A tense confrontation erupted at the Matara Cooperative Hospital on Friday afternoon after a group affiliated with the National People’s Power (NPP) attempted to assume administrative control of the facility without holding a formal election.
Hospital staff responded with a strike and staged a protest against the move. The situation escalated when the group, claiming to represent health society members, entered the premises and engaged in a physical altercation with employees. Two staff members were injured and admitted to Matara General Hospital for treatment.
Police officers reportedly assaulted
The group also attempted to forcibly open the locked chairman’s office. Police who intervened were reportedly assaulted during the confrontation, according to Ada Derana.
Sources say similar attempts to take control of the hospital without an election have been made on multiple occasions since April 2. Hospital operations were significantly disrupted by the incident.
The episode raises questions about democratic processes at cooperative institutions in the post-no-confidence motion political environment. While the NPP commands a comfortable parliamentary majority after the NCM was defeated 153-49 on April 10, governance at the institutional level requires adherence to established electoral procedures.
Police are investigating the incident. No arrests have been reported.
Sources: Ada Derana
