19 March, 2024

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The Enduring Hellholes That Are Public Hospitals In Sri Lanka

By Lasantha Pethiyagoda

Prof (Emeritus) Lasantha Pethiyagoda

I would like to outline the horrors of most “public” hospitals even in major towns across Sri Lanka. Most of these health facilities seem to have stopped in a time warp from the mid nineteen sixties or so, except for some of the equipment used.

I studied several hospitals while purportedly visiting patients. A cardinal principle in a hospital is that it should not cause harm to a patient, especially through neglect. It was shocking to observe invasive procedures ranging from insertion of a cannula, catheter for drainage to intravenous medication, where processes are conducted almost casually and often aggressively with scant regard for patient health or comfort. The staff were usually rude, abrupt and sometimes even insulting, using mocking language etc.

Due in large part to the economic meltdown precipitated by atrocious political bungling from around 2021, most patients are quite weak on arrival, often malnourished, and therefore susceptible to infection with far reduced immune responses, in environments possibly reeking with antibiotic resistant germs that grow in areas that are never properly cleaned, as it seemed in no one’s area of responsibility.

In the apparent absence of publicly available data on rates of in-house infection, and a lack of standardised methodology or proper surveillance, patients seem to be severely compromised and at the mercy of their “destiny” when in hospital. This is when the medical staff, often aloof and arrogant, play god in the presence of hapless poor people. These uncaring individuals (many are “senior” doctors or “consultants”) often have a lucrative private practice in the major towns of the island. It is in their interests therefore, to ensure that public hospitals are hellholes, so that people will go to private hospitals, channel practices etc often sacrificing their personal assets for the privilege.

A considerable percentage of patients across several hospitals were observed to be wheezing and coughing, bringing up phlegm which is invariably emptied into open containers kept by their bedside. The stench itself is nauseating as beds are arranged less than a metre apart, most beds with frayed mattresses and paint peeled, rusting frames themselves being about a metre wide.

These feeble patients always hold on to other patients’ bed rails to proceed to and from the abhorrently disgusting squat toilets which have gaping cracks and holes with highly visible faecal matter sloshing with water. The walls of toilets have layers of deposits in different shades of brown that are never dislodged by cleaners hosing them down.

Except in a very small minority of wards in almost every single public hospital, the beds, walls, furniture or other fixtures are never wiped down with a detergent or disinfectant. Only floors are washed with buckets of water maybe once a week (according to long-stay patients), and merely swept on other days, with dust resettling on beds, patient food receptacles and clothes.

The economic meltdown aside, the cracked cement floors are pockmarked with decades-old holes and indents, obviously harbouring multitudes of pathogens. No microbiology staff were ever sighted taking swabs of cultures. No infection control audit could possibly be conducted in such appalling conditions. In most hospitals, roaming cattle eat at the bins. Unimaginably stupidly placed large open garbage bins near the wash basins and latrines are often overturned by scavenging dogs that seem to have unhindered access even in broad daylight, while feeble attempts to shoo them away are almost useless.

Hence, putrefying food remnants, discarded dressings, vomit bags and fruit peels are strewn on the wet floors, where leaking taps, blocked and overflowing wash basins spill to the floor. No colour-coded waste containers were evident in any of the hospitals visited. It seems as if bodily fluids, festering dressings and used medical supplies are all disposed in one lot.

I occasionally encountered mice scooting across the aisles with no apparent inhibitions. What seemed like antibiotics seem to be administered almost normatively, regardless of consequences to individuals’ condition or immune capabilities. Ventilation to reduce airborne infections consist of one or two fans operated at random from loose and caving fabric ceilings in many cases with multiple layers of darkened dust and cobwebs that seem to have been untouched for years. No funding seemed to have been allocated or those funds used (if any) for making these places suitable for vulnerable human beings.

Almost like in some pagan ritual, patients are routinely transferred from beds to other beds or positions under other patients’ beds in grossly overcrowded conditions with some patients sitting on visitor stools while they wait for a chance to lie down. The whole operation of these wards seem to undermine the basic respect that any human being is owed as citizens by the state. These conditions are several magnitudes worse than the upmarket private hospitals that the ruling classes of political and industrial vermin go to when sick.

