SAITM CEO quits as Police alleges shooting might have been staged

Following an announcement by the Police alleging that the recent shooting incident targeting South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) CEO Dr. Sameera Senaratne had been staged, the controversial institute yesterday temporarily relieved Dr. Senaratne of duty effective immediately.

In a statement SAITM said to ensure absolute transparency and facilitate the police investigations, Dr. Senaratne has been temporarily relieved of duties as Chief Executive Officer of SAITM and The Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH) with immediate effect.

Dr. Senaratne too notified the management in writing that he has stepped down from his post effective February 28, 2017.

The Management categorically states that neither SAITM nor NFTH is associated with the reported incident and have no nexus to any private incidents/issues of any of their employees. The Management of SAITM will commence internal inquiries and will be taking appropriate and necessary action to ascertain the truth of this alleged incident.

SAITM operates within the legal framework of Sri Lanka and will at all times up hold the law of the country. SAITM is committed to respect the trust placed on the institute by the undergraduates, parents and academic and will at all times, work in their best interests.

Investigations have revealed that the shooting incident was staged in order to create the impression that Dr. Senaratne’s life was in danger, the Police said.

A resident of Embilipitiya has been taken into custody by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) for questioning along with a 9mm Browning pistol, two bullets, a 3.8 revolver and three bullets in his possession that Police suspect were used in the shooting that took place on 6 February near the SAITM premises in Malabe.

Upon being produced at the Kaduwela Magistrate Court, the suspect has been put in remand custody until 13 March.

Investigators have also questioned an Army Special Forces solider - already in remand custody for an unrelated incident – over the shooting.

Police are trying to net a Pradeshiya Sabha member who is said to have masterminded the allegedly staged shooting as well as a driver attached to a local government body in connection with the incident.

According to the Police, the Pradeshiya Sabha member has maintained close relations with Dr. Senaratne. The Police recorded a statement from the SAITM CEO on Monday after extensive questioning.

Dr. Senaratne was unavailable for comment. However, the SAITM statement had mentioned that he notified the institute’s management in writing yesterday that he had stepped down from his post as CEO effective yesterday.

At a press conference, held the day after the alleged shooting, Dr. Senaratne, when asked to comment on speculation that the incident might have been staged, said: “What do we stand to gain by doing this? We’re not going to win any sympathy by doing something like this. I’m not very active on the internet but I heard there were theories circulating on Facebook about this. These are people waiting for something to happen to us.”