Treat Us with Respect; Don’t Turn Officials into Patients

Jaffna, Sri Lanka – The Director of Jaffna Teaching Hospital, Dr. Sathiyamoorthy, has called for government officials attending district development meetings to be treated with dignity and respect.

He made this appeal during the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting held yesterday (17) at the Jaffna District Secretariat. The request came in response to a heated exchange between Parliamentarian Dr. Archana Ramananathan and several government officials regarding the progress of development projects.

Dr. Sathiyamoorthy raised concerns that public officials were being subjected to harsh and baseless accusations during these sessions. He emphasized the need for a respectful and constructive dialogue.

Responding to the issue, MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam stated that elected representatives have every right to question officials and are entitled to pursue legal action if the responses they receive are unsatisfactory. However, he urged all participants to avoid unnecessary defamatory remarks.

Minister S. Chandrasekaran, who chairs the District Coordinating Committee, echoed the sentiment, noting that there would be no issue if questions are raised appropriately and without personal attacks. He warned that if officials are antagonized, it could hinder the progress of development activities in the district. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between public representatives and officials.

In a tense moment, MP Archana interjected, saying, “If you are suggesting that questions shouldn’t be asked or that officials dislike being questioned, then there’s no point in me attending these meetings.”

To this, Minister Chandrasekaran replied, “Your decision to attend or not attend is entirely your own.”

The exchange highlighted the growing tension between elected officials and administrative personnel during public planning sessions, underscoring the need for mutual respect and clear communication.