The Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) stated that they have not yet been informed by Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena, on any action to be taken against the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of the District General Hospital (DGH) in Hambantota, who is alleged to have, during a medical examination, troubled a teenage girl who was subjected to sexual abuse by over 20 students of a school in Thanamalwila.
Following the JMO attached to the DGH in Hambantota being accused of further troubling the victim during a medical examination, he was arrested by the Police and later granted bail by the relevant Magistrate's Court (MC).
When queried by The Daily Morning as to whether the SLMC would take any action against the JMO in question, SLMC's Registrar Dr. Hemantha Herath said that they would usually be informed by the DGHS (Dr. Gunawardena) should there be any action that is to be taken in relation to a case of this sort.
“If something should be done from our end, the DGHS usually informs us, and we act accordingly. However, we have not received such a directive so far.” He further said that the SLMC did not possess the authority to make a direct intervention unless they are informed by the DGHS to initiate action.
“Let's take Food Inspectors for an example; they can go, inspect the food, and then take appropriate action. They are not required to wait until someone directs them to do it. When it comes to the SLMC, we cannot initiate action just because we hear of something. In this case, the JMOs are under the DGHS. So, if he informs us of any action to be taken against him, we will implement it,” he said.
Speaking further, Dr. Herath said that such a notification would not typically be made by the DGHS instantly as there must be sufficient evidence before the authorities prior to taking action on a particular individual. “We all have to act on this type of incident following the prescribed procedure. There is no possibility to take instant action. When we take an action against a particular individual, they can go and challenge it before court. Therefore, we should do anything after gathering all the related information and evidence. However, the administrative level actions will be taken by the relevant authorities.”
Despite several efforts made to contact Dr. Gunawardena for comment, he was not available.
A total of 17 schoolboys were recently arrested by the Police for allegedly sexually abusing an 11th-Grade schoolgirl in a leading school in Thanamalwila over a period of one year. The principal and several teachers of the relevant school, who were accused of covering up the incident, and the JMO, who was suspected of further troubling her during a medical examination at the DGH in Hambantota, were arrested by the Police, were produced before the relevant MC, and were subsequently enlarged on bail.