Election monitors challenge GMOA president’s actions

Election monitoring bodies have accused members of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) of getting involved in active electioneering in hospitals.

Last week doctors affiliated to the Sri Lankan Podjuna Peramuna (SLPP) in Anuradhapura and Colombo were involved in political campaigning among their patients.

The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) charged that doctors in National Hospital Colombo have been seen distributing leaflets among patients, while it is reported that at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, doctors had gathered pregnant mothers into labour rooms and advised them to vote for the SLPP.

Meanwhile, GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya, who was seen on a particular political platform the previous week, was subsequently seen on stage at the launch of the SLPP election manifesto.

The doctor was also on stage at the Democratic National Front’s (DNF) manifesto launch on Thursday (October 31).

Dr. Padeniya’s action has prompted other trade unions to question his behaviour.

Executive Dirctor PAFFREL, Rohana Hettiarachi, said, "other trade union leaders too are asking whether they too had a right to act in a similar manner" .

According to the election law, it is an offence for a state employee to be involved in party politics. Further, the Election Commissioner has sent out directive to all state institutions, warning public officials against trying to influence co-workers, friends and subordinates to vote for a particular political party. He has warned that breaching the code was a punishable offence.