Anti-MPMC Surgeon’s driver assaulted

by Dasun Edirisinghe

An unidentified gang on Tuesday evening at Thimbirigasyaya, assaulted the driver of National Hospital Senior Consultant Surgeon Dr. Lalantha Ranasinghe.

The doctor, who is also a member of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) was not in the vehicle at that time.

Spokesman for the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Dr. Naveen Zoysa told The Island that the thugs had blocked Dr. Ranasinghe’s car, assaulted the driver and and taken away the ignition key.

"Dr. Ranasinghe’s home came under a grenade attack on Aug. 16," he said, adding it was the second time he had been threatened.

He said that Dr. Ranasinghe had lodged a complaint with the hospital police branch and the Narahenpita police had been informed of the incident.

Dr. Zoysa said that Dr. Ranasinghe was a trustee of the GMOA and had raised his voice against the Malabe Private Medical College at the SLMC.

Police spokesman SSP Prishantha Jayakody said that the incident was not linked to the earlier attack on Dr. Ranasinghe’s house.

According to the statement given by the driver to the police it was an act of road rage, he said.

SSP Jayakody said that due to the road being blocked by heavy traffic, two men on a motorcycle had exchanged words with the driver and then assaulted him.

However, they had taken the key of the car and challenged the driver to start it if he could, the police spokesman said adding that Dr. Ranasinghe’s driver couldn’t take down the number of the bike.

"The number, he gave the police, was incomplete," he said.

Meanwhile, some trade unions of the health sector condemned the attack.

The All Ceylon Health Service Union (ACHSU) claimed that police security, which was provided to Dr. Ranasinghe’s home after the grenade attack had been withdrawn on Oct. 09 without Dr. Ranasinghe being informed, General Secretary of the ACHSU Gamini Kumarasinghe said.

A day after security had been withdrawn, Dr. Ranasinghe was threatened again, he said.