- Equipment worth Rs. 150 m, demurrage cost being added
The Government Radiological Technologists’ Association claimed that the computed tomography (CT) scan machine imported for the Kalutara Teaching Hospital has been stuck at the Colombo Port for six weeks due to Customs clearance delays.
Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (25), Association’s President Chanaka Dharmawickrama claimed that the CT scan machine, worth Rs. 150 million, arrived at the Colombo Port on 14 February. However, he alleged that officials from the Ministry of Health have not yet taken steps to release it from the Customs.
"Due to this delay, warehouse charges exceeding Rs. 1 million have already been incurred," he said. Speaking further, he alleged that a tender was called in 2021 to purchase a CT scan machine for the hospital, and that a supplier was selected, yet, due to delays in completing the necessary arrangements, the importation of the machine was postponed.
"After the new Government took office, Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa intervened, and in November of last year (2024), he instructed officials to open letters of credit and expedite the import process," he said.
He also stated that the CT scan machine at the hospital completely broke down in February 2023. "Since then, all emergency CT scans have been carried out at private hospitals, while some other patients have been transported to the Homagama Base Hospital, the Horana Base Hospital, the Colombo South Kalubowila Teaching Hospital, and the Colombo National Hospital for their scans. It is believed that the cost of transporting patients and conducting scans at private hospitals has already exceeded the price of the CT scan machine itself," he claimed.
He further noted that keeping such advanced medical equipment in storage for a long period could damage its components. Therefore, he urged the relevant authorities to take immediate action to release the machine and make it available for use at the Hospital, and also called on the Minister to investigate the issue and take urgent action.
Attempts made to contact Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Anil Jasinghe and the Sri Lanka Customs Spokesperson ADG Seevali Arukgoda proved futile.