Dr. Shafi Sihabdeen, a specialist from Sri Lanka, has been acquitted of all charges in a case that had attracted significant attention. The charges against him included allegations of illegally amassing wealth, performing unauthorized sterilizations on women during caesarean surgeries, and having links to terrorist organizations. The accusations were particularly serious, with multiple complaints filed by mothers at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital and Dambulla General Hospital, alleging complications in conceiving after being treated by Dr. Sihabdeen.
The Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court dismissed all charges against Dr. Sihabdeen after the Attorney General’s Department informed the court that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case. As a result, the court also lifted the overseas travel ban that had previously been imposed on him. Dr. Sihabdeen had been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) following his arrest in 2019.
This acquittal marks a significant turning point in a case that had generated widespread media coverage and public debate about the healthcare system and allegations of malpractice. Despite the serious nature of the charges, the legal proceedings concluded that there was not enough evidence to support the claims made against him.
