The Secretary to the State Ministry of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID-19 Prevention, Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva, has been removed from the post with immediate effect.
He has been appointed as Secretary to the State Ministry of Backward Rural Areas Development and Promotion of Domestic Animal Husbandry.
At a press briefing at the Abayaramaya Temple, Ven. Murutthettuwe Ananda Thero noted that Dr. Amal de Silva was removed from the post of Secretary for giving the Covid-19 vaccine to former Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya who was not included in the vaccine priority list with regard to the national COVID-19 inoculation drive in the country.
He further observed that the Ministry of Health is in utter chaos.
When journalists inquired how a former national cricket team captain was able to receive the vaccine during a Cabinet press briefing recently, Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said that certain celebrities will get the COVID-19 vaccine to allay any doubts or fears the people may have about the vaccine.
Meanwhile, it is reported that Sunethra Gunawardena has been appointed as Secretary to the State Ministry of Primary Health Care, Pandemics and COVID-19 Prevention.
Pressure from Generals?
Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Pandemics and COVID-19 Prevention is deeply concerned about the removal of Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva, who is considered to be one of the most senior administrative officials in the Ministry of Health, internal government sources said.
The sources further said that the administration of the Ministry of Health has been completely disrupted as a result of unwarranted interventions by Army Generals.
