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The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Sri Lanka had revealed that the post attributed to Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne as WHO Vice Chairman, was not based on individual performances but a post attributed to the country, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) said.
GMOA Secretary Haritha Aluthge said Minister Rajitha Senaratne was misusing his vice chairmanship position for political gains. Rajitha explained that he was granted this position because of a special service rendered to the health sector.
Minister Rajitha was also awarded "Suwapathi Kirula" to coincide with his WHO Vice Chairmanship. GMOA lodged a complaint with the Sri Lankan Office of the WHO asking it to clarify on what grounds the WHO had spent over Rs. 1.5 million for the felicitation ceremony organised when Minister Rajith Senaratne was awarded the "Suwapathi Kirula" title.
Dr. Aluthge said the WHO Representative in Colombo has not yet responded to us in this regard. However, expressing his views on this matter to an English newspaper, he has said the post was not based on individual performances.
"WHO Representative has also said that the WHO posts would be rotated and offered to the countries based according to its locations," Dr. Aluthge added. (Sheain Fenrnadopulle)