1 June, 2023

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An Apologia Concerning Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen

By Ruwan Laknath Jayakody

Ruwan Jayakody

We apologize.

On behalf of the rest of the fourth estate, the media or in the name of the free press or what is left of it, we apologize as indeed we all collectively wielding that dagger with its handle towards our hands, the inky vein of which is said to be mightier than the sword, owe you, Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen, an apology, if not directly for your tattered reputation, for complicity in your graceless fall.

For patients in Sri Lanka, the medical profession, for the most part, unless due to ignorance or naivety concerning the complexities of diagnosing and treatment, or some genuinely ghastly tale of horror and woe experienced at the hands with the healing touch, generates reverence and to its practitioners, especially the doctors, is bestowed demigod like status, and afforded godly veneration with all the associated spoils. Thus, any breach of this duty of care, is deemed tantamount to a mortal sin.

Dr. Shafi

Your story however is not one of alleged medical malpractice, to be rectified through the adoption by the health sector of a long term solution such as informed consent. It is more elemental than cerebral.

The presumption of guilt, trial by media, in the court of public opinion, was the ordeal that came to be your lot in life. This was when you, whilst serving at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital as a senior house officer, and at the time unnamed in the vernacular press in a front page lead story in May 2019 – coming as it did, hot on the heels of the Easter Sunday Islamist terror attacks of April 2019, whereafter anti Muslim sentiments were at a fever pitch – came to be accused as the ‘Muslim doctor’ who had as an obstetrician and gynecologist, surreptitiously performed over 4,000 illegal sterilization surgical tubal ligation operations on Sinhala Buddhist mothers. Predictably, the ‘murder in the womb’ (as one English newspaper chose to sensationalize the histrionic hysterics of women understandably aggrieved at the plight of not being able to conceive a second time, albeit ignorant of the complicated scientific processes at play behind each unique conception, but nonetheless feeling legitimately victimized) story spread like an epidemic and wildfire, enveloping the society in mass hysteria, spurred on by the media which found a readymade cast of such women seeking to be mothers for the second time who were egged on by political zealots and religious bigots including saffron clad men such as Parliamentarian Athuraliye Rathana. A state of mass hysteria ensued with you as the apotheosis of the bogeyman cum fall guy. With you being identified by name shortly thereafter as having performed a procedure on hundreds of women seeking to be mothers for the second time, which rendered them sterile and thus unable to conceive a second time, a full blown political and media circus went on overdrive, going gung ho, all guns blazing, with the result being that you were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) thereafter on suspicion of unlawfully acquiring assets and wealth in excess of and disproportionate to your earnings and income. It seems that you cannot be, both a doctor with a private practice and laboratory, and also a businessman who engages in the trade of vehicles and textiles and goes into business with friends by purchasing property. There was the odd media report or two about a personal animus of a work colleague and subsequent judicial corruption in the form of a conflict of interest involving the latter also playing a role in the subsequent proceedings against you. Indeed, the CID has since noted that there were irregularities in the process under which you were arrested. Troubles did not end there, as literally over 1,000 women complained against you, claiming that you had sterilized them in the context of Caesarean Section procedures by allegedly forcibly blocking and/or damaging their fallopian tubes by way of clamping, and/or through the use of fingers, clamps and forceps, thus rendering them barren; Never mind the fact that visiting obstetricians and gynecologists, medical practitioners and experts and supervisors, assisting nurses, and others including technicians and minor staffers having noted that the allegations of conducting the same are fantastical and impossible, unscientific and false. To add to this Kafkaesque nightmare, you were also accused of having terrorist ties, specifically maintaining links with a terrorist organization involved in terrorist activity (the National Thowheeth Jama’ath organization behind the Easter Sunday bombings), and detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.

Yet, despite an unusually exhaustive inquiry along all these red herrings including the recording of statements from over 500 persons including the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Kurunegala who was the source of the original newspaper article but who on questioning during the Police investigation had stated that he had only informed the journalist in question of the existence of a ‘rumour’ regarding the same, the CID and intelligence agencies have drawn a complete blank in terms of finding even a fig leaf of evidence to support even a shred of suspicion. Yet, despite lacking any basis in fact and not being hitherto charged in a court of law, you are only out on bail.

This had, all along, simply been a case of Hitchcockian mistaken identity. But, was it?

It is since reported that the Health Ministry Secretary had ordered the continuation of your salary and the payment of salary arrears as per the Establishments Code’s procedure concerning officers sent on compulsory leave (which you claim was arbitrary, unlawful, sans just cause and legal authority), with the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital Director being ordered to explain as to why your salary had not been paid for the time duration. It seems however that this respite was short lived as your troubles were not over by a long shot. The Public Service Commission denied authorizing the continuation of the salary and the payment of the back wages. You have since had to file a writ petition before the Court of Appeal, seeking an order directing the relevant authorities to pay your salary and back wages. Due process including fair trial related rights such as the complete intimation of the charge/s against you and the right to legal assistance (lawyer being given access), has in certain instances, been denied you, throughout this tribulation.

You are also however, yet to be reinstated in your position at your work place. It is too little solace, and much too late at that. The damage is done. Hate, malice, hostility, intimidation, racism and the resultant mental trauma have become a daily routine and rigmarole not just for you but also your wife who was also a doctor attached to the same Hospital (but since sought and received a transfer, and has also been on medical leave), and your children, who have had to, in the aftermath, involuntarily leave home and hearth, and relocate on multiple occasions, quit work and schooling, and survive on steadily dwindling income sources (accounts frozen) and the ready assurance of discrimination and ostracization and unfair targeting. To describe this cause célèbre as an injustice does not begin to cover the gamut of suffering endured by you.

Article 13(5) of the Constitution recognizes the fundamental right to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty unless the burden of proof is placed on the accused, as a part of the due process and the right to a fair trial.

In her Introduction to historian Francis Hill’s ‘A Delusion of Satan: The Full Story of The Salem Witch Trials’, author on comparative religion, Karen Armstrong describes how those fleeing religious persecution in Europe to find a new and better world in America, also brought with them an inadequate conception of religion where instead of compassion as the primary religious virtue, the Puritans of New England, cultivated a harsh, unyielding righteousness that was quick to judge and condemn, one that also saw Satan as omnipresent. Armstrong also notes how individuals with mundane concerns and frustrations familiar to each one of us including boredom, envy, a sense of injustice or of being marginalized (or what Hill compares to disinheritance in the form of the denial of just expectations) – trivial ills we have all experienced, and communities alienated from their roots, struggling for survival in unchartered realms, riddled with tension, jealousy, and resentment, fueled in turn by rage, bitterness, and envy produced by deep losses on many levels including the individual and familial as well as the social and national, can fester and attract hostility and explode into a destructive violence that assumes diabolic proportions. She concludes that we will continue to be plagued by primitive terrors that lie beyond the control of rationality and that no matter how modern and scientific our society becomes, we can still be haunted by inner demons, which we project outward onto others with abhorrent effect and that bad religion can be as destructive when like any other activity, it can be abused and made to exacerbate our frightened egoism instead of helping us to transcend it. The Salem witch hunts came to be replaced in the public imagination by the Red scare of McCarthyism which led to the American State seeking out communists and communist sympathizers, mostly men and women living productive and respectable lives, and stripped them of their employment and in certain cases, imprisoning them. As Hill observes in the Preface to her book, a climate of intolerance, fed in equal measure by the religious right’s zeal and the left’s political correctness, nourishes the soil to sow the dragon’s teeth, in this case of abject belief and fear.

Sri Lanka too has had a storied history of witch hunts.

During the furore surrounding the fiasco that was the initial Police investigation into the atrocity which was the September 2015 abduction, rape, grave sexual abuse, and strangulation murder of a four-year-old girl in Kotadeniyawa, the fact that the ultimate convict was a self confessed stalker cum scopophiliac and underwear fetishist against whom multiple Police jurisdictions had prior to the incident for which he was sentenced, received several complaints of sexual misdemeanors, which amounted to little in the way of subsequent action from a law enforcement standpoint, and the fact that the first judicial medical officer to arrive at the site of the body, by observing the crime scene including the violence of the injuries, inferred that the crime was a combination of pedophilia, sadism and possibly necrophilia, whose escalation in criminal confidence and motive showed the perpetrator likely to be or become a serial offender, who in the best interests of all, was a predator to be captured before the next unsuspecting prey cum victim, slipped the mind of all. This was a crime to be solved fast and forgotten faster. Hence, the hasty and wrongful arrests of a teenager for the possession of pornography and the arrest of the eventual convict’s brother Dinesh Priyashantha known by the alias “Kondaya” who simply was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, had the wrong history (per the media, previous arrest for the alleged sexual abuse of a child and peculiar behaviour of voyeurism) and most importantly, looked the wrong way and did not look the right way – “not ordinary”.

The trial for the media in your case, Dr. Shihabdeen, even though criminal defamation is no longer in the book of statutes and only civil defamation with recourse in delict/tort being available, too will have its day in the court of public opinion (may be, it already has); its outcome, a fait accompli.

We apologize.

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Latest comments

  • 46
    1

    “we apologize as indeed we all collectively wielding that dagger with its handle towards our hands,”
    It would be much better if the ignorant hacks in the Sinhala media, starting with the Divaina, apologised.
    From the start, it was pretty obvious that this affair was a witch-hunt driven by ignorance and hate towards Muslims. What is particularly sad is, that given the utterly ridiculous and scientifically untenable nature of the charges, the rantings of an ignorant and vindictive monk moved the Police more than sober testimony from doctors, that it isn’t possible to sterilise women in that manner. It is shameful too, that the leaders of the GMOA, who have opinions on everything from Glyphosate to milk powder , did not debunk the charges at the outset.
    This affair also clearly exposes the University community as being as shallow as the gullible peasants who swallowed this story wholesale. They could have raised an authoritative voice, but didn’t. Some charlatans like Jayasumana, even aided in the attack. Now the lives of a good doctor and his family are ruined, but the perpetrators are still free, some even in Parliament. Apologies aren’t enough. Both Ratana and Jayasumana should be locked up for life.

    • 5
      0

      This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.

      For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

      • 7
        1

        The way the economy is going ………. a lot of “Sinhalese” would now wish that Dr Shafi really had the skills he was accused of!

        • 9
          1

          Nimal,
          “Sinhalese” would now wish that Dr Shafi really had the skills he was accused of!”
          Yes, one Shafi could replace six or more Padeniyas, and maybe fifty Jayasumanas.

    • 10
      1

      old codger

      “Both Ratana and Jayasumana should be locked up for life.”

      Can we not exile both of them to labor camps Siberia?
      How about sending them to one of those “re-education” internment camps in China where Uighurs are being detained? By the way do you think Uighurs need to be told both are active Muslim hating Islamophobic Sinhala/Buddhists?

      • 11
        0

        Old codger

        I suggest we sent Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam and SJ along with Ratana and Jayasumana, one to ensure both are maltreated and the other one to defend the Chinese system.

      • 9
        0

        Native,
        N.Perera seems highly upset. Is he Ratana in disguise?

    