Magisterial Inquiry on late Ven. Sobitha Thera’s death concluded

The CID yesterday informed court that it would conclude the magisterial inquiry on the death of Ven. Sobitha Thera based on the report earlier submitted by the special panel of Colombo National Hospital doctors. Subsequently, Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya concluded the magisterial inquiry on the matter.

CNH doctors who conducted an inquiry on the demise of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera earlier had informed court that the cause of death given by the Singapore clinicians was in keeping with the documented clinical features and sequences of events, therefore committee also agrees that there was not necessary to request an inquest or postmortem report.

Earlier, filing a report over the investigation, the committee including Director General of National Hospital, Anil Jasinghe and five others said that they were satisfied about the management served for Thera and the committee could not find any form of negligence from the management. The Committee had also mentioned that there was no evidence to suggest any past records of the Thera have gone missing.

After scrutinising all the medical documents received from the Colombo National Hospital, Neville de Silva Teaching Hospital and Central Hospital, the committee suggested that due to the reason that all the documented clinical features are in keeping with the cause of death given the committee too agrees with diagnosis. On an earlier occasion, the Court directed Dr. Jasinghe to appoint a special panel of doctors to investigate on the death of Ven. Sobitha Thera following a request made by the CID on a complaint received from Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera.

The special panel was comprised of Dr Anil Jasinghe (president of the panel), Dr Ajith Thennakoon, Dr Kumudini Ranathunge, Dr Nimali Fernando and Dr Iresh Wijemanne.

In a complaint to the CID the monk had said an autopsy has to be carried out because the details of the treatment were missing.

In a complaint to the CID the monk had said an autopsy has to be carried out because the details of the treatment were missing.