Contaminated eye drop: Religious leaders condemn attempts to downplay number of patients who lost vision

By Nalaka Rathnayaka

Religious leaders of Nuwara Eliya on Wednesday evening alleged that those who had lost vision due to the use of a contaminated eye drop used at Nuwara Eliya District Hospital is around 70.Addressing the media in front of the hospital, they dismissed the claims made by Nuwara Eliya District Hospital that only 10 people had been affected.

Ven. Bogoda Sumedhalankara Thera, Kurukkal Dr. Dhamma Sri Nandakumar, Moulavi Mohomed Anwar Irshad and the head of the Nuwara Eliya Salvation Army, Fr. Hasitha Kumara expressed their views.

The religious leaders said that they were disappointed at the misinformation campaign launched by the health officials.

Commenting on the allegations, hospital director, Mahendra Seneviratne said that only those who underwent eye surgery on 05 April had been affected by the contaminated eye drop.

“Only 34 surgeries were carried out on the particular day.”

The eye drop was withdrawn from use from 21 April.