GMOA sweeps polls

Four members of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has won elections to four vacant positions in Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) for graduate doctors.

SLMC Registrar Dr Terrance G. de Silva, who was also the Returning Officer on both polling days, Tuesday (23) and Wednesday (24), said that GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya had secured 6,254 votes, Dr. Nalinda Herath (Ex-Co member) 5,676, Dr Harris Pathirage 5,250 and Dr Naveen de Zoysa (Assistant Secretary) 5,117.

Dr. de Silva said that the four elected members would be in the Council for a period of five years.

Dr de Silva said that Prof Indika Karunathilake, who came fifth had polled 2,504 votes. Dr Lalantha Ranasinghe 1,424, Dr M. Wanuj Weerasinghe 1,000, Dr Sankalpa Marasinghe 923, Dr Sathiskumar Gunasinghe 784, Dr. Hiran Karsinghe 466, Dr T.B.R. Siriwardhane 449, Dr Jaltota R. Saranapala 435) and Dr I. Abeywickrema 417.

The SLMC Registrar said 1,791 had sought permission for postal voting. However, due to various reasons only 1,422 had been deemed eligible. The SLMC received 1,058 postal votes by Monday 3.00 pm the deadline for postal voting. He said 38 postal votes were rejected.

On the first day of the SLMC election 3,880 doctors and 3,090 doctors voted on the second day. Seventeen votes were rejected. 27,500 doctors were eligible to vote. The total number of valid votes were 8,048.

The SLMC Registrar said that the Council would be notified of the result today (26).

Eight members of the SLMC are appointed by the Faculty Boards of the State Medical Faculties, and eight others by medical practitioners registered with the SLMC. One member of the SLMC is appointed from among the Registered Medical Officers and by the Faculty Board of Faculty of Dental Sciences.