Doctor remanded for not certifying that a man was drunk when police said he was

A doctor attached to the Matale District Hospital, Dr Sarangu Hewage Rasika Nishantha de Silva, was produced in court yesterday for alleged failure to assist the police in the performance of their official duties. He was remanded until the May 16 by the Matale magistrate and additional district judge Sampath Gamage.

Submitting a B report to court SI Gunathilake of Matale police headquarters, said that the suspect doctor had failed to confirm that a person apprehended for being drunk and produced before him was under the influence of liquor. The doctor is alleged to have issued a negative report in this regard.

Police alleged that this act was in retaliation for a past incident in which the doctor had been apprehended for allegedly assaulting a child who had visited the hospital for treatment. On that occasion the police had produced him in court.