Cabinet approved the proposal to appoint a Board of Governors for maintaining the services of Dr. Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH) at Malabe.
Dr.U.A Ajith Mendis, former Director General of Health Services has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.
Addressing the Cabinet press briefing yesterday, Minister Senartne said that people who are protesting against the Dr. Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital are the ones who are unable to withstand that a hospital worth Rs.3.5 Billion was donated to the government.
Dinesh Weerakody attached to the Finance Ministry, Attorney at Law Sarath Liyanage,Dr. Kapila Ranasinghe and Dr.Priyantha Atapattu attached to the Ministry of Health, Prof.Dilip de silva, Prof. Samarage representing the Dr.Neville Fernando Hospital,Dr.Randula Samarasinghe, Dr.N.Pinto, Dr.Deepal Weerasekara, Dr.Punyakenthi, Dr.Jayasundara Bandara and Dr.Sarath Wijesuriya have been appointed to the committee.
Responding to a question from a Journalist about the GMOA’s allegations that the hospital would be returned to Dr.Fernando in another 10 years, Minister Senaratne said the decisions are taken by the government and the GMOA has got nothing to do with that.
When asked whether any agreement was signed with Dr.Neville Fernando, Minister Senaratne pointed out the Cabinet decision and said there is nothing that can supersede the Cabinet decision in this country.
The Minister pointed out that the GMOA strikes did not have much of an effect as many hospitals continued to function.