All medical officers who returned to Colombo from the Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Mannar, Vayuniya and Medwachchiya hospitals following the killing of Dr. Palitha Padmakumara at Vavunativu, Batticaloa on November 23 will be back at their stations on December 4 (Thursday).

Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge told the Government Medical Officers Association that the Ministry has agreed to provide adequate security and sort out accommodation problems of all doctors serving in the North and East.

A Health Ministry spokesman told The Island that the doctors who returned to Colombo from the North and East had made demands which included a risk allowance, intensification of security, payment of compensation to Dr. Palitha Padmakumara’s dependents, implementation of proper administrative procedure and introduction of a life insurance policy for all doctors serving in the North and East.

He said Healthcare Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva would submit a Cabinet memorandum to pay Rs.5 million compensation to Dr. Pathmakumara’s family and Presidential advice was sought on some of the demands that could not be entertained by the Health Ministry.

Talks held between Secretary to the Health Ministry and President’s Secretary were fruitful, the spokesman said. The Health Ministry had also taken action to appoint three doctors to coordinate accommodation facilities of their colleagues.

He added that the coordination committee would consist of Dr. Sarath Weerabandara for Vayuniya and Mannar districts, Dr. V. Jeganadan for Ampara and Batticaloa districts and Dr. A. T. B. Wijekoon for Trincomalee district.