The Acting President lacks credibility and cannot be considered to be a unifying force capable of leading an all party government to overcome this most critical phase the country is going through, says an eminent group of medical professionals in Sri Lanka. This was made known via a letter by the Medical Professionals today (19) addressed to all Parliamentarians. "The present acting president, who seems to be appointed to look after the interests of the outgoing rulers, is being universally rejected by the people. He was completely rejected by the electorate at the general elections just two years ago. His subsequent appointment to the parliament through the national list, elevation to the post of prime minister and now as acting president is a distortion of the essence of democracy and generally considered to be against all democratic, moral and ethical principles," the letter read. The letter further mentioned that it was a matter of extreme urgency that a president and a stable government are in place to manage the recovery process, noting that it should be acceptable to the people as well as to the international community whose goodwill and assistance is essential for recovery. Additionally, the letter appealed to all parliamentarians to to set aside their personal political agendas and other interests and ensure that a person acceptable to all is elected as the interim president. "As senior medical professionals who have served the nation over many years, we strongly urge that as responsible parliamentarians, you consider it your sole responsibility to act in a manner that would meet the needs of the people of this country and not the interests of a small group," the letter concluded. The letter was signed by the following medical professionals: Dr Naomali Amarasena - Consultant Cardiologist Dr Ajith Amarasinghe- Consultant Paediatrician Dr. K.D Banagala - Consultant Surgeon Dr Eranda Cabral - Medical Officer Prof. Madava Chandrathilaka - Professor in Medical Education Prof Enoka Corea - Chair Professor of Microbiology Dr Asunga Dunuwille -Consultant Cardiac Electrophysiologist Dr. Nimali Fernando - Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Amitha Fernando - Consultant Respiratory Physician Dr. Lakkumar Fernando - Consultant Paediatrician Dr Kishara Gunarathne - Consultant Neurologist Dr Deepa Gunasekara - Senior Lecture in Bio Chemistry Prof Saman Gunathilaka - Professor in Medicine Dr. Rohan Gunawardena - Consultant Cardiac Electrophysiologist. Prof N K Gunwardena - Senior Professor Medical Parasitology Dr. Kalyani Guruge - Consultant Paediatrician Prof Rasika Herath - Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Dr. Amila Isuru - Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Eranda Karunadasa - Consultant Surgeon Dr Ajith Karunaratne - Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Prof Indika Karunathilake - Professor in Medical Education Prof. Prasad Katulanda - Consultant Endocrinologist and Diabetologist Prof. K. Muhunthan - Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Professor MA Niriella - Professor in Gastroenterology Dr Manjula Peiris - Consultant Surgeon Dr Ruwanthi Perera - Consultant Paediatrician Dr Nilupul Perera - Consultant Neurologist Dr. M.K Ragunathan - Consultant Physician Prof. Senaka Rajapakse - Professor in Medicine Prof Ajith Rathnaweera - Professor in Forensic Medicine Dr. Duminda Samarasinghe - Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist Dr K.T Sundaresan - Consultant Physician Prof. Sudarshani Wasalathanthri - Professor in Physiology Prof MC Weerasinghe - Consultant Community Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama - Consultant Physician Dr. Sunil Wijesinghe - Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons Dr Sampath Withanawasam - Consultant Cardiologist