Those responsible for perpetuation of this despicable state should be forced to endure these conditions first-hand so that otherwise wasted public funds can be utilised more compassionately and considerately. Those of you reading this article would probably feel distant to the woes described herein, as they themselves are not subject to these atrocious conditions. However, like in many areas of society where a similar attitude has resulted in the almost complete destruction of Sri Lanka’s economy with no one being held responsible, it will only be a matter of time before their loved ones or extended family suffer immeasurably from this deplorable state. We must therefore strive to make a paradigm change to the status quo so that at least future generations will have a better quality of healthcare more suitable for human beings.

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Latest comments

  • 13
    0

    Very graphic and stomach churning description, I must say. Unfortunately, it is all true.
    The author should also do a round of our major prisons and write a report.

  • 9
    0

    When a “Commis Kakka” is appointed as the Minister of Health, what can we expect other than his pocket getting full and the people getting substandard drugs?

    • 2
      0

      Buddhist 1,
      .
      I thought Minister Kehelmal was nevertheless a genuine person…. I must have been wrong. – That is why I am forced to believe that our people are all corrupt, and we cannot expect their representatives to be anti-corrupt.

      • 3
        0

        Dear LM: Where were you when this Minister Keheliya (you appropriately said “Kelmal”) was on a world tour (again then a Minister) “FELL” off a balcony of a hotel he was residing at Peoples’ expense and got Rs. 200,000.00 from the President’s Fund as “Medical Expenses”. The true story was that he tried to “Cross Over” to another room where he wanted to grab a “Prey” that was occupying the next room. This was some “Years” back and I pity that you didn’t know about the incident. Yes, you could be excused for rating this “Bastard” a “Genuine”.

        Now as of today, he has got Court’s Permission to go abroad on a “Tour” to procure “Medicine” from various “Foreign Government” sources. He is due to leave on the 20th and return on the 14th Feb. Another “Foreign Tour” at Peoples’ expense and this time what “Medical Claims” (perhaps pocket full commissions) would be the “Earnings”. This is for you advance information.

        • 2
          1

          Dear Simon,
          First of all, in a country where almost everyone is highly corrupt, what matters is whether they are less corrupt or highly corrupt.

          That’s what I meant. Kehelmal is/was corrupt, but who corrupted him and the henchmen if not the Medamulana Haraka aka Mahinda Rajapakshe ?

          Who allocated so much presidential funds to his so-called balcony accident? No doubt, if Kehelmal visited a brothel, that could also be paid by Medamulana animals on the cost of tax payers….. or not ?

          Would Dr. Merkel or Prime Minister Sunak ever agree to such arrangements?

          Why on earth did the JVP GODs “look like they were fed clay” at that time? Yet today, they dont attack Medamulana Meeharaka louder than they should.

          Talk to the people in your Kadamandiya and compare it with that of MEDAMULANA crimnals…. …. If there is a big difference, come and tell me?

          However, the society dominated by grass eaters totally ignored RAJAPAKSHE activities for no good reasons….. Perhaps media fooled entire nation, as was the case in Germany in stasi era.
          If we have a culture where true information becomes daily news, do you ever think this society has reached such a dangerous level aswe face today…
          .
          MEDIA WHOREHOUSES SHOULD BE DESTROYED :::: if not today when ?

    • 1
      0

      No comment on the unscrupulous druggist partners in crime? They do the same to patients in India.

  • 5
    2

    Dear Lasantha,
    .
    Thanks for seeing, getting angry, and telling us these things. Why do they happen? Isn’t it because the State wants to do everything for us, and keep us as dependants?
    .
    AKD claims different. He says that it is for the State to provide the framework for certain things (including Health), and for us to value it. Indulgent smiles from many!
    .
    However, in recent speeches he has been complaining about poor standards in our society. He’s said quite a bit about sexual harassment in buses. Who were the accused? Wouldn’t many in his audience have been guilty?
    .
    We may all have to acknowledge that each of us falls short in some areas; on the other hand, every one of has also complained, and then found that most other citizens are indifferent. Doesn’t the solution lie with each of us? We needn’t habitually raise our voices calling for punishment; rather, let’s demand higher standards all round.

