Probe this conspiracy

The alleged conspiracy to create a blood shortage in the country should be viewed with alarm by all concerned and warrants an immediate investigation by the authorities.

According to our front page story yesterday a plan is allegedly being hatched by vested interests led by certain print and electronic media to deter volunteers from donating blood at the National Blood Transfusion Centre (NBTC).

According to National Blood Bank Director Dr. Mallika Bindusara a depletion in the collection of blood from their mobile services has already been observed and the NBTC’s main centre in Colombo 5 has been deserted following this scaremongering.

A Parliamentary Act to permit a free supply of blood to patients at State Hospitals has been cited by her as the apparent reason for this campaign.

According to Dr. Bindusara this would result in private blood banks not being able to sell their blood to hospitals.

Although this may be the ostensible reason there could well be a sinister plot lurking in the background.

As doctors pointed out our wounded war heros are in need of regular blood transfusions and any shortage is bound to have serious consequences. Today there are many interested parties who want the war brought to a halt and various issues are being raised to undermine the Government’s victories.

There can be other methods as well as those conversant with the cloak and dagger methods are only too well aware. These same methods have been adopted to undermine economies of countries and their sovereignty around the world.

It is no secret that today various forces both local and international have been arrayed against the Government, determined to scuttle its war effort.

Their chief motive is to see a division of the country in order and achieve their sinister designs. Examples are legion where such cloak and dagger methods were used to sabotage the economies of countries and destroy their socio-political fabric.

Sri Lanka too has been on the international radar since the beginning of the conflict and there are international forces who had succeeded in gaining a foothold in the country through their paid agents in order to fish in troubled waters. These forces have not entirely been able to hide their true motives i.e. to see the dismemberment of the country in order to promote their own agenda.

Towards this end various ploys have been adopted by international actors through their local agents. Already we have seen vocal criticism against the Government on alleged human rights abuses.

It was not long ago that a campaign was launched to discredit Lankan soldiers who were inducted into the UN Peacekeeping Forces. Given these attempts one cannot help but come to the inescapable conclusion that a diabolical campaign is underfoot to debilitate the military machine and undermine the Government’s war effort.

One could only imagine the effect on a fighting soldier to know that he would be deprived of proper medical attention in the event of being wounded due to the country’s blood banks going dry. It could also affect the current recruitment drive and make those willing to join the Forces think twice about the decision.

The Government should lose no time in bringing the facts of this conspiracy to light. Any delay would not only cause public panic but would also affect the morale of soldiers which in turn would stymie the current victory march. This perhaps is the real goal of the conspirators.

Steps should be taken by the Health Ministry to allay fears of the public pertaining to blood donation. A full blown media campaign should be carried out in this regard. Above all the Government should try to ascertain if there is a larger conspiracy at play to sap the morale of the Forces at a crucial phase of the war and identify those behind such a move.