Scandal in the Surgical Ward- Crime on Incessant Patients

 

 Neurosurgeon and Hospital Staff Remanded Over Rs. 30 Million Corruption Allegations

Patients paid the price while profits piled up — a story of betrayal, medical ethics, and a deepening probe into public sector corruption

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the country’s public health system, a senior neurosurgeon at one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent state hospitals has been remanded on corruption charges, along with two alleged accomplices. The trio stands accused of running a scheme that forced vulnerable patients to purchase vital surgical equipment from external suppliers — at grossly inflated prices — allegedly for personal financial gain.

A Doctor, an Assistant, and a Private Associate

Ordered to be remanded until June 24 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela, the suspects include:

Dr. Maheshi Surasinghe Wijerathna, a specialist neurosurgeon at the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital

Kekulandala Liyanage Indika, a management assistant at the same institution

Nimal Ranjith, an employee of a private company reportedly linked to the doctor

All three were taken into custody by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), which has launched a detailed investigation into what it describes as a "systemic abuse of public resources and medical trust."

Critical Equipment, Costly Consequences

At the heart of the case are essential neurosurgical items: External Ventricular Drains (EVDs) and Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. These are critical devices used in life-saving brain surgeries, particularly for patients suffering from conditions such as hydrocephalus and traumatic brain injuries.

Instead of sourcing these items through the hospital’s standard medical supply division — where prices are strictly regulated — the suspects allegedly instructed patients to purchase them from private vendors.

“This was not a matter of medical necessity, but of manipulated procurement,” a CIABOC officer told the court. “Hospital channels were bypassed deliberately.”

The Numbers Tell the Story

Hospital procurement cost for an EVD (2022): Rs. 17,500

Current market value: ~Rs. 46,500

What patients were reportedly made to pay: Rs. 125,000–250,000

In some cases, patients paid up to 14 times the original procurement cost for equipment that should have been provided by the state—effectively turning their suffering into a source of profit.

A Trail of Patients and Paperwork

Investigators have identified over 300 neurosurgical patients who underwent surgeries during the time frame in question. Of these, 77 have already provided statements, many detailing how they were pressured or advised to buy the items from "outside sources" rather than waiting for hospital provision.

The estimated total loss to patients? Nearly Rs. 30 million — a staggering sum in a country where many depend on free public healthcare.

The hospital’s supply division, according to testimony, had never been approached to procure these items in bulk, despite their essential nature. This omission, CIABOC argues, was deliberate — part of a premeditated plan to divert supply chains and create artificial demand for private suppliers.

Ethical Breach in a Trusted Profession

The accusations go beyond financial wrongdoing. Legal and medical experts are framing the incident as a grave ethical breach. For a senior doctor — entrusted with saving lives — to be implicated in profiteering from patients' desperation strikes at the core of medical integrity.

“If proven, this is not just corruption. It’s exploitation in its cruelest form,” said a senior health official at the Ministry of Health, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Legal Fallout and What Comes Next

The court has granted CIABOC further time to deepen its investigation. It is expected that more witnesses will be called, and additional suspects could emerge depending on links to the financial trail and procurement irregularities.

Meanwhile, the three accused remain in custody, as public trust in the healthcare system hangs in the balance.

A Wake-Up Call for the System

This case is already becoming a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over corruption in public services — especially in healthcare. While Sri Lanka’s state hospitals are lauded for their commitment to universal care, incidents like this one expose vulnerabilities that can be exploited by individuals in positions of power.

As the investigation continues, the nation watches closely — not just to see who is held accountable, but to ensure that medical care returns to being about healing, not profit.