The Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) has been ordered to investigate a doctor who submitted a questionable medical report for former minister Johnston Fernando, a report based on what the doctor admitted was a personal “examination” of his childhood friend, Ceylon Today newspaper reported.
Colombo High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratne demanded the professional conduct review yesterday (23) after revelations that Dr. R.P.K. Chandana who is employed at a reputed private hospital in Narahenpita issued a sick note claiming Fernando was too ill with back pain to attend a hearing for his corruption trial.
This controversial sick note was submitted in September 2024. On 22 January, Colombo High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe directed the director of a prominent private hospital in Narahenpita to provide a comprehensive report verifying whether Dr. R.P.K. Chandana—who submitted a medical certificate claiming former Minister Fernando was suffering from severe lower back pain and unable to attend court—is officially employed by the hospital or its outpatient department.
The case came up in the Colombo High Court on 14 September 2024, where Johnston Fernando failed to appear. Instead, a medical report on the hospital’s letterhead was presented, stating that Fernando was unwell.
Subsequently, acting on a court order, the High Court Registrar asked the hospital director to submit a detailed medical report outlining the treatment and examinations conducted on Fernando.
In reply, Dr. Chandana sent a letter to the High Court Judge and Registrar—this time without the hospital’s official letterhead—stating that he had known Fernando personally since childhood and that they both attended school in Kurunegala. He added that, due to their long-standing relationship, he serves as Fernando’s family doctor and had personally examined him by holding his hand and checking his pulse.
The case, filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), charges the three defendants under the Bribery Act. It alleges that between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2014, while serving as minister, Johnston Fernando deployed Sathosa employees for political activities unrelated to their official duties. This is said to have caused a financial loss of Rs. 12,877,696.48 to the government.
The accused are Johnston Fernando, former Minister of Cooperative and Internal Trade; Eraj Tyronne Fernando, former Chairman of Sathosa; and Khaja Mohideen Mohamed Shakir, former Executive Director of Sathosa.
The trial has been postponed to July 30.
