Govt. denies Dr. Shafi reinstated

• Public Service Commission calls for report by Health Ministry Secy.
• Says no interference by top Govt. officials

The Government yesterday said that no decision had been made to reinstate Dr. Shafi Shahabdeen and denied that the latter was recalled to service.

Dr. Shafi Shahabdeen

Dr. Shahabdeen served at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital and was arrested over the alleged sterilisation of women without their consent. He was later released on bail by the Kurunegala Chief Magistrate. Dr. Shahabdeen made a request to the Health Service Commission of the Public Service Commission (PSC) to reinstate him.

In a statement, Public Service Commission Secretary M.A.B. Daya Senarath yesterday said no final decision had so far been made by the Health Service Commission of the Public Service Commission to the Health Ministry Secretary to reinstate Dr. Shahabdeen.

The statement said that the Health Ministry Secretary was asked to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the charges framed against the Dr. Shahabdeen and submit a report to the Health Service Commission of the PSC.

According to the statement, the report of the inquiry had not yet been received by the PSC. 

“I wish to state that no final decision on this matter is arrived at by the Health Service Committee of the Public Service Commission until the Secretary of the Health Ministry makes his recommendation on such a report and upon the request of Dr. S.S.M. Shafi,” it said. Senarath said that the Presidential Secretariat had not inquired from the Health Service Commission of the PSC about the reinstatement of Dr. Shahabdeen.

“I would like to inform that all statements published through various media networks quite contrary to this matter are false and all such statements are hereby categorically rebuffed. Furthermore, I would also like to state that there has been no inquiry of whatever nature made by the President or any other officer from the Presidential Secretariat into this matter,” he said.