Dr Sarath Obeysekera 

August 25, 2018, 9:17 pm
Melstacorp PLC, the Harry Jayawardena controlled conglomerate which is the holding company of the Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC. with substantial stakes in other Harry J controlled or influenced blue chips last week announced that it would shortly enter the country’s healthcare industry through subsidiaries incorporated to undertake these businesses.

These would include management of hospitals, operating diagnostic centres and involvement in related healthcare institutions as and when opportunities arise, a Stock Exchange filing said.

There was a news item earlier that Distilleries owned by Harry J has made billions as profit.

When I drive passing the liquor shops during peak hours  and  citizens of the country return home after  work,  you can see ques forming up in front of liquor shops.

Certain section of the working class people want to by Quarter /Half bottle of  Gal Arrakku” .Some well-to-do citizens stop at super markets to buy more expensive liquor or full bottle of Gal or Pol arrack .

In the corporate world there is a theory called Social and Corporate Responsibility applicable to all big companies .

Harry J also has such a responsibility to look after the citizens who fall sick due to excessive consumption of liquor?

He should not charge any money from patients who may patronise the hospitals for which he intends to invest.

Particularly the patients with liver failure should be treated absolutely free of charge.

People with families in the brink of breaking up, leading to mental disorder due to bread winner of the family consuming excessive amount of liquor  should also treated free of charge ?

Dr Sarath Obeysekera