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| Sunday, 13 March 2005 |
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Jaffna University Surgery dept. standstill Jaffna University medical students inform us that over the last three months all teaching activities regarding the field of surgery have been completely stopped for the final year students of our faculty. Elaborating on the reason for this interruption the Medical Students' Union says: "The reason for this crisis being that over the last thirteen years no permanent staff were appointed for the department of surgery, because no one applied for this post. In this background, Dr. V. Gunanantham (Neuro Surgeon) and Dr. D. C. Ambalavanar (General Surgeon) were appointed on a contract basis in 1997, as senior lecturers to the department of surgery. The contract of Dr. V. Gunanantham ended on 18 August 2003. The University declined to renew his contract any further. Dr. D. C. Ambalavanar continued to serve as senior lecturer (on contract). During the year 2004 one visiting professor, two general surgeons and one orthopaedic surgeon joined the department as visiting lecturers to assist in teaching surgery. On September 2004 Dr. D. C. Ambalavanar resigned from his post as senior lecturer and left the country." "As the university did not renew the contract of Dr. V. Gunanantham he filed a case against the university of Jaffna in the Court of Appeal (Case No. C. A. Application 1559/2003). The Court ruled on the 1st of November 2004 that Dr. V. Gunanantham should be appointed as senior grade - 1 lecturer. Following the Court ruling the other surgeons withdrew their assistance. Dr. V. Gunanantham has still not assumed his post as the head of the department of surgery, as he has not yet accepted the conditions laid down by the council." "Therefore, the situation has now developed where no one is taking responsibility for the academic activities regarding surgery for our final year students." "Over the last three months, we have attempted to resolve this problem in an amicable manner. However, it is clearly evident that no action is being taken by the relevant authorities to rectify this situation. Having exhausted all other avenues of reconciliation and having reached a point where we cannot follow our academic course any further, we have decided to commence protest demonstrations with the hope of completing our education. The Union has also written to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, requesting intervention to recommence Surgery Professorial Appointments. |
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