Presidential probe: ‘Govt. paying Dr. Neville Fernando’s Rs. 2.5 bn loan’

It was revealed at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry that the government was paying the Rs. 2.5 billion loan obtained by Dr. Neville Fernando from a State bank even though the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH) was not owned by the government.  

This was revealed during the inquiry into the incident where government funds were spent for NFTH without taking it over by the government.   Giving evidence, health ministry secretary Wasantha Perera admitted that NFTH was still a private hospital and the government was paying the loan obtained by Dr. Fernando including all expenses of the Hospital.   She also admitted that there was a cabinet paper stating that ownership of the NFTH should be given to SAITM for 10 years and any action to take it over should taken after that period.