Govt. funds Dr Neville Fernando Private Hospital

Colombo (News 1st): Health Secretary Wasantha Perera appeared before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry Probing Fraud and Corruption over the past 04 years at state institutions over a complaint which claims public funds were used to maintain the Dr Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital in the absence of a legal take-over. The presidential commission investigating allegations of fraud and corruption at state institutions from the 15th of January 2015 to the 31st of December 2018, has launched an investigation over the use of state funds to maintain the Dr Neville Fernando Hospital, without legally handing over the hospital to the government. Health Secretary Wasantha Perera appeared before the Presidential Commission said the cabinet paper states that the Dr Neville Fernando Hospital will be owned by SAITM for 10 years. She added that the hospital can only be taken over by the government after that time frame. A communique issued by the presidential commission to the media highlights the question raised as to whether the ministry secretary who is the chief accounting officer by law ought to correct an incorrect financial decision put forward by a minister. According to the communique the Health Secretary Wasantha Perera had answered in the affirmative. The proceedings were adjourned until the 6th of June.