Speech by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Doctors taking up new appointments via video conferencing, BMICH

01st August 2006

It gives me great pleasure to address those of you who have just entered the medial profession. Today you commit yourselves to follow a noble career path, as healers of your fellow beings.

Due to other national commitments, I am unable to be with you in person at your function today. But I very much share with you the joy and pride you no doubt feel at the beginning of a career, through which I know you will experience a sense of fulfillment and success.

As a parent myself, I also understand the great sense of happiness your parents will feel today. They have toiled, no doubt, and sacrificed much, to guide and support you throughout your student days. What satisfies a parent most is to see their children doing well. And this is particularly so when their sons and daughters enter a noble profession, as they do today. Great merit accrues to your parents.

As you enter this noble profession, we must remind you that as young doctors you will be called upon to serve in remote and difficult stations in our country. In these often forgotten places, you will come across many deprived and needy patients. As we have stated in the Mahinda Chintana our government is deeply committed to taking all services – and that includes the medical services – to all those people who have been deprived for far too long.

As young doctors, it will be a challenge to you to serve in these distant and often poorly equipped places. You will find that the infra-structure facilities in these far away places are nothing like what you have known in the Medical Colleges and the big hospitals to which you are attached. But your seniors will certainly tell you that later on in your career you will look back on these early and difficult years as the most rewarding period in your life.

Let me at the same time assure you that our government has identified the health service sector as a priority area for development. Doctors are undoubtedly the most vital element in the health services of a country. But in your work you will also come to realize that the supporting services, such as those of nurses and paramedics, are essential for your success as doctors.

Let us recall that whenever our country faced a crisis where we needed medical assistance, our doctors always responded with dedication and commitment. For instance, during the recent tsunami and after, we saw our medical profession at its noble best. Their commitment to the task of saving lives, earned them the respect of the whole world.

Sri Lanka’s medical profession is respected all over the world. Today you join this noble profession. Generations of doctors who started off like you do today, have served our country in the past with selfless dedication. Some of them have gone abroad, and their services have brought honour to our country.

Young doctors who join this great profession today, I wish you all success in your chosen career, as we place the health and well-being of our national in your hands.

I wish you well. Thank you.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa