Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake has made an appointment to consult Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya, at Navaloka Hospital in Colombo, this evening.

Padeniya leads the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) which has launched an island wide strike in state hospitals today, against SAITM.

Padeniya, a pediatric neurologist, came under severe criticism from social media circles this morning for working in private hospitals while the GMOA is on strike.

In the wake of this controversy, Ramanayake made an online payment of Rs.1925 and secured an appointment to consult with Padeniya. 

However, when contacted by Asian Mirror, Navaloka Hospital said Dr. Padeniya was on leave today. 

Shortly after that, the official website of the hospital indicated that Padeniya was not available today. However, the same website two hours ago said he was available.