The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday (17) arrested Consultant Neurosurgeon Maheshi Soorasinghe Wijeratne, Hospital Management Assistant Kakulandala Liyanage Indika, and a civilian, Nimal Ranjith Mutukuda, over a large-scale corruption racket involving the illegal sale of medicinal supplies from the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital (SJGH).

Mutukuda, a resident of Kadawatha, was employed at an unauthorised private institution allegedly owned by the neurosurgeon.

According to CIABOC, investigations revealed that the neurosurgeon had deliberately excluded essential surgical items—such as External Ventricular Drains (EVDs) and Ventriculo-Peritoneal (VP) shunts—from the hospital’s annual procurement list. Instead, she allegedly directed patients to purchase these items from outside suppliers linked to herself or hospital staff, resulting in severe financial exploitation of patients.

An EVD, which cost around Rs 17,500 through the Medical Supply Division (MSD) in 2022, was being sold for Rs 120,000 to Rs 250,000 through these unofficial channels, while the current market price stands at approximately Rs 46,500.

CIABOC’s probe identified around 300 patients affected by the scheme, with statements obtained from 77. Disturbingly, many of these patients have since passed away, the Commission reported.

The financial loss to the 77 patients alone is estimated to be nearly Rs 300 million.

She was remanded till 24 June by the Colombo High Court.