A neurosurgeon at Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital and two associates have been remanded following court findings that she conducted surgeries on brain‑dead patients, threatened whistleblowers, and colluded to overcharge for critical neurosurgical equipment, exposing a major corruption and ethical crisis in public healthcare.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga on June 24 ordered the remand of three individuals, including specialist neurosurgeon Dr. Maheshi Soorasinghe Wijeratne of Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, until July 8. The three were arrested by the Bribery Commission over allegations that they bypassed standard procurement procedures, causing financial losses to the hospital and patients by sourcing neurosurgical items through a privately controlled entity.
Alongside Dr. Wijeratne, the two others remanded were Kekulanda Liyanage Indika, the hospital’s chief clerk, and Nimal Ranjith Muthukuda, an employee of a private institution allegedly operated by Dr. Wijeratne. The court was informed that Dr. Wijeratne failed to include essential neurosurgical equipment, specifically EVD and VP shunt devices in the hospital’s annual procurement estimate. Instead, patients were directed to procure these through an external party at inflated prices, allowing Dr. Wijeratne to pocket significant profits.
Assistant Legal Director of the Bribery Commission, Sulochana Hettiarachchi, told the court that the neurosurgical items, worth Rs. 55,000 at retail, were sold to patients for Rs. 175,000 via the doctor’s private MNN Medical Institute. Payments were allegedly deposited into Dr. Wijeratne’s personal bank account, constituting a clear act of corruption under Sections 70 and 111 of the Bribery Act.
More disturbingly, investigations revealed that Dr. Wijeratne performed surgeries on brain-dead patients using EVD and VP shunt devices connected to a second surgical heart machine. Patients with minor neurological disorders were subjected to unnecessary and invasive procedures, some resulting in death. In one post-mortem examination, it was found that a patient had been dead for five days and had a portion of the skull missing. Witnesses, including relatives of deceased patients, described these operations as profit-driven and unethical.
The Bribery Commission argued that granting bail could compromise the investigation, citing the doctor’s alleged political connections and the potential for witness intimidation. Hettiarachchi further noted that the investigation had already received 92 emergency hotline calls, with 200 more statements pending. Two individuals, including a relative of former Minister Colvin R. de Silva, reported receiving death threats related to the case.
As a precaution, all patients in Dr. Wijeratne’s ward were transferred to the Colombo National Hospital, and new admissions were suspended. The Medical Board of Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital is scheduled to meet to consider disciplinary measures.
Defense attorneys argued for bail, stating that external procurement of medical items is a common practice in public hospitals due to supply shortages. President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris, representing Dr. Wijeratne, emphasized her unique role as the only neurosurgeon at the hospital and noted that two in-patients had died since her remand. He claimed no personal gain had been made from the transactions.
Meanwhile, President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne, representing Muthukuda, asserted that his client merely followed orders and that such procurement practices had tacit approval from high-ranking health officials. He cited a recent public statement by a Deputy Minister of Health supporting external sourcing for unavailable hospital supplies.
Investigators confirmed that Muthukuda worked for the unregistered private institute owned by Dr. Wijeratne and that none of the required equipment was requested through the hospital’s supply department. This unauthorized procurement led to an estimated Rs. 3 million in patient losses, while the hospital itself bore the brunt of the procurement failures. Official supply prices of Rs. 17,500 in 2022 had ballooned to Rs. 46,500 in the current market, with patients being charged up to Rs. 250,000.
Around 300 patients have been identified as having undergone surgeries under these questionable circumstances, with 77 already providing testimony. After reviewing the presented arguments and evidence, the Magistrate ruled to keep all three suspects in custody until July 8.
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