The Ministry of Health has suspended two doctors at the Trincomalee District General Hospital following the death of an infant on April 9, the same day the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) launched a 48-hour token strike that disrupted public hospital services nationwide.
NewsFirst reported on Sunday that after a preliminary investigation, the ministry suspended the hospital’s obstetrics and gynaecology specialist and a senior resident medical officer. Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said further inquiries are continuing to determine whether the doctors involved committed any criminal offence.
According to Newswire, citing ITN, the Health Ministry Secretary ordered the suspension last Friday after the preliminary inquiry uncovered serious lapses in duty. Investigators found that at around 8.45 a.m. on April 9, a newborn at the hospital’s maternity ward was in distress and although a resident midwife raised the alarm, “proper medical attention was not provided.” The probe concluded that the mother’s suffering was prolonged, complications were allowed to develop, and adequate care was not given even after admission. The attending doctor failed to participate in the delivery, leaving no opportunity to prevent complications, and intervention was lacking despite the mother showing symptoms including fever and chills. The ministry said similar irregularities had been observed in the past and were highlighted in a letter from the Secretary.
Newswire identified the doctor at fault as a specialist serving as President of the GMOA branch at the Trincomalee District General Hospital — the same union whose 48-hour token strike from April 9 had been called over the Health Ministry’s decision to grant Post-Graduate Internships. The April 9 walkout had been launched only three days after the GMOA’s earlier nine-day strike was suspended pending talks with Minister Jayatissa.
The suspensions are the first formal accountability action arising from a fatality during a 2026 GMOA strike day. The Health Ministry said disciplinary steps had been taken in line with the misconduct identified and that the wider investigation would continue.
The GMOA rejected any link between the strike and the death at a Monday media briefing. Vice President Chandika Epitakaduwa said maternity ward treatment is considered emergency care and doctors do not withdraw from emergency services during trade union action. He alleged there were attempts to deliberately blame the GMOA over the incident and said the union had only learned of the suspensions through media reports, with no official written notification received. Epitakaduwa added that although allegations of dereliction of duty had been made, the doctors had reportedly been engaged in private practice outside their official duty hours.
Sources: NewsFirst, Newswire (Health Ministry), Newswire (GMOA denial).