    • 5
      0

      Dear Sinhala_Man ,

      Once upon a time , about fifty years back , luckily we are still alive
      with these memories , we had the service of Midwifery mainly for
      pregnancy related issues and child birth . And the Birth Control
      awareness was mainly carried out by the Midwives across the
      country . Children were usually born at home . There were four to
      five maternity clinics in every Electorate . Later on , Hospitals
      absorbed the service . Present generation does not even know such
      a service existed for their possibly mothers and grand mothers .
      The point I am trying to make is , how gradually a most essential
      service , systematically distanced from your doorstep and put you
      in danger of very unhealthy condition ! Almost every single human
      nowadays dies in hospital , even dogs today die in hospitals !
      Hospitals in other sense , are Homes of everyone and no one should
      allow them to become a hellhole !

      • 3
        2

        WW,
        The reason may be that all the English administrations are still familiar with Sri Lanka 50 years ago and they provide such services. My father (94 years old) who died of covid two years ago EXPLAINEd us the children, all this with me how it was like, soon after the English rule was gone from the country. Our people attack the colonial masters today, but I think if we were not under them, things would have turned out even worst.
        .
        I got to watch a YouTube video of Chamuditha (a regular YouTuber who interviews anyone in her style) with Dr. Bellana this evening.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn4EaV-oiSs

        This doctor stood alone against the mafia networks of the Colombo National Hospital saying that his minor employees are directly involved in drug trafficking in the country.

        The danger before him was very high, however he acted as usual. Despite his arguments, this was taken seriously by the small staff, who assaulted him 10 days ago, with the help of the police, and only Dr. Bellana (the director of a certain department of the hospital) was able to protect him. He had narrowly escaped by thug attacks. Today the people are no different to that of Venesula or some dangerous parts in Brazil, even if Loudspeakers emit ” so called pirith chants hypocritically”.

        • 3
          0

          leelagemalli ,

          Dear L M , first of all , sorry to hear your father’s loss . Everyone
          you talk to , has a loss of a loved one so recent . The sorry state is
          that , many fail , utterly fail that everyone else , at any moment
          has to face the same fate ! For a poor beggar ( there are rich ones)
          who sleeps under a tree , hospitals may look like a Heaven , but
          taking all patients to ‘ beggars’ , should not be tolerated . What
          I am wondering and unbelievable is , how on earth , the Doctors
          and Nurses who have a good standard of living , Can get used to
          Work under Such Stinking , Pathetic , Unhygienic Conditions ?
          After all , Being in such professions and living such a life away
          from work ? Typical Double Standard ? This is the Curse to the
          Country !

          • 0
            1

            WW,
            thanks. To be honest, my father and many like him have suffered without proper treatment as recommended by WHO. Our doctors didn’t come forward enough to save the nation.

            At least half of those 17,000 deaths could have been saved if the middle-class criminals had respected world standards, however their media whorehouses portrayed them.

            Gotabaya and his army men have interfered without relying on the health experts and their expertise. For me, Gotabhaya or someone like that should be hanged in public, comfort the covid victims.
            I actually know how many innocent souls are stuck in the Middle East unable to return home to Italy. I don’t belong to that category, however, all of this was not caught even by the reliable media. In 2021, when I returned to Europe, the flights were full of young people as first-time travelers looking for jobs in Dubai and other Middle Eastern countries. Charged 13 500 rps only for their “antigen test”. Who won – Nishanka Senadhipati and owner of DERANA TV. My wife spent $1000 for 4 days in a hotel (2 star or above) near Negombo, however, their restrictions have misled many.

            Unfortunately, my elderly father had not been vaccinated against Covid-19 as they recommended. It is impossible to estimate how many of them are thus neglected.

          • 0
            0

            Gotabhaya and other thugs played with innocent lives. Had they been under proper care, they would have lived another few years. I know how how it worked in Europe with proper care.

            • 0
              1

              WW,
              You talk about how doctors and nurses put up with such smelly environments – have you ever questioned, how do those people live next to the Wanathamulla dumps? They have no other options but to live there…. I feel sorry for our people. I have not lived in Sri Lanka for the past few decades.

