As the National Audit Office exposes a bitter truth, is the whistleblower being hunted while the corruption is swept under the rug?
The current government ascended to power on the cornerstone of “eradicating corruption.” However, a grave tragedy is unfolding where a massive financial crime at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL), confirmed by audit reports, is being suppressed, and the officer who exposed it is being persecuted. This is not merely an administrative issue; it is an organized racket that challenges the “System Change” anticipated by the public.
1. The 2.5 Billion Reagent Racket Exposed by Audit
The National Audit Office, through its Audit Query No. THO/B/NHSL/AB/AQ/2025/01 dated June 06, 2025, has stripped bare a series of severe irregularities in the procurement of laboratory reagents at the National Hospital Colombo. According to the records (Documentary Evidence 03), reagents worth Rs. 2,543 million (Rs. 2.5 billion) were purchased locally for seven laboratories over just three years (2022–2024), revealing a massive web of malpractice.
Procuring Reagents for the Trash Heap: Standard procedure requires reagents to have at least 85% of their shelf life remaining at the time of purchase. However, the audit (Documentary Evidence 5.1) observed that suppliers provided reagents with less than six months of shelf life.
- Key Evidence: A stock of reagents worth Rs. 943,046 (Invoice No. 330114055) was supplied on February 15, 2024, but expired on March 22, 2024. In essence, the hospital purchased goods that had to be discarded within a month. Is this a mere oversight or a cold-blooded crime fueled by commissions?
2. Public Funds Consumed by Rats and Overpayments
The audit found that reagents were stacked unsafely in hospital corridors because the Hematology Laboratory stores were in such disrepair that rats had destroyed the doors.
- Massive Losses: It was confirmed that out of a Rs. 40 million bill paid to Hemas Surgicals & Diagnostics (Pvt) Ltd, reagents worth Rs. 4.5 million had already expired at the time of payment.
- Excessive Payments: In February 2025, it was revealed that Surgicare (Pvt) Ltd was paid for quantities exceeding what they actually supplied, resulting in a loss of Rs. 912,838 to the state.
3. The Whistleblower Hunt and the Role of Anil Jasinghe
In June 2025, Dr. Rukshan Bellana, Deputy Director of the National Hospital, filed a written complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption regarding this large-scale corruption. He pointed out that this is not a simple administrative failure but an organized racket spanning years, allegedly involving over Rs. 9 billion.
However, in a letter dated August 12, 2025 (12.08.2025), to the Public Service Commission, Dr. Bellana made a shocking revelation: The Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, has allegedly initiated a series of six disciplinary inquiries against him in an act of retaliation for exposing the corruption.
Dr. Bellana alleges that Dr. Jasinghe, who served as the Director of the National Hospital a decade ago, bears responsibility for these irregular procurements and is now attempting to silence or dismiss him to protect the “looting mechanism.”
4. The “Specialist” Secretary Serving Beyond Retirement
A serious administrative question remains: under which circular is Dr. Anil Jasinghe still holding the post of Secretary despite being over 65 years old? Holding onto power without specialist medical qualifications at this age raises concerns about the government’s commitment to its own policies.
History recalls that the decline in the reputation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa began with the controversial decision to cremate Muslim Covid-19 victims against WHO guidelines. It was the then Health Secretary, Anil Jasinghe, who influenced that decision, causing international infamy for Sri Lanka and inciting communal tensions.
5. The Mystery of the Vacant Director’s Chair
While a Deputy Director was appointed to act when the Director’s post at the Kandy Hospital fell vacant, the Director’s seat at the National Hospital Colombo remains empty. Despite having three qualified Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors, the post is not being filled.
Sources suggest the seat is kept vacant until a “pliable” candidate is found who will allow the unchecked procurement of medical equipment and drugs to continue. The responsibility to fill this post lies with the Health Secretary, who must submit the proposal to the Minister.
Questions for the Authorities:- Who are the companies and officials who approved the procurement of expired drugs/reagents as highlighted by the audit?
- Is it fair to conduct six disciplinary inquiries against the whistleblower instead of investigating the transactions that lost the state billions?
- Why is the Bribery Commission delaying action, seemingly waiting to “close the stable door after the horse has bolted”?
- Are the authorities trying to remove Dr. Bellana to reactivate the mechanism of exploitation?
Conclusion President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa must intervene. Protecting the man who caught the thief—rather than the thief himself—is the essence of “System Change.” The public is watching to see who will be held accountable for the wealth of the National Hospital, which has fallen prey to rats and commission-hungry vultures.