Tense situation near Badulla Hospital
A clash occurred between police and the minor staff of the hospital
A tense situation prevailed last morning near the Badulla Hospital for about an hour as a clash occurred between police and the minor staff of the hospital on the road in front of the hospital The staff accused the police
of releasing a vehicle involved in an accident without conducting preliminary investigations. They set fire to tyres in protest.
The victim of the accident had been an outside employee working in the oxygen unit of the hospital.
The hospital minor staff and the employees of sanitary services of the hospital staged the protest obstructing traffic on the Badulla -Bandarawela road and burning tyres.
The OIC of the Badulla Police and a team who arrived at the site asked the protesters to clear the road. The protesters refused and the police put out the fire and tried to disperse the crowd. This led to a clash between the protesters and the police.
The police used tear gas on the crowd.
The situation worsened and the protesters began to attack the police with stones and clubs.
The Badulla OIC was injured when a stone struck his head. His injuries were serious and he was taken to the Kandy General Hospital.
Two hospital employees were taken into custody.
Later Badulla SP Gregory Cooray arrived and had a dis- cussion with Dr. Ekanayake and Dr Chandana Kakulawala of the Badulla Hospital regarding the security of the hospital.
The SP told the people that the police were also responsible for safeguarding public property. He said the driver and the vehicle involved in the accident had been taken into custody.
He warned that those who behaved violently would be arrested.