    • 4
      1

      Dear whywhy,
      .
      Another instance in which you have taken me back to consider the basics. Yes, when I was born, it was at home, and it appears that the midwife was one of two sisters who had delivered all eight siblings, having taken up residence in our home, which was far away from their own home. It was all so close to nature, and we had sturdier values.
      .
      However, there were so many of us probably because birth control was little thought of then. Nobody had thought of the problems that were getting created. I unhesitatingly report that as a fact. I spent some hours finding out what now prevails at the high-end. I feel that many will be stunned:
      .
      https://cbr.lk/health/nawaloka-hospitals-unveils-new-premier-wellness-centre-colombo-7-personalized-clinical-consultations-treatment/
      .
      That seems to have been the start; I haven’t been there. It seems to be thriving.
      .
      https://lmd.lk/nawaloka-premier-centre/
      .
      Started in our lifetime by a man of humble origins, with lofty intentions. The contrast is stark. It needs Lasantha’s powerful writing to jolt us into awareness, but too many ignore such articles. Let’s hope that our comments will force a handful of sensitive readers to get back to what Lasantha has described.
      .
      Panini Edirisinhe

      • 3
        1

        Dear Sinhala_ Man ,

        Your reply is highly appreciated . Thank you . I did take a look at
        the link you provided which is very useful and thought
        provoking . In my knowledge , Japan is where it is today thanks
        to its Strong Business community and Committed Leaders . The
        country was FIRST for them at all times ! When it comes to
        Quality and Standard , Private Sector stand taller everywhere
        setting examples to the Public service ! Nawaloka is , I believe
        taking that lead ! The troubles that Lasantha Pethiyagoda is
        highlighting in our Public Health Service is simply Professional
        and Political Total Failure Combined with Complete Negligence
        of Public Awareness ! Hospitals Vs Tourist Hotels ! Just do the
        comparing !

        • 2
          0

          “When it comes to Quality and Standard , Private Sector stand taller everywhere
          setting examples to the Public service ! Nawaloka is , I believe
          taking that lead !”
          ww, ‘Nawaloka you may believe is taking that lead; until you look at the hospital bill.
          Well, they have good competition in fleecing the patients’ families.

          • 3
            0

            S J ,

            It is difficult to stick to the policy of ‘ few lines’ on comments .
            And , also very difficult for me to go on and on filling the space !
            When I said about Nawaloka , I did not mean to vouch for it .
            I simply said about the role ‘ Private Sector ‘ can play in a
            society and how Nawaloka performs it in its capacity ! O K , let
            us put it this way , is it mainly not looking at ‘ better ones ‘
            we are crying foul at the ‘ worse ‘ ? Now here , if this is the case ,
            it is not only local comparing , international experiences also
            counted ! Now , for about fifty years , more than 1.5 million
            Srilankans are experiencing far better Health Services abroad ,
            their new homes ! Majority of them are coming back from the
            Middle East to these Hellholes , from every corner of the country !
            And fifty years before , many did not know the difference of a
            better service but still , better Health Service Existed in major
            Towns and they were called Dispensaries and Nursing Homes !
            Private Health Care at different Price Levels existed in many
            parts of an electorate , some were run by Apothecaries by
            Christian Missions . They accepted whatever you gave them .
            What I am trying to say is , if you want Quality then , it has a
            price tag on its head ! And that does not mean Any Price !

      • 4
        0

        Dear whywhy,
        .
        Thanks for your sincere response, but you have missed the point I was making. This Private Medical System that I have linked you to is parasitical. Please go back to the fourth paragraph of Lasantha’s article; re-read carefully.
        .

        “In the apparent absence of publicly available data ……………………………. ensure that public hospitals are hellholes, so that people will go to private hospitals, ………………………their personal assets for the privilege.”
        .
        I really mean, read the entire paragraph (the first sentence not all that important) which gives you the direct link between the shocking mess in the State-run hospitals and the standards in the private hospitals.
        .
        The Nawaloka Hospital in Slave Island I have been to. Still good, but too may “hoi polloi” come there. So, the “super-rich” want something even better. The irony is that all of us die.
        .
        There are several laws of sociology and economics (some not yet formulated, you can be sure) that decree that even the most conscientious and devoted doctors get drawn into those exclusive hospitals.
        .
        Lasantha realises that, which is why he wants a system-changing revolution. Please, please, respond fast to this comment. Your misunderstanding, helps me clarify.

