-By A Court Reporter
(Lanka-e-News -25.June.2025, 5.30 AM) A senior neurosurgeon at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, Dr Maheshi Wijerathna, has been remanded once again by the Colombo Chief Magistrate, Tanuja Lakmali Jayatunga, in a widening scandal that has shaken public confidence in Sri Lanka’s health system.
The high-profile medical practitioner was arrested alongside two others — her employee Nimal Ranjith Muthukuda and hospital clerk K.L. Indika — by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). Their bail applications were rejected, and all three will remain in custody until July 8, as investigations intensify into alleged profiteering from the sale of surgical equipment.
The Commission alleged in open court that Dr Wijerathna, the only neurosurgical specialist at the hospital, orchestrated a racket involving the external sale of a vital surgical component known as an “EVD” (external ventricular drain), used in neurosurgery. According to CIABOC officers, the EVDs were available within the hospital at Rs. 17,500, but were sold to desperate patients through a private company at grossly inflated prices ranging from Rs. 150,000 to Rs. 250,000.
The company, MNM Medical Services, was revealed to have been established by Dr Wijerathna’s now-deceased husband, Nigel, but subsequently managed by the doctor herself following his death in 2010. The Commission stated that the profits from this operation were funnelled through her private channels, bypassing the hospital’s official procurement systems.
CIABOC confirmed that statements had already been recorded from 88 patients who had been instructed by Dr Wijerathna to purchase EVDs externally, despite the hospital’s ability to provide them. Patients were allegedly referred to clerk Indika, who would then provide them with the contact details of Muthukuda. Payments were made privately, and the equipment never handed over to the patients directly — instead, they were delivered straight to the hospital operating theatre, giving the false impression they were part of the hospital’s official inventory.
The Commission further revealed that the hospital’s chief theatre nurse had confirmed this clandestine process, stating that the items were either brought by Dr Wijerathna herself or delivered by third parties.
Crucially, procurement records indicated that Dr Wijerathna had repeatedly declined to provide specifications required for hospital bulk purchasing, thus forcing reliance on her private supply. It was also noted that the EVDs had often been purchased through an external firm named Hemafarm, raising further concerns of a long-standing conflict of interest.
The initial complaint was filed by a man named Chamara Abeywardena, who alleged he had been extorted. Investigations revealed that after lodging the complaint, he was approached by a lawyer named Kariyawasam, who offered him Rs. 200,000 to settle the matter. Following Dr Wijerathna’s arrest, CIABOC stated that its official hotline had received no fewer than 92 calls relating to her alleged conduct — many offering new complaints or supporting evidence.
Alarmingly, it has now emerged that Abeywardena, the primary whistleblower, is facing death threats. CIABOC officers disclosed in court that they have taken steps to ensure his protection, amidst growing public outcry over the revelations.
President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, appearing for Dr Wijerathna, told the court that the case had been inflated by media sensationalism. “The Commission claims there is public uproar — but it was they who tipped off the media prior to arrest. This is trial by media, not by law,” he argued.
Pieris further suggested that surgical items purchased under government procurement schemes were often of poor quality, which had prompted Dr Wijerathna to source better-quality tools from outside suppliers in the interest of patient care. “These are delicate procedures. Surgeons often rely on superior, privately sourced equipment. This is not the first time nor will it be the last that outside instruments are used,” he said, submitting a hospital notice authorising external purchase as evidence.
However, Assistant Director of CIABOC, Sulochana Hettiarachchi, rebutted the claims strongly. “This doctor has performed surgeries on patients who did not medically require them — even operating on dying patients whose hearts were kept beating artificially,” she claimed. “Post-mortem reports revealed one such patient had died five days prior to the date of the operation recorded by her.”
Hettiarachchi also cautioned the court about the influence wielded by Dr Wijerathna. “She is politically connected. If granted bail, she may obstruct the investigation.”
The defence, however, pushed back. Anuja Premaratne PC, appearing for the accused hospital clerk, quoted Deputy Health Minister Hansaka Wijayamuni, who had previously stated publicly that “purchasing medication and equipment from outside is not illegal — it is in fact a form of support to the healthcare system.”
“Then how can this be a crime?” Premaratne asked rhetorically.
After hearing extensive submissions from both sides, Magistrate Jayatunga ruled in favour of continued remand custody, citing the gravity of the allegations, potential interference with witnesses, and emerging threats to complainants. The three accused will remain in remand until July 8, when the case is next called.
Meanwhile, this controversy has sparked widespread debate across Sri Lanka. Social media has lit up with posts questioning the integrity of the public health sector, the complicity of hospital authorities, and the accountability of medical professionals operating in grey zones between state and private practice.
With dozens of patients coming forward, the scandal appears far from over. And for now, Dr Maheshi Wijerathna — once regarded as a top specialist in her field — remains behind bars, facing mounting legal and public scrutiny in a case that may reshape how medical corruption is understood and prosecuted in Sri Lanka.
-By A Court Reporter
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by (2025-06-25 00:00:28)
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