The Ministry of Health has agreed to settle the overdue wages of Dr. Shafi Sihabdeen of the Kurunegala Hospital.
The Ministry gave an undertaking before the Court of Appeal that the overdue payments will be settled before the 10th of July 2022.
The decision was announced when the petition filed by Dr. Shafi Sihabdeen was taken up for hearing.
The Director-General of Establishment at the Ministry of Public Services had earlier informed the Court that the basic salary, interim allowance, cost of living, and allowance in lieu of pension could be paid to Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen, for the compulsory leave period.
Dr. Sihabdeen was sent on compulsory leave after being accused of performing illegal sterilization operations at the Kurunegala Teaching hospital.
He was arrested over allegations of the alleged sterilization of women without their consent.
Dr. Sihabdeen was also accused of having amassed wealth in an illegal manner and maintaining links with a terrorist organization.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had informed the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court in July 2019 that investigations carried out so far had not proven any of the allegations that had been raised against Dr. Sihabdeen.
Dr. Shafi Sihabdeen was later released on bail by the Kurunegala Chief Magistrate.
Meanwhile, Dr. Shafi Sihabdeen has expressed willingness to attend the preliminary inquiry before the Director of Kurunegala Teaching Hospital Dr. Chandana Kendangamuwa. (NewsWire)