        • 2
          0

          Dear Sinhala_Man ,
          Just FYI , I am a bit unwell these days but it is a pleasure to be
busy with you for a purpose . I went through the whole write up
L P has done . No argument it is a perfect product . My reply to
you was a broader focus on where you wanted to take me to .
Your point was very obvious , it is an addition to L P write up ,
kind of back-up in my view but my emphasis was ,” Eka
Makunai Lamayo Kanney , Ai Okkoma Makuno Maranne ” .
The irony of or country is , No System Goes According to the
Book ! Even the System change that almost all of us want , it is
fully dependent on the same people who badly want it . I hope
you will agree , every single subject we are talking about , have
multiple facets that need wider debates and discussions to
prove a point . There is always in everything pros and cons !
Again , back to the point , not only Education and Health , the
Public Transport , The Banks , Public Enterprises , the Energy
sector , Law and Order , can we come out with one single
public service that is laudable ? I can exchange with you
container loads of my personal experiences in almost every
area of life in our country , starting straight from my family
background !

          • 2
            0

            Dear whywhy,
            .
            When I read your many comments it was clear that you were writing with feeling. This comment of yours explains the keen observations that have got included.
            .
            It is touching to hear you say that you’ve been writing this whilst being unwell yourself. For a man with your noble impulses I hope that the exercise of writing your thoughts down helped you to come to terms with your own suffering. I’m sure that what you have now acknowledged helps you to bear up present discomforts, and also to appreciate the little kindnesses that we all experience when life gets difficult.
            .
            It is difficult for nay of us to know exactly what others are undergoing, but when I read what you have written during the last three days, what comes back to me, with many blank spaces is the concern you have always shown for others.
            .
            I can’t think of a perfect message to send you, but I do wish you well.
            .
            Panini Edirisinhe

            • 1
              0

              Dear S M ,

              Thank you . That is so kind of you .

        • 3
          0

          Dear S M ,

          L P fourth paragraph was re-read . The issue is Two fold . One is
          the Hygiene inside and outside the wards and the other is
          Public Hospital Doctors allegedly promoting Private Health care
          at the cost of the general public ! What we forget here is , Health
          Care , Public or Private , has fast become a Business . Thriving
          Business ! We are all weeping about the plight of the poor at the
          hands of some cruel Professionals aren’t we ? You are a retired
          principal yourself , ask any remote school kid what he / she
          wants to become after school ! Many want to be Doctors and
          they will lie to you if asked why ! The Answer is a Tricky one ,
          they all love to be Demi-Gods ! It is a never ending cycle that
          continues but needs to stop . We need simple and humble
          and dedicated people to develop a better country . What we
          have today is Money – Hungry lot ! Mother of all Corruptions !

          • 2
            0

            Dear whywhy,
            .
            I tried consciously to say something kind to you, owing to your current poor health. Kindness is always good, but not always possible.
            .
            I was never the principal of a school. I have, however, observed teachers, and discussed their teaching with them. I have, in turn, been observed, and I have received useful advice from others. The problem here is that anybody can teach – strut around a class of students, and tell them things. However, good teaching is difficult.
            .
            Most of my teaching has been in State Schools, teaching English Language. Something that I neither relished nor excelled in. I couldn’t possibly have been the Principal of any of them. I have been interviewed to be the principal on a few occasions, long shots, or where I wasn’t keen myself.
            .
            There was one interview in 1990. My honest feeling was that my not getting that was a tragedy. I won’t give you details in this comment. But it’s not secret; may not be believed! Oh, can tell!
            ,
            Panini Edirisinhe

      • 2
        1

        Dear whywhy,
        .
        I’ve just made two vitally important points; may I now make another for you to reflect on. It applies to many spheres of activity, such as education as well.
        .
        About the time that we were born, (in my case it was just after independence) there were many Brits still around, and quite a few Dutch Burghers who had kept themselves racially pure (racist thinking is necessary to ensure that!). They were the elite then.
        .
        I’m sure that we didn’t think of our families as being particularly well off because all sorts of labour-saving consumer durables had not begun to creep into our houses. Also, the poor were content with their lot, had fewer aspirations.
        .
        Some of these changes are world-wide, and we can’t be sure where we are heading. I hope that it is towards “meritocracy”, but I fear it could lead to two distinct groups, way into the future. A master-class who will be intelligent, refined and prosperous, AND a slave-class who will lead robotic lives of substance abuse, with a high rate of getting executed. Both groups may have brown skins! There are plenty of dystopian novels on those lines.

