Hospitals in the Batticaloa District have halted providing meals to patients.
A Ministry of Health official in the Batticaloa district said the decision was reached as funds were not provided for food suppliers.
He added that the payments for the suppliers are overdue for several months.
A senior Health Ministry official in charge of the Eastern Province said tenders to supply food for the Batticaloa District Hospital was awarded at exorbitant rates.
He said the food supply was halted as the relevant rates could not be paid to the suppliers.
(News 1st)
