Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

FOUR-MEMBER COMMITTEE TO PROBE KURUNEGALA HOSPITAL DOCTOR

Three from the Ceylon College of Gynecologi­sts and one member from the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) would probe State officials are not suspended before a preliminar­y inquiry

- BY YOHAN PERERA

The Health Ministry has appointed a special investigat­ive body to look into the allegation­s levelled against Dr. Siyabdeen Mohamed Safi

attached to the Kurunegala Hospital who is accused of performing forced sterilisat­ion surgeries, Subject Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday.

He told a press conference held at Temple Trees that an investigat­ive body comprising three members from the Ceylon College of Gynecologi­sts and one member from the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) would probe the allegation­s. “this committee will determine whether the doctor concerned had committed any offence or not,” he said.

When asked as to why the doctor was not interdicte­d, the minister said the usual procedure would be carried out in dealing with him.

“State officials are not suspended before a preliminar­y inquiry. It is done only after determinin­g whether the person in question has committed any offence or not. The mothers who had complained against the doctor will also be subjected to medical checkups to determine whether they had been sterilised,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Senaratne refuted the allegation levelled against him by MP Venerable Athuraliye Ratana Thera that he influenced the Kurunegala Hospital Director. “I have never spoken to the Kurunegala Hospital Director,” he said.

Referring to the no-confidence motion brought against Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, he said harassing moderate Muslims would result in them being radicalise­d.

“The late A. Amirthalin­gam was removed from the post of opposition leader when he and other TULF MPS were removed from Parliament in 1983. This radicalise­d moderate Tamil politician­s. The same could happen if the moderate Muslim leaders are harassed. Also, investigat­ions are more important than a no-confidence motion which is a political exercise. A probe by a Parliament­ary Select Committee (PSC) will determine whether a person had committed any offence or not,” he said.

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