        • 3
          0

          Sinhala_Man ,

          Dear S M , there you go , ” Also ,the poor were content with their
          lot , had fewer aspirations ” . This is the base of all my concern .
          You added some value to it and saved my time . Where is that
          poor and reasonable fewer aspirations , today ? Many of them
          were sent to the M East and they came back , keep coming back
          as False Rich , with short-lived and momentarily evaporating
          false pride to match the Country’s Established Wealthy ! It is not
          a new country or a new culture that they are after ! Not a real
          change but a luxury without cost ! Please , also help me save
          time by going to my post to S J ! Thanks .

    • 2
      2

      First things first.
      In this interim government, they should all come together and do what needs to be done for a better future. After that, the people should be given the opportunity to go to an election and vote for their representatives.
      If the JVP and SJB did not understand the seriousness of the alarming level today, I don’t think they would have ever put national issues first.

      • 3
        2

        My Dear LM: Please do not undermine your intelligence in suggesting: “In this interim government, they should come together..” Look at the “Cabinet”, the “Government” headed by this President and the PM. Do you really think anyone could change their “GENES” and “CORRUPT” mindset and do something for the country? Haven’t you seen how even at this critical time the “Ministers” and the “Beaurocrats” in high positions ROB the country of what is left and “Scarping” the bottoms?

        I don’t know what SJB could do. In my mind, that party is also infested with corrupt crooks and it would be another “Blessing” for “Rajapakses” survival. As of “JVP/NPP” it would be “HARAKIRI” to join this “Corrupt Gang”.If they haven’t learned their lessons, join, (as you expect) and better commit “Suicide”.

        • 2
          1

          Dear Simon,
          If we are honest with ourselves srilanken society is full of diverse thinkers.
          Do you really believe that the people of the village will give JVP a chance? I would be happier to hear that would work…. but that wont in forseeable times.

          Unfortunately, opinion polls show that the priests of the temple are asking not to vote for the Janata Vimukti Peramuna in the upcoming elections.

          And people question today, as to why JVP meetings are filled with temple living pinguththarayas going by the same path of crook politicians ?

          When would AKD start kissing INFANTs in public ?

          Perhaps he would change his dress into ” wettiya and ballige putha style necklace” in the days to come.
          .
          People don’t tell the truth. They are like fish mongers in negombo fishmarket. As said somewhere else, not even 1% sl population is honest and rational thinkers.

          Even the highly literate people living in western province get easily caught by rhetorics of WW on Malaysian style country – when Wimal Buruwasna drops songs text- like rhetorical in Sinhala language. Eletions should be held, but after rebuilding the nation…. … if not done so, the outcome would be the same….. JVPrs are naive so as our SINHALA man has turned out to be.

          . Remember the rhetoric of Bally’s son shortly before the last election? my dear parents, how would it be, if mahathir mohammed and LKY together in future govt ?

        • 1
          0

          Thank you, Simon, for taking the right stand.
          .
          I continue to express unqualified support for the NPP. I know that nothing is more damning than faint praise. At this moment I see no major fault in the leadership of the NPP. Lower down, there may be many JVP/NPP members who are not able to quite comprehend what the leaders are saying.
          .
          I may be proved very wrong! If, at any time, somebody were to throw these statements at me. they ought to note when this is said and in what context. Of course, they won’t do that. They’ll just quote me, and I won’t know when I said the excerpted words.

      • 3
        2

        Elections First!
        .
        “Do what needs to be done for a better future” ??????
        .
        I sometimes wonder how a human can be such an idiot as to say such things? How long a period do you think that such a goal will entail?
        .
        A decade at least given the mess that the Rajapaksas handed over. Ah, you’ll be happy to see the Rajapaksas blamed!
        .
        So you want an unelected government to govern for more than a decade? I thik that I’d better find somebody with some intelligence to say anything to!

