LNP - Health Ministry’s controversial transfer raises concerns

The Ministry of Health’s move to reassign a medical specialist from Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital to the Castle Street Hospital for Women has sparked concerns over potential procedural violations. A senior gynaecologist told Daily Mirror that the specialist, previously based at Elpitiya Base Hospital, was appointed to a senior position at Jayewardenepura in September 2024 by then-Health Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The three-year appointment, effective immediately, replaced him with an acting specialist at Elpitiya. However, the plan to transfer him to Castle Street Hospital has drawn criticism for bypassing the annual transfer list, despite there being no immediate need to transfer him to the Castle Street Hospital. Adding to the controversy, the specialist’s appointment is reportedly awaiting approval from the Public Service Commission (PSC). Without PSC clearance, serving in both a semi-government and a government hospital is deemed irregular. Daily Mirror’s repeated attempts to contact Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe for comments were unsuccessful.