The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (29) stated that it will consider on 5 June whether to temporarily lift the overseas travel ban imposed on Dr Maheshi Soorasinghe Wijeratne, a consultant neurosurgeon at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, who is currently out on bail over allegations of corruption involving the sale of surgical equipment to patients at inflated prices.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama made this observation after considering submissions made by Police Inspector Dilum Dushantha, who appeared on behalf of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), when the case was called today.President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, appearing for the suspect, requested the court to temporarily lift the travel ban from 14 June to 16 July.At that point, Police Inspector Dilum Dushantha, representing CIABOC, informed the court that the Commission strongly opposed the request.Making further submissions, the officer stated that more than 100 complaints had already been received against the suspect.Accordingly, he informed the Magistrate that steps were being taken to file more than 125 indictments against her.Having considered the submissions, the Magistrate fixed a date to deliver an order on the matter.

Allegations relating to medical equipment procurement

The Bribery Commission arrested the doctor over allegations that losses had been caused to both the hospital and patients after EVD and VP shunt devices required for neurosurgical procedures were omitted from the hospital’s annual procurement estimates. It is alleged that hospital staff were instructed to obtain the devices through an external entity allegedly operating under the control of a consultant doctor attached to Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital.

The suspect was remanded on 17 June last year and was subsequently released on bail.