MR told me ‘Suddas’ won’t come if they can’t smoke freely: Prez

However, he got to know later that someone in the government had collected Rs. 100,000 each from companies involved in cigarette manufacturing industry after his attempt to control the use of tobacco failed, President Sirisena added.

Addressing a ceremony where Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne was felicitated after being appointed a Vice President of the World Health Organization (WHO) held at the Nelum Pokuna Performing Arts Theatre last afternoon, President Sirisena stated that Sri Lanka has achieved commendable progress in the health sector due to its unique and result oriented free health programme.

‘For the last 60 to 70 years Sri Lanka’s preventive, curative free healthcare service and free immunization programme has been a model for other countries and we have been commended on the world stage on numerous occasions as a result of this. We possess one of the best free health services in the world,” he stressed. Sri Lankans are enjoying true independence after January 2015 and one of those who made this vision a reality was Dr. Rajitha Senaratne. That is why I congratulate him for this achievement from the bottom of my heart. I am truly happy about his new position in the global arena because he has been accepted as the health minister of this country but also a health minister of the international community.

“I am sad to note that the freedom, the commendations and greetings you enjoy today was a distant dream to me when I was chosen as a President of the WHO in 2012 when I was the Health Minister in Sri Lanka under the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime. Former Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva also faced the same fate and there was no one to greet or congratulate him when he was appointed as a President of the WHO. I was chosen to that prestigious position by the global community as a mark of respect due to my relentless fight against tobacco and alcohol. At the felicitation ceremony held at the BMICH, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the chief guest and I was waiting to receive him. But at around 10.00 am the podium from which he was to address the gathering was removed by the President’s security detail and I was watching with tears in my eyes, totally disgusted and disappointed. The head of State did not even have the decency to commend or greet his health minister for his achievement while the foreign envoy and delegates of other foreign establishments and agencies in Colombo greeted and commended me,” President Sirisena noted.

President Sirisena lamented that Sri Lanka failed to introduce the National Drug Policy drafted by respected medical personality Prof. Senaka Bibile even after his untimely death 45 years ago but he expressed happiness that this government has been able to do so.

President Sirisena pointed out that only a few drug importers and distributors behave like sharks, bent only on collecting as much profits as possible while victimizing hapless patients.

Commenting on a statement made by Prof. Carlo Fonseka in which he expressed the view that the late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike became Prime Minister after quitting his Health Minister portfolio in the UNP government and that he too was elected President after leaving the Rajapaksa government in which he served as the Health Minister, President Sirisena called Minister Senaratne his fellow fighter, adding that he hoped he would become President without leaving his present camp.

Convener, Health Services Trade Union Federation, Saman Rathnapriya delivered the welcome address.

Prof. Carlo Fonseka, Prof. Sarath Wijesuriya and Country Director – WHO

Dr. Razia Narayan Pendse also spoke.