Ex-diplomat alleges Australian aid project sabotaged, points finger at Medical Supplies Division

By Shamindra Ferdinando

One-time Surveyor General Michael de Silva, who served as Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Australia (2004-2007) says in spite of begging for medicine and medical equipment, the health ministry sabotaged ongoing Australian Medical Aid Programme meant to assist state-run hospitals.

Declaring that under the programme launched 15 years ago, 102 forty foot container loads of medical equipment worth over Rs. 2,000 mn had been provided to government hospitals, an irate De Silva alleged that the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) brazenly undermined the project by failing to clear a 40 foot container sent last May.

The philanthropist who had donated a three storey building to Maharagama ‘Apeksha’ hospital over a decade ago in addition to an OPD for the Eye Hospital, Colombo and an additional ward for Anuradhapura hospital said he lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) as the failure on the part of the MSD was deliberate.

De Silva, who had served as Sri Lanka Ambassador to China before being moved to Canberra said that in a letter dated Sept. 14, 2022, he informed Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella of how the MSD hindered the project implemented at no cost to bankrupt Sri Lanka.

Minister Rambukwella said that he was aware of the issues raised by the former High Commissioner. According to him, soon after he received the health portfolio, 52 beds were received under this programme. There had been some defects in some of them, Minister Rambukwella said, adding that they were rectified and the entire lot was made available to the hospitals in the Kandy region. The minister assured he would look into the matter.

The retired non-career diplomat and Vice President of Federation of Sri Lanka Organizations in Australia William Deutrom, also involved in the project told The Island how the MSD worked overtime to discourage those who voluntarily helped the country. “We didn’t expect anything in return,” Deutrom said, alleging the clearing of the container carrying 48 special beds had been delayed deliberately to cause heavy demurrage.

According to them, Minister Rambukwella didn’t respond to the issues at hand raised in De Silva’s letter dated Sept. 14, 2022. Minister Rambukwella didn’t answer calls to his phone yesterday morning.

De Silva warned unless tangible measures were taken to clear the cargo and punish those responsible for deliberate holding up of it, Australian authorities would terminate the project. Referring to Indian credit lines and a range of bilateral donations provided by the international community and ongoing talks on USD 2.9 bn IMF loan facility, the former diplomat emphasized the responsibility on the part of the government to clean up the public service.

Messrs De Silva and Deutrom recalled how the Australian Aid Programme facilitated Police Department to obtain 180 beds for Narahenpita Police Hospital during Pujith Jayasundera’s tenure as the Inspector General of Police.

They said a thorough inquiry was needed to identify the culprits. The MSD owed the country an explanation why the second lot that arrived at the Colombo port on May 30 last year was yet to be cleared, they said. De Silva said that the health sector seemed to be in the grip of utterly corrupt lot hell bent of making money at the expense of poor patients.

Pointing out that electrical components in medical equipment invariably get spoilt due to sea breeze, De Silva said that a senior MSD official asked him why he donated beds when they could procure them directly. De Silva said: “I mentioned this in my letter to Minister Rambukwella. The reasons are obvious.”

De Silva said that crippling of the Australian Medical Aid Programme would have far reaching consequences as donor countries would take note of corrupt practices at the health ministry.