ஒவ்வொரு மாணவரும் ஆங்கில மொழியில் புலமை பெறுவதற்குத் தேவையான பின்னணி உருவாக்கப்படும்
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President Ranil Wickremesinghe cautioned the public against making the mistake of transferring a recovering patient, who was in critical condition, to the care of an unqualified doctor after receiving emergency treatment on September 21. He emphasized that, just as a doctor's license can be revoked by the Sri Lanka Medical Board for refusing to treat a patient, the public should reject politicians who abandoned their duty to revive the country’s economy in 2022.
The President made these remarks while addressing the Public Service United Nurses Association's "2024 Nursing Conference" held today (17) at the Water’s Edge Hotel in Battaramulla.
During the event, Ven. Dr. Ananda Nayaka Thero, Chancellor of the University of Colombo, presented a memorandum of proposals from the United Nurses Association to the President. Additionally, a song composed by Ms. Ayesha Sinhawansa in honour of the President was performed.
In his speech, President Wickremesinghe reflected on the country's economic recovery, noting that no one expected the economy, which was in a critical state, to show signs of improvement within two years. He compared Sri Lanka’s economy to a patient undergoing surgery and admitted to the emergency unit. He projected that by 2025, the "patient" will be stable enough to move to a general ward, relieving some of the burden on the people, and by 2026, the economy will be fully discharged from the "hospital" as the country begins to progress rapidly.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced plans to enhance the role of the nursing service in Sri Lanka’s nation-building efforts. He emphasized his commitment to providing the necessary resources to develop a skilled nursing workforce equipped with modern technological knowledge. Additionally, a program will be established to facilitate the deployment of Sri Lankan nurses to meet both domestic and international demands. The President also stated that a program is being developed to deploy Sri Lankan nurses to meet the increasing demand for healthcare professionals in Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, and European countries due to the growing global population.
The future of our economy is the future of our people, and it’s crucial that we seize this opportunity wisely. I don’t need to revisit the situation this country was in at the time. When a doctor refuses to treat a patient, the Sri Lanka Medical Board can be notified, and their medical license revoked. To those who said we couldn’t fix this country’s economy in 2022, I ask: is that not exactly what we must do?
Physical health affects just one person, but when an economy collapses, countless lives are impacted. The people must decide whether to reject leaders who abandon their responsibility.
The economic stability we’ve achieved cannot be undone. No one believed the economy would recover in just two years, but I made decisions that strengthened the rupee and stabilized our finances. Yes, economic challenges remain, but no country whose economy collapsed has recovered as quickly as we have. Look at Greece—people there didn’t buy new clothes for seven years, didn’t take holidays. Yet, our people can now enjoy vacations in places like Anuradhapura and Nuwara Eliya. This gradual growth is proof of our progress.
Sri Lanka’s economy was like a patient undergoing surgery and admitted to the emergency unit. In time, we can move this patient to a general ward. By 2025, I believe we can ease the burden on people’s lives, and by 2026, we’ll be ready to "discharge" the patient with a healthier economy.
I’ve spoken with the "IMF General Hospital," and they’ve set out the conditions needed to cure the patient. They are providing the medicines and oxygen we urgently need. Without their support, the patient cannot recover. You can’t revive an economy by cutting taxes—this only reduces revenue and puts the patient at risk, as if oxygen were being cut off.
The decision to remove a doctor while a patient is recovering and transfer the patient to an unqualified doctor should be made by voters in the upcoming presidential election. Today, our economy has achieved a degree of stability, and by 2025, we anticipate further strengthening of the rupiah due to an increase in the country’s GDP. My goal is to complete the fundamental work necessary to bolster our economy by 2026. We have until 2027, as granted by the International Monetary Fund, to achieve this. However, starting in 2025, we plan to accelerate our economic growth program by alleviating the burden on people's lives, which will require a fresh approach. It is crucial that we shift towards an export-oriented economy.
While I will not delve into our on-going programs for agricultural and tourism development here, I want to highlight the importance of medical tourism. To capitalize on this, we must enhance our hospital system and leverage the opportunities arising from a growing global population, including the increasing number of elderly individuals. Opportunities exist in countries like Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, and Europe, and we should seize them.
The nursing profession is advancing with modern technology, and our nurses need to receive the necessary training. We can expand nursing training colleges and introduce new courses, potentially with foreign lecturers if needed. As Japan's population grows, there may be a demand for approximately 200,000 nurses in the future. This demand is also rising in Sri Lanka, where we can develop the concept of Care Homes and establish a dedicated section for the elderly and disabled within the Ministry of Social Services.
In implementing these activities, it is important that patients are not transferred to general wards simultaneously, nor should they be entrusted to a social worker. We must focus on advancing the economic progress we have collectively achieved to build our country.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has significantly enhanced the value of nursing qualifications, transforming what was once a mere piece of paper into a respected credential. Shortly after assuming office, he prioritized the establishment of a nursing university—a goal that had eluded us for 29 years. This achievement has made it possible to earn a degree that, in our country, costs over Rs. 05 million.
Additionally, President Wickremesinghe responded positively to the request to increase the nurses' uniform allowance from Rs.15, 000 to Rs.30, 000. As a result, arrangements have been made to provide Rs.10, 000 this year, with an additional Rs.5, 000 scheduled for next year.
In August, the President confirmed that public sector salary increases would begin in January, affirming his commitment to his promises and demonstrating his effective leadership.
Currently, rallies have emerged around a group responsible for the loss of 60, 000 young lives. Today, these rallies are also supporting groups that shut down hospitals over bureaucratic issues and failed to recognize the value of lives even in the smallest of matters. It is important to remember that nurses were among those whose lives were tragically affected by such neglect.
Under President Wickremesinghe’s leadership, we have progressed from a dire situation to a more hopeful state. The upcoming period will determine whether we advance further or revert to our previous struggles. President Wickremesinghe has proven to be the leader capable of rebuilding this nation, unlike those who fled without taking responsibility. Regardless of your political affiliation, this reality should be acknowledged.
State Minister Seetha Arambepola and MP Vajira Abeywardena also spoke at the event, which was attended by a large number of nurses from across the country representing the PSUNU.
