Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court yesterday (25) ordered the immediate arrest and production before court of directors of Narahenpita’s Asiri Medical Hospital after they failed to appear in court despite notices already being issued, in a case alleging the sale of medicine to an in-patient at an inflated price.

Maligakanda Magistrate Janitha Roshani Perera issued the order after taking into consideration submissions made by Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama, and attorney-at-law Ranjith Hillege, who appeared for Sanath Kumara Atukorale, the aggrevated party. Both emphasised that directors of leading private hospitals are not above the law and are equal before justice.

The magistrate also reissued notice against Vishal Bali, a director of the hospital, as the previous notice has not been sent properly, and ordered him to appear before court on 12 November. The magistrate further directed the hospital’s representative and the nurse involved in the incident to appear in court on the same date.

The matter proceeded at the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court after Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne rejected a petition seeking interim relief to stay the case. The petition had challenged the reissuance of warrants compelling the hospital and its directors to appear in court.