• AG informs insufficient evidence of amassing assets through suspicious means, performing illegal sterilisation surgeries, having terror links 

Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen who is attached as a Senior House Officer in the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital (TH) has been acquitted from all charges by the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court. 

The case against Dr. Shihabdeen, who had been suspected of allegedly amassing assets through suspicious means, performing illegal sterilisation surgeries and having links to terrorist activities, was taken up for hearing yesterday (6). The Kurunegala Magistrate ordered the case to be dismissed, after the Attorney General’s (AG) Department informed the Court that there was not enough evidence to proceed with the case, and hence the Court ordered the acquittal of defendant Dr. Shihabdeen from all related charges. Furthermore, the Court also lifted the overseas travel ban which was imposed on Dr. Shihabdeen.

In 2019, Dr. Shihabdeen was arrested for allegedly amassing assets via suspicious means. Allegations were levelled against him by various parties claiming that he had performed illegal sterilisation surgeries on women who were treated by him during their caesarean deliveries. He was later detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act. A large number of complaints were lodged at the Kurunegala TH and the Dambulla Base Hospital by mothers who claimed to have been treated by Dr. Shihabdeen and experienced complications in conceiving.