        • 2
          0

          Dear sensitive readers,
.
constitutional lock will be gone out of its effectivity soon. I THINK IT WILL BE in a month now, if my facts are right. Then everyone is free to go for decisions.
–
I dont think THAT OUR PUBLIC would be satifsfied with ONE-PARTY politics.
–
If that was the case, JVPrs should have earned more seats in previous election.
–
I wished them at least a dozen of seats to parliament.
But PUNNAKKU eaters dominated nation did not allow them. They instead gave a 2/3 mandate being misled by ” lorry talks of WIMAL BURUWANSE and SO CALLED WIYATH MAGA”.
–
After March, people should be subjected to intensive awareness workshops… is that possible in an country where barbarians led nation ?
–
JVPrs should be given a chance if experts believe they could walk the talk. WHO WOULD BE THE EXPERTs ? again to rely on WIYATH MAGA ? no … world experts….. RW govt should seek assistance from EU and other progressive countries incl india….
To me, they love yet today crowds, but not practical in SRILANKEN politics. I mean srilanken politcs where majority of people are stupid.
–
Even today, people follow Rajapaksa’s miracles. If they are asked to taste dung in the morning and evening for the benefit, they will join the queues without thinking twice.


  • 1
    0

    The Enduring Hellholes That Are Public Hospitals In Sri Lanka

    The no of Doctors seeking or gone for foreign countries gives the standard, as they see doctor cannot do good here.

  • 6
    0

    Thanks Lasantha for reminding us of the state of most of our hospitals. All the ministers of health now and in the past must take collective responsibility. How can we continue to spend money on the upkeep of these 225 members of a parliament that do sweet buggerall and remain deaf, dumb and blind to all of this. Some hospitals in the major towns are better and I have seen and experienced a better bonding between patient and the staff including doctors. We still do have dedicated health workers who must be acknowledged.
    https://www.dailymirror.lk/top_story/Despite-economic-crisis-Treasury-allocates-billions-for-Offices-of-President-PM-Ministers/155-253248

  • 5
    4

    LP,
    Chinese know everything better than our so called economists and other experts and they supported Sri Lanka, Uganda, Pakistan, Maldives, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana and all equally …. Why?

    The CBK administration did not agree 100% with the Chinese projects, but Rajapakse agreed. Rajapaksa’s wife was behind any step he took, similar to Hema Premadasa’s actions in the 80s.These first wives have much in common than appeared to be.
    .
    The tribal leaders the Chinese found across the world are /were their best friends. How come ?

    Communication was not the best, nevertheless they became closer ? MaRa was dreaming to provide “louis vuitton” luxury items to his family (Murderous Wife and 3 x Bastard sons). That brought into the reality, by the chinese.
    .

    • 5
      3

      “leelagemalli”,
      .

      What has this got to do with Lasantha Pethiyagoda’s article?
      .
      You have contempt for at least 99% of our people – let me plump for that, than for other places in which you say that you hate us all.
      .
      Thanks for your email four days ago asking me why I hadn’t written something.
      .
      I don’t want to write absolute rubbish.
      .
      Panini Edisisinhe, now in Maharagama

      • 2
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        Apologies,
        .
        It might be off topic but it does focus on some ideas.
        .
        SM, glad to hear you’ve improved. CT readers will be happy to see that.

        If I said that 99% of people in Sri Lanka are bad people…at least 1% should be good people….that means 0.22 million people in the whole country (still 2x the population of Seychelles) under 2.2 years old. Still good people.
        .
        Be that as it may, time passed, you only wrote rubbish back then – if you said advanced, these are only good news for CT readers.
        .
        My grandmother repeated then, now or later, anyone can grow. There is no age limit for it.

        • 2
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          comment sent off, before finalize.
          .
          There must be at least a small fraction of good people.

      • 3
        2

        “leelagemalli”,
        .
        I will not report you, although you have reported me to the editor, when what I then said was true, but often a bit personal.
        .
        So, knowing my scruples you have done these things:
        .
        1. You continue your irrelevant argument.
        .
        2. You’re so patronising as to suggest that there is “improvement” in my comments; you often suggest that it is the result of your advice!
        .
        3. I’m sure that I make bad comments, and they get censured by the discerning. However, it is strange that there are so many green thumbs for you, and so many red thumbs for me. I’m sure that the following cannot be among those responsible:
        .
        3. (a) – Manel Fonseka, old codger, SJ, Raj-UK, Lasantha Pethiyagoda, nimal fernando, nathan, chiv, and some others. Not to mention some writers of articles who rarely comment – the Hoole Brothers, Rajan Philips, Kumar David, Ameer Ali, Tisaranee Gunasekera.
        .
        3. (b) Those whom I have named are too responsible, serious and intelligent to act in such a way as to make thoughtful discussion almost impossible.

        • 2
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          1. Disagreed- you would not see it- time will teach you, no doubt about it.
          2. Disagreed – Truth be told, I’m no one’s “GURU.” I’m just another harmless commenter on CT and other forums. I have never worshiped anyone as some people are used to doing. I will not reveal any kind of gossip in CT posts, but some experiences that I have gathered during my short stay in the mother country, to some limits only.

          “3. I’m sure that I make bad comments, and they get censured by the discerning. However, it is strange that there are so many green thumbs for you, and so many red thumbs for me. I’m sure that the following cannot be among those responsible”

          I don’t care about “likes”. It is up to the readers to evaluate the comments. Look at the comments being overflown by NF: Most of NF’s get more “likes” than anyone even though they are out of the topic mostly. Why don’t you question him?

          Honestly saying, I have thousands of questions about your unique behavior. I would like to discuss them with my neighbors, friends who are professors of psychology/genetics and behavioural sciences.

          • 2
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            “leelagemalli”, there are intelligent readers, there are poor readers.
            .
            You needn’t have responded to the slating that I gave you; I knew you would.
            .
            At various stages of my life, I have received training in reading and writing. Therefore I know that most people read badly; consequently how popular a piece of writing is doesn’t indicate how good it – frequently it is the opposite.
            .
            You have named one writer whom we know: “nimal fernando“: there is plenty of his writing for us to base our judgement. He’s not just good; he’s an outstandingly good writer. Also popular.
            .
            You say that you have unnamed neighbours and friends with whom you “discuss”: go tell that to the marines, not to me.
            .
            I know it’s all lies, pathetic inventions.
            .
            Panini Edirisinhe
            .

  • 2
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    LP, You finish with paradigm change to the status quo. What is that. The higher demand L-M makes could be expressed as getting rid of the executive president for once and for all from the Sri Lankan constitution. Buddhist 1, Commis Kakka should have been chased long ago and not given “Health” which a sick man cannot handle. As long as he is there, sick will have no medicine, like Apavithra sacked the most honorable of doctors.

  • 1
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    “Most of these health facilities seem to have stopped in a time warp from the mid nineteen sixties or so, except for some of the equipment used.”
    We forget efforts to make treatment more affordable and accessible in the 1970s, particularly the role of Prof. Bibile.
    How many of us know how he died?
    *
    The 70’s faced serious cash problems all round, but private consultancy and later private hospitals killed public medicine, with funding continuously choked, most cynically.

  • 1
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    LP,
    .
    Yes, of course sanitary conditions in hospitals exceed ethics and standards, but this is common to the developing world, despite their highly touted achievements in healthcare.
    Unfortunately the situation will worsen in the coming months as the economic contraction will not allow them to work miracles in health, education and welfare sectors.

    However, our standards could be improved if our health care authorities had done their job properly.

    How can it be done when we have been forced to see that the associations like the Government Medical Officers Association have been highly rajapaksed instead of serving the people?
    Behind it was getting funds and other advantages. Robbery is a premeditated act in recent times in srilanka.

    My problem is to understand why the politicians or the responsible authorities have been killing time after time without doing the right thing for so long. None of these men are mentally retarded…. ?
    . Even though our politicians exaggerate their achievements, they have not introduced even the basic structures required to keep the hospital environment clean. It is a double threat to the health of patients. Antibiotics prescribed in Sri Lanka are not world standards. Even powerful antibiotics imported from India at low prices are used in our country.

  • 1
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    defence expenditure in the last budget was more than the health and education expenditure combined.From whom are we defending ourselves from.After world war 2 was over british soldiers had to find jobs in the private sector and the money saved wa invested in health and education.The british peopl knew that winston churchillis is a leader for wartime ,not peace time and told him thanks for your contribution during war which we will never forget but now you can fuck off.Our own winston ranil wickremasinghe says how to tell armed forces and public servants to go home.Ranil the go home.

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