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Report on kidney trafficking at Hemas, Nawaloka, Lanka & Western Hospitals missing!

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Dr. Jayasundara Bandara Committee report compiled with information related to the alleged kidney trafficking at the Hemas, Nawaloka, Lanka and Western Hospitals, which was revealed by Indian security forces, is missing from the Health Ministry, the Sri Lanka Mirror learns.

The report had been handed over by Dr. Bandara to the then Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and the then Director General of Health Services Dr. Palitha Mahipala.

They had placed it at the Ministry and now it is said to be missing.

Following the death of an Indian youth named Dilip in Sri Lanka on March 22, 2014, the details of this trafficking were revealed.

An autopsy conducted in Sri Lanka said the cause of his death was heart disease.

However, Dilip’s relatives who suspected it took the body to Hyderabad, India. During the second post-mortem, it was discovered that one of his kidneys had been removed.

The police, who checked his emails, were able to reveal information about kidney trafficking.

Accordingly, two individuals named Pawan Sri Niwas and Ian Venkatesh were arrested by the Indian police.

At that time, newspapers reported that Thalawathugoda Hemas Hospital was involved in the kidney racket and Dr. Monique Ambepitiya was coordinating the surgeries while a doctor from Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital had performed the surgeries.

Nephrologist Ranga Migara Weerakkody was also allegedly involved in this racket.

The smugglers have said that they receive 3 million Indian rupees from the recipient of the kidney when they bring youths from Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad to Sri Lanka to sell kidneys.

From the 3 million, Rs.1.5 million will be given to the Sri Lankan doctor who performs the surgery and another 1 million will be taken by the trafficker.

The remaining Rs.500,000 will be spent on air fares and accommodation to bring the youth to Sri Lanka and the poor youth will be given a measly amount of 350,000 Indian rupees for the kidney.

Six Sri Lankan doctors named Madhava, Monique, Sadhana, Chamila, Niroshani and Habiba Sahib have been revealed as the doctors involved in the racket.

They have directly dealt with traffickers.

Sri Lankan laws prohibit selling body parts for money subject to the principles and ethics introduced by the World Health Organisation in 1991.

According to Section 17 of the Act No. 49 of 1987, buying and selling kidneys is an offence punishable with imprisonment not exceeding 2 years and a fine exceeding Rs.15,000 rupees.

Human organs have been sold for years under the kidney mafia but no one has been prosecuted.

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Civil Defence officer arrested over shooting of Perahera elephant

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A Civil Defence Department officer attached to the Mapakada Wewa Wildlife Regional Office has been arrested in connection with the shooting of a female elephant that had participated in the annual Randoli Perahera of Mahiyanganaya Rajamaha Viharaya.

Police spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said a statement is being recorded from the said officer.

The incident has taken place at around 3:30 a.m. this morning.

It was reported that following the procession, the female elephant had been tied to a tree on the banks of the Mahaweli River.

The mahout, who said he was having breakfast when the incident happened, accused the officer of shooting the elephant despite people telling him that ‘Sita’ was not a wild elephant.

The officer in question had shot ‘Sita’ after mistaking it for a wild elephant that had crossed the river.

The injured 48-year-old elephant was later treated by veterinary surgeons of the Wildlife Conservation Department.

In a statement, the Director General of the Wildlife Conservation Department, M.G.C. Sooriyabandara had clarified that one of the wildlife officers at the site had mistakenly fired rubber bullets at the female elephant ‘Sita’ while trying to scare off the wild elephants in the vicinity.

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Landslide warnings extended

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The Department of Irrigation says that the water levels in the Kelani River and Attanagalu Oya are rising to levels that requires attention.

Director of the Hydrology and Disaster Management Division of the Irrigation Department S. P. C. Sugeeshwara says that the Gin, Nilwala and Kalu Ganga remain at the flood level.

Many roads in the vicinity of the rivers have been inundated.

S. P. C Sugeeshwara warns that people should refrain from further using the rivers.

The landslide warnings issued to seven districts have also been extended, due to the prevailing weather conditions.

The Met Department predicts that the heavy showers in the South West will continue.

Heavy showers of about 75 mm can be expected in some areas.

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“SLPP Leadership can change if needed”

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Former President Mahinda Rajapaska yesterday said that there should be a change in the leadership of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), if the need arises.

When the former President was asked about the veracity of the news on social media about imminent change of the SLPP leadership, said that he is not aware of any change in the leadership. 

The President was speaking to the media after calling on Mahanayake Thera of the Rammanya Maha Nikaya Most Ven. Makulewe Sri Wimala Thera at the Vidyawasa Pirivena in Meerigama yesterday.

Commenting on the impending regulations on social media, the former President said that there are pros and cons in the social media. “I don’t have any issue with the social media,” he said. 

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa also visited the Sacred Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya and participated in religious activities. The Former President also met Chief incumbent of the Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya Ven. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkitha Thera and received his blessings.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, the former President said that he is physically fit despite social media reports to the contrary.

(dailynews.lk)

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