September 25, Colombo (LNW): Authorities have opened a formal investigation into allegations of large-scale procurement fraud at Colombo National Hospital, centring around the purchase and potential misuse of laboratory reagents valued at over Rs. 2.5 billion.
The inquiry, spearheaded by Sri Lanka’s Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, will focus on claims that substandard, expired, or nearly expired chemical reagents were acquired through questionable procurement practices.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the lack of proper standardisation protocols and the alleged monopolisation of contracts by a single private supplier.
According to a statement released by the Commission, investigators will examine how such purchases were authorised, whether due diligence was followed, and whether public funds were knowingly misused in the acquisition of faulty or soon-to-expire materials.
At the centre of the unfolding controversy are several high-ranking figures in the health sector. Among those implicated are the current Secretary to the Ministry of Health, a former Deputy Director General of Health Services attached to the National Hospital, senior consultants, and technical staff working in the hospital’s laboratories.
These individuals are suspected of facilitating or turning a blind eye to a procurement process that allegedly favoured a specific company without due competitive bidding or proper quality assessment.
The case has come to light following a formal complaint lodged by Dr Chamal Sanjeewa, a medical specialist who had previously raised alarm bells over persistent irregularities in hospital supply chains. His initial reports were submitted to both the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Bribery Commission, citing systemic failures and lack of transparency in how critical medical supplies were being handled.
The CID, having already begun gathering preliminary testimony, is said to be working in parallel with the Bribery Commission as the investigation deepens. Dr Sanjeewa has publicly voiced frustration over institutional delays in addressing what he described as a serious risk to patient safety and public trust.
