Failing to take proper action against Covid-19 pandemic Kurunegala Teaching Hospital Director transferred pending probe

By Pushpakumara Jayarathna 

Director of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital Dr. Sarath Weerabandara has been transferred to the Ministry of Health with effect from May 6 over a pending probe on his alleged inaction of protecting the hospital from the on-going Covid-19 pandemic.   

Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine Bhadrani Jayawardena has sent a directive regarding the transfer.   

Deputy Director of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital Dr. Chandana Kendangamuwa has been appointed as the Acting Director of the hospital.   

The Ministry of Health has announced that the transfer has been made pending investigation into the alleged claim by Kurunegala Teaching Hospital Protection Organisation that the Hospital Director failed to take proper action to protect the hospital from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The letter sent by the Secretary to the Ministry of Health further stated that the transfer was made under cover approval of the Public Service Commission, as a public servants cannot be transfer when an election is announced.