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Western Hospital’s Prof. Rezvi to be arrested?

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The Colombo Crime Division (CCD) is investigating to arrest a group of staff members of the Western Hospital, Borella including its Director – Prof. Rezvi Sheriff in connection with the alleged kidney transplant racket, ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ learns.

They are to be arrested since the hospital has violated an order given by the Colombo Chief Magistrate to hand over the original copies of the folders and documents containing the details of the transplant recipients and the donors to the CCD.

Meanwhile, Senior Deputy Solicitor General (SDSG) Dileepa Peiris informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate that people who are said to have been tricked into donating kidneys have not been briefed on post-surgery complications.

He told the court that those behind this racket have targeted the people from low-income families by only telling them about the large amount of money they will receive in return for donating a kidney.

Also, the SDSG informed the court that this fraud has been committed with the full knowledge of the doctors, staff and administrators of the Western Hospital.

He revealed that these kidneys have been obtained by employing brokers who promise to pay the donors from Rs. 05 million – 12 million for a kidney, and the kidneys have been given to both local and foreign patients.

During the period from August 03 – November 03, kidneys have been obtained from 06 people (including from one female) aged between 30-42 years. However, they have gone to the hospital on the 17th, demanding their promised payment, the SDSG said.

Subsequently, the group had been escorted near the All Saints’ Church in Borella and a chief inspector of police had given Rs. 200,000 to each of them. It is learnt that he had forced the victims to sign affidavits saying they will not go to the hospital to demand money again and threatened to break their limbs if they did so.

The SDSG and CCD Director Neville Silva informed the court that a special investigation has been launched into the police officer who appeared in defence of the hospital while in police uniform.

It has now been revealed that one of the kidneys donated by the 06 donors who had complained to the police over the non-payment of money, was donated to be transplanted to the hospital director himself.

The complainant has been promised Rs.9.5 million, but is yet to receive it so far.

Mr. Peiris pointed out that in addition to the aforementioned kidney removal surgeries performed on the 06 individuals, 52 kidney removal and transplant surgeries have been performed at that private hospital this year alone.

Lawsuit against Hemas..?
Meanwhile, a group of people who have become victims of the alleged kidney trafficking at Hemas, Nawaloka, Lanka and Western Hospitals as revealed by Indian security forces, are making arrangements to seek legal redress against these hospitals, Indian media reported.

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Maithri ordered to provide statement before court

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The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court has ordered former President Maithripala Sirisena to provide a statement to court on April 04, based on the recent comments he had made over the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.

The order was issued today (28) after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had reported the relevant facts to the court, on the instructions of the Attorney General.

Mr. Sirisena had made this statement on March 22 and several factions had subsequently filed complaints with the Criminal Investigation Department in this regard.

The former President had even recorded a statement for around five-hours with the CID on Monday (March 25) over his recent comments.

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Sinopec to commence work on refinery project by June

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Minister of Power and Energy – Kanchana Wijesekera has stated that officials of the Sinopec Overseas Investment Holding Pvt Ltd (SOIHL), led by their vice President, had visited the ministry yesterday (March 27).

Tweeting, the minister added that the delegation updated on the progress of the negotiations with stakeholders for the construction of the proposed new refinery in Hambantota.

Noting that the officials indicated that the management of Sinopec has decided to double the capacity of the refinery from the original proposal and the Investment, he added that they intend to sign the agreements for the project and commence work by June 2024.

Discussions regarding the water supply, power supply, land allocation & BOI facilities will take place today with the relevant authorities, the Minister further noted.

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New online reporting system to combat child sexual abuse, launched

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The launch of an online platform enabling the swift removal of websites, photos, and videos containing or potentially containing instances of child sexual abuse took place today (March 28) at the Presidential secretariat under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.Recognizing the urgency of addressing child abuse in cyberspace, this initiative targets the dissemination of nude photos and indecent videos of children through internet and social media channels. Implemented by the National Child Protection Authority in collaboration with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), renowned for its expertise in internet child safety enforcement, this program receives financial support from Save the Children and Child Fund.

Following the implementation of this online system, individuals can now visit the website of the National Child Protection Authority at www.childprotection.gov.lk to report incidents of indecent photos and videos of children exchanged online. These reports will be handled by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) in collaboration with the National Child Protection Authority. Subsequently, the offending videos will be promptly removed from the internet, and legal action will be pursued against the perpetrators.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing this event said;

“For several decades, this sector has been neglected. The government has indeed neglected it, and the attention it warranted has not been provided. The magnitude of the problem now is such that resolving it within a year seems implausible. We lack the capacity to address the issue comprehensively; therefore, we must employ a variety of strategies.

Firstly, short-term recommendations must be promptly implemented. We propose that the existing committee include stakeholders from the government, specifically authorities in child care and probation services, along with representatives from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and the police force. Strengthening police numbers, particularly in women and children’s desks at every police station, is imperative. This effort must be coordinated with measures against drugs.Additionally, we must consider establishing a new structure and enacting new legislation. I advocate for the formation of a Children’s Council to oversee both the promotion of children’s interests and their protection. The management of probation and child care services should be devolved to the nine provinces, as I believe this responsibility does not necessarily belong to the central government.”

He added that immediate action should be taken on short-term recommendations, while the process of enacting new legislation pertaining to children’s rights should also be expedited.

For further information, contact the Law Enforcement Division at 011-2778911 extension (269) or visit the official website www.childprotection.gov.lk.The launch of this online initiative was attended by Minister of State for Women and Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, Ms Geeta Kumarasinghe, Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority, Senior Lecturer Mr Udayakumara Amarasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, Ms Yamuna Perera, and representatives from various organizations dedicated to ensuring child safety.

(President’s Media Division)

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