• Health Min. probe ongoing 
• Doc’s retirement being processed despite GMOA’s misgivings 

Karapitiya Teaching Hospital Senior Oncosurgeon Dr. Krishantha Perera, who was remanded for allegedly assaulting a female junior staff member last week, was released on bail yesterday (22) by the Galle Magistrate’s Court.

The oncosurgeon in question was arrested by the Police and remanded till yesterday regarding the incident. Following a complaint of alleged assault filed by Dr. Perera, three minor staff members of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, including a woman, were arrested on 21 January and remanded in this connection. The trio were granted bail yesterday. 

Following the said senior consultant reportedly handing over his notice of retirement to the Health Ministry, Government Medical Officers’ Association officers attached to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital threatened to take trade union action in the future unless necessary action was taken against the people who allegedly assaulted the surgeon during the particular dispute.

Against this backdrop, several doctors who spoke to The Daily Morning said that the lack of commitment of the hospital administration to keep the senior oncosurgeon in the institution without retiring has made the hospital staff frustrated over the matter. They also blame the hospital administration for not making an impactful intervention in this matter.

However, when contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday, Karapitiya Teaching Hospital Acting Director Dr. S.D.U.M. Ranga said: “We are happy if Dr. Perera serves continuously without retiring, but we are not capable of doing anything as it is his personal choice.” Dr. Ranga also said that there are a few other documents to be submitted by the doctor regarding his retirement and that accordingly, the hospital would submit them to the Health Ministry once it was finalised. 

Speaking further, the Acting Director said that the dispute between the medical staff and the junior staff was almost settled and that hospital operations functioned smoothly. “The Ministry is conducting a probe into the incident. It will come to a conclusion regarding the incident. The hospital now functions without any obstructions and everything is settled,” he said.

Meanwhile, following the arrest of three junior staff members of the same hospital, including a woman, the Health Trade Union Alliance (HTUA) had written a letter to Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, urging him to direct the Police Department to take action impartially regarding the incident, claiming that doctors of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital were attempting to misinterpret the incident in order to mislead the community.

Several protesting consultants, doctors, nurses, and residents of the area launched a demonstration yesterday demanding justice for Dr. Perera in relation to his arrest. The doctors and residents said that Dr. Perera should be protected for the betterment of the hospital and the entire province.

Dr. Perera, 61, was arrested for purportedly assaulting a female junior staff member during a contentious situation that had ensued on the morning of 17 January. He was accused of assaulting the said staff member during a heated argument between him and other junior staffers after he criticised them for disrupting hospital services by going on a token strike the day before.

Dr. Perera was granted bail on the orders of the Galle Magistrate’s Court yesterday on two personal bonds of Rs. 1 million each. The relevant order was issued by Galle Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara.

Meanwhile, the three minor staff members of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital – including a woman, who were arrested on 21 January in connection with a complaint by Dr. Perera alleging assault – were further remanded until 29 January. The court also ordered that the three suspects be referred to an identification parade on the aforementioned date.

A female junior staff member had got herself admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, claiming to have been assaulted by the senior oncologist, who was subsequently arrested and remanded until yesterday on the orders of the Galle Magistrate.