Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa — Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip
The Minister responded to a Standing Order 27(2) question regarding a child’s admission and treatment at a District General Hospital on 21 December 2025. He stated that the child was taken directly to the ETU within five minutes, examined by relevant medical officers including paediatric staff, and treated for suspected food allergy, though communication with the parents about medication was not documented. He said an inquiry by the Northern Province Provincial Department of Health Services is ongoing, action has been taken on interim recommendations, and post-mortem samples have been sent to the Government Analyst before further details can be provided.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the response to the Question raised on 2026.01.09 under Standing Order 27(2) by Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna is as follows:
¶ 02 1. At 7.20 p.m. on 2025.12.21.
¶ 03 2. Attended by Dr. Wijesooriya Arachchi Dushani Tathsarani Tharuka. The child was not transferred to the Paediatric Ward; she was taken directly to the ETU at 7.25 p.m. — within five minutes examinations were commenced.
¶ 04 3. Yes. The Acting Specialist Medical Officer on duty was Dr. V. Arunath.
¶ 05 4. There is an Acting Specialist Medical Officer for paediatric services.
¶ 06 5. It is a District General Hospital category. The Acting Director is Dr. Sanjeewa Nalinda Bandara Premadasa, resident in Anuradhapura. He was on leave that day.
¶ 07 The child was admitted directly to the ETU. Upon a call, the Medical Officer of the Paediatric Unit came to the ETU and examined the child.
¶ 08 8. Yes. There were symptoms of food allergy. Treatment was administered as prescribed by the Paediatric Unit Medical Officer.
¶ 09 9. Yes.
¶ 10 10. Communication with parents regarding the medication given to the child has not been documented in the bed head ticket.
¶ 11 11. Yes.
¶ 12 12. In terms of paragraph 7/111 of Volume II, Section 31:1:12 of the Establishments Code of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, legal action is recommended after a formal inquiry.
¶ 13 13. An investigation is being conducted by the Provincial Department of Health Services, Northern Province. An interim report has been received. A detailed report will be submitted after the final report is received.
¶ 14 14. Action has been taken as recommended in the report of the investigation conducted by the Provincial Department of Health Services.
¶ 15 15. A post-mortem examination was conducted. Samples from the post-mortem have been sent to the Government Analyst’s Department for further analysis. Once the report is received, further details can be presented, Hon. Speaker.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Thursday, 22 January 2026 ·No. 23203 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa — Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 22 January 2026. No. 23203. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/22454