A top private hospital in Colombo faces court in October over allegations of employing unregistered medical staff linked to a patient’s death in 2015. The Fort Magistrate’s Court has summoned key witnesses in the high-profile case.
The case against a leading private hospital in Kollupitiya, Colombo, will be taken up for hearing on October 3, following a court decision made on July 24. The charges relate to allegations that unregistered staff were employed, resulting in the death of a patient.
Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura fixed the next hearing date and issued summons to Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital Director Dr. Dhammika Alahapperuma and Dr. M. N. W. A. Salgado, instructing them to appear and give evidence on the designated day.
The case was filed by the Kollupitiya Police against the private hospital and two staff members—Sarath Chandra Agalawatte, who had served as a radiologist, and Nimali Maduka Wijesekera, who had worked as a nurse.
The complaint alleges that, on or about January 14, 2015, both individuals were employed despite not being registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council and the Sri Lanka Nursing Council, respectively. This, according to the charge sheet, is a violation of the Private Medical Institutions Act.
Authorities claim that the negligence resulting from hiring unqualified personnel directly contributed to an incident that harmed a patient named Meemanage Harold Fernando. His children have stated that their father died as a result of actions taken by the hospital and the accused staff.
The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has accepted four charges related to the employment of unregistered healthcare professionals, with a focus on the alleged failure in due diligence that led to serious consequences for the patient.
The legal proceedings will resume on October 3, when the court expects to hear testimony and examine further evidence related to the alleged misconduct at the hospital.
