No Justice for the One Who Was Removed

 

The drama at the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) has come full circle — but in true Colombo style, no one seems to have won.

Today, SLMC Chairman Dr. Vajira Dissanayake packed his bags after the Supreme Court upheld a ruling that his appointment had been born of illegality. With a polite letter to Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, he bowed out, citing respect for the court’s decision.

Sounds neat? Not quite. The roots of this saga stretch back to 2020, when then Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi suddenly sacked SLMC President Prof. Harendra Silva and four others. The Court of Appeal later branded that move illegal and arbitrary. But while the wheels of justice slowly creaked along, the clock kept ticking.

Now the Supreme Court has spoken — yes, Silva’s removal was wrong. Yes, the government acted illegally. But here comes the twist: Prof. Silva’s term is already over. So while the principle of justice is upheld, the man at the centre of it all can’t return to his chair.

In Colombo’s gossip mills, the line is clear: justice delayed has become justice denied. One chairman exits, another is remembered only in court records, and the medical council must now await a fresh appointment.

The whispers in the medical corridors? “If this is justice, where’s the remedy?”