should be the QUALITY of the degree being awarded by those universities. Instead of discussing the most crucial points, just to beat around the bush has been what GMOA or other activists have been making sofar. Besides, if UGC works with SAITM authorities, why SLMC to be lagged not working actively not impletation of respect QUALITIY levels is more than questionaable today.
Even JVPers like or not have to agree with the opinions the masses, if significant masses would welcome private medical colleges guranteeing the QUAlITY, only a hatred would form against them in course of the time.
From what I heard Udaya GOnthadipila has been adding to press today is – he just compares that indians and chinese have been the record makers in terms of the student numbers that go to overseas private universities. Of course, the mentioned two countries lead not just in terms of students, but also every fields today, sinc etheir populacebomb are above any other countries in globe.
I THINK THE KIND OF POLITICIANS TO TURN THEIR TONGUE NOT JUST TRYING TO FOCUS ON THE REAL FACTs; THEY HAVE BEEN JUST ADDING FUEL TO WORSEN THE GRAVE SITUATION IN THIS REGARD.
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kumaran / June 26, 2017
When the blue blazes has any of these “doctor” goons shown any sensitivity except when collecting their lucre!!?? You are joking!!
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The Oracle / June 26, 2017
This organisation is a total disgrace to the medical profession .
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watcher / June 26, 2017
All know GMOA is terrorist organization and their private sms. Elections rigged with assaults. Tragedy is govt. Prez too is under them now because of lack of governing leadership & action and interfering with judiciary. Even SAITM is destroyed with no entry, no exit, no hospital, no governing board, no money, no future, no justice as the chairman finds political and not academic solutions and led to deceive with lies. Whatever ETCA ‘karma’ is supposed to be, solution to SAITM is not PUBLIC/PRIVATE fluctuation, but a stable uni. structured like Moratuwa or Open uni with an already existing body over it as politicians are clueless about academics in medicine. One way to stop the evil in GMOA increasing is to nationalise SAITM before some impeachment occurs. The myth of money from Manipal/Monash clouds vision. SAITM is local under silent UGC and H EDU.
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Shyam / June 26, 2017
Extract from the Hypocratic Oath
“Whatever in connection with my professional practice, or not in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken abroad, I will not divulge as reckoning that all such should be kept secret. While I keep this Oath inviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the Art, respected by all men, in all times. But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be by lot.”
Extract from the modern restatement of the Hippocratic oath, known as the International Code of Medical Ethics or the Declaration of Geneva was produced by the World Medical Association:
“The health of my patients will be my first consideration; I will respect the secrets which are confided in me, even after the patient has died; I will maintain by all the means of my power, the honour and noble tradition of the medical profession; “
The GMOA should revisit its conscience before judging any other.
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GmoaDisgrace / June 26, 2017
Being a doctor is a holy profession. You are responsible for the life of patients, and for them to neglect their duties and go on strike, and behave like a political party, and use the patients as ransom, is shocking and unethical. Gone are the days when people really cared for other people. Today it’s just, me, myself and I.
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Ben Hurling / June 26, 2017
Doctors or greedy, power-hungry criminals? Holding partients as pawns in their disgusting political games is so unbelievably unethical. GMOA hierachy should be arrested and tried for endangering human lives. Where is the government of this country?Cheers!
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nalmen / June 26, 2017
we do not need a third force in sri Lankan politics anymore
\the gmoa has taken over the role
fully agree with ben
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srinath gunaratne / June 26, 2017
Just education, No class!
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Native Vedda / June 26, 2017
srinathan gunaratnam—————“Just education, No class!” So you bunked classes? Man where you,ve been all these time?
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concerned citizen / June 26, 2017
Views and attitudes are of no use now. Terrorists are now in govt. service as GMOA and the reality is that they will last longer than these politicians who are clueless. SAITM issue through some neglect of its chairman has now got entwined. Politicians greedy for the gold of Monash cant solve this and neither can skulls without brains and visionary skills. Observing the unity in demand of GMOA/SLMC/IUSF/FUTA is it not obvious that realistic Prez Premadasa found an instant solution to the Ragama NCMC. GMOA openly says it. Nationalise and attach SAITM to a functioning Uni.
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Sam Fernando / June 29, 2017
I think all these would have been evitable, if Mafia king (Mahinda Jarapakshe) and his men jailed going through the inviestgations as they promised in the election pledges. It is the blunder of this govt.
Mafia king is today behind be it GMOA or any other protests. As we sense it, our people are garass eaters. I mean most of them. The manner those masses turned up in May day rally made it even more clear.
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justice / June 26, 2017
Doctors try to prevent disease, disability and death in people, and improve their quality of life – by early diagnosis, advice and treatment.
This is what they were trained for.
They do this while adhering to the Hippocratic Oath.
If a person – especially a police or army officer in the course of his duties, falls sick in a public place, his illness should be public knowledge, as everyone will want to know what happened – else people may believe that it was due to trauma.
If a death or instance of trauma of one person by another becomes the subject/cause of judicial process, the details become public knowledge as the judicial medical officer reads out the details in open court.
Most members of the public do not like to go to overcrowded out patient departments of state hospitals for consultation and treatment – hence the demand for private consultations and treatment.
Affluent persons even travel to other countries for treatment as there is better in- and out- patient accommodation, and they believe, better treatment.
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Raj / June 26, 2017
The GMOA mafia should be named & shamed so that the public can boycott their private practice. These selfish thugs are a disgrace to the noble profession of healing.
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sathsidu ganasara / June 26, 2017
Sorry, GMOA, Gnanasara and the lot should be barbecued
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Piumi / June 26, 2017
These so called doctors are a disgrace to the profession. We are surprised in any professional body the Exco is only limited to two years. But this group of terrorists are trying to hold posts to the end of their lives pulling the students out from the class room work. I feel sorry for the parents who come out in support of this terrorist group., They must advice their children to continue with their studies without fighting a loosing battle. Very soon the day will come that these guys are pulled out and get beaten up by the general public. Padeniya’s agenda is to bring back MR.
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Rodney / June 26, 2017
Dr. Saman Kelegama such a respected patriot, his death is mourned by all who knew him. What does GMOA know of trade policy, . They they know it all. Idiots only behave like that.
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Barathan / June 26, 2017
Dr. Kelegama was a reputed economist. son of a well known Father styled by the media as ‘Kandyan Economist’. “Only the good about the dead”. This is only a translation of a Latin saying more than two millenia old. About that time a Tamil poet had said “Even a good brain is no more than a wooden head if a person is not cultured”.
Quite correctly Colombo Telegraph has condemned GMOA’s ‘Matter of Factness’.
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L. Goonatilake / June 26, 2017
GMOA is a cancer in our society that need to be eradicated. An eminent economist has passed away. The eminent Economist proposed a Free trade agreement with a neighboring country. The GMOA was dead scared that better qualified foreign doctors would come into the country and give them competition. The old APOLLO hospital was a major threat to the GMOA doctors and spread all kinds of stories about Indian doctors
When the free Indian Ambulance service was proposed, the GMOA was dead against and said it is better for Sri Lankan patients in an emergency to take a three wheeler to hospital rather than the Ambulance.
One GMOA “Doctor” came on TV with a defibrillator pads on hand and said “do you want to die from electric shock”. Rest of the world, schools, sports centres , public places have defibrillators installed for use. Paramedics in the developed world save more lives from heart attacks, accidents.
These GMOA goons are not happy to have ambulances and trained paramedics. We can understand why- without ambulances/paramedics the GMOA mafia gets more money.
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thondamany / June 26, 2017
Is this the final nail in the coffin of the ECTA ??
Death of Kelegama will be mourned BUT about the death to ECTA?
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K A Sumanasekera / June 27, 2017
I thought Dr Rajitha’s DIL is still m at SAITM….. Has he got a another who is in the GMOA?……
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Kugan / June 27, 2017
Gov’t should stop all perks for these greedy doctors also ban them from practicing in pvt hospitals after all we paid for their studies
If some one willing to pay for their own and love to serve the people why not.
There are lot of doctors from abroad wanted to volunteers but system is bad,
SLMC should change their stance and give guidance what sort of practice they expect.
SATIM should move place like Maldives build up uni and hostels in the final stage SLMC should test them for their standard if they are up to it carry on if not train them and fill the gaps surely it won’t be that hard how many brilliant nurses are there with tremendous service
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Upali / June 27, 2017
Whether Doctors are there or not all living on earth today approximately 7.2 billion people including children born today and of course the Doctors will die during the next 120 years. This is only a passing cloud we must not waste time.
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s.c.perera / June 27, 2017
Divulging someone’s illness to others is a clear violation of code ethical conduct of health profession. Also insisting not to give healthcare for a wounded person is another violation of rules in medical profession as well as basic human rights. Therefore minister should investigate the matter to abolish their practise registration certificates.
Now it is clear why GMOA went against ETCA. They thought that government would ask India to send doctors to Sri Lanka when there is a strike.
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AYMAN / June 28, 2017
Butchers do not have ethics
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punchihewa / June 27, 2017
Dear friends. Look at the difference between so cold highly educated and well qualified gentlemen and soldiers. In the final stage of the bloody war our soldiers equally treated the civilians and surrendered LTTE carders. Soldiers did not refuse to give food or medical facilities to any one who were under their custody. But our doctors say not to treat wounded policemen. What a shame. One day “Karma” would come on them . Not only them, their parents and children also be punished for the things they do against the mankind. Wait and see.
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Kugan / June 28, 2017
One thing still these so called doctors don’t realise is that our PM don’t even have the trust on their profession recently it was on the headline that he gone to USA for personal treatment.
Why don’t these greedies along with Gunarasa would have protest at the air port when he was coming down,its big insult for these doctors.
We always hear most of our politicians go abroad for treatment unless they are in custody or in prison then they go to local hospitals but in our mother land its norm.
The white van murderer send the killer/dealer to all the way to Singapore to fix his brain,
How many poor families has to sell their homes in order to have treatment for their love ones
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AYMAN / June 28, 2017
It is high time these loud mouthed uncivilized, inhuman buggers are put in their place.
They should be all be put in jail. They have exceeded their limit by interfering in the
governance of the country. No other profession behaves like this.No other profession
ever holds the government and people to ransom.
If the government does not bring these buggers to book.The people will take the law into
their hands and give these scoundrels the treatment they deserve.
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I.M.. PATIENT / June 28, 2017
We have had enough of these vedas. Their Veda Sangamaya, should just talk about what concerns them.Why the heck are they trying to interfere with governing of this country by poking their finger in every pie’a”We can do without these morons.. I for one can do without them.
DISEASES DO NOT KILL. DOCTORS AND DRUGS CERTAINLY DO !!!!I
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B Mackka / June 28, 2017
Only vultures are happy when some one dies. Padeniya needs to renounce the noble profession and form a flock of vultures along with his comrades to feast on the dead patients.
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Upali / June 29, 2017
Doctors have shown their true colours. By this they have confirmed the thinking that they have become the scum of the society. Srilanka should march forward we must have many more private medical colleges and trade agreements. Socialism that SWRD and the left parties preached is no more. Even Russia and China has embraced capitalism and accepted private sector lead growth.
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Saman Adikari / June 29, 2017
Dr Aurudura Pardiniyea is only members of GMOA. He was elected as President by majority voters of consent of GMOA members. That is part of Union’s Democracy of consent and will of majority Doctors is part and parcel of country norms of Democracy has been practices by our country since 1948.
In my view that majority comments against GMOA is partial of political bias of current govt. affiliated guys.
I do not agreed an insult to GMOA as organization and their President elected by members of vast majority. The some comments harm reputation of Doctor’s duty and their mission are ill-intention gossipers back by certain NGO’S are foreign funded turn into wrong directions path of democracy of our country!
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Champa / June 29, 2017
Saman Adikari
It is GMOA which is politically motivated, not commenters. GMOA has shamelessly changed their own slogans from time to time. There is no consistency in their slogans which provides ample proof of their motivation.
People’s lives are much valuable than SAITM. Yet GMOA’s priority is SAITM.
If their concern over SAITM is genuine, they should first abandon private practice. Will they? Never. They are against private medical colleges, but they engage in private practice. There is no logic there.
Independent Public has a right to speak for themselves.
GMOA has tarnished their reputation by their own actions. Their ethics are subpar. Nowhere in the world, Doctors have behaved so selfish like GMOA.
People who are unable to afford for private consultations come to state hospitals. SAITM or no SAITM, GMOA doctors who are products of free education have no right to deny healthcare for the public especially at a time where hospitals are inundated with dengue patients. GMOA has no heart. They are a disgrace to the country.
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justice / June 29, 2017
All who denigrate GMOA will one day have to obtain care of member(s) of GMOA and will then find that doctors in and not in GMOA treat all their patients in the same way, according to the Hippocratic Oath.
Financial, Social, Political status of persons who fall sick, will not affect the way they are treated in government/private hospitals.
Anyone who feels that his treatment is/was not, in his opinion, what it should have been, is free to complain in writing to the Sri Lanka Medical Council, with confidence that action will be taken. Such person can also complain to courts of law.
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N .Wimaladasa. / June 29, 2017
The passes away of Saman Kelgama is natural cause for a every human kind. I do not believed that GMOA has send comment of death of Saman K.. also that the death of ETCA. In fact late Saman is vocal support of Indian RAW driven ETCA that for the national vital interest of the Indian state driven Neo-colonial model for advancing in theses ETCA-trade will cause damage around Sri Lankan national path of development. Indeed Saman K..has not realized that fact , was key tragedy . The line of Saman ill-fitted of an Economy of idea never permitted him to change his mindset .
The most critics of ETCA has warn to late Saman K…. has been that , but he was ignored, in many ways majority citizens of Sri Lankan were worry is that nation will loose much of national Industries, Agricultural and Services sectors of country very foundation developing of ours economy.
The pressure from Indian RAW and BJP-Hinduism extremism governances on by Multi-National of Indian firms want big share Sri Lankan market and an open local market that target to phase out export ;and Indian generous funding for Indian businessmen that initiated by Govt. of India.
The proposed of ETCA back by late Saman K….that move could lead not only to Indian taking over ours local market big share ,but because of its scale ,destroying Sri lanka’s business models its very foundation .
That is ours think-tank view on strategy of if ETCA come into being by Sri Lankan majority Businessmen’s disappear in our soil in the 21st century will bleak future of an Island..
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kumaran / June 29, 2017
Maybe someone should throw something into his mouth! Maybe a cigar, with the lit end first!!
What a disgrace these “doctors” are to us and how we detest them.
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