Nov 17, Colombo: Sri Lankan Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva today said the government will make a special frame work to protect the doctors who work in the North and Eastern provinces.

Following the killing of Dr. Palitha Padma Kumara (35), Medical Superintendent of the Vavunathivu Hospital in Batticaloa last night, the Minister said that he had discussed this issue with the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa this morning.

Defence Secretary has reportedly assured the cooperation in this direction in consultation with Security Forces Headquarters of East and the Police in the area.

The Minister had assured the doctors’ union that the government will make necessary arrangements to tighten the security of the doctors who work in the North and East.

Dr. Upul Gunasekara Assistance Secretary of the Government Medical Officers Association said that the doctors in Batticaloa district have decided to withdraw from the hospitals due to lack of security in the area.

Gunmen believed to be LTTE Tigers stormed the hospital premises and indiscriminately fired towards the Out Patient Department where the doctor was working at the time. The gunmen as they flee had fired at a house nearby killing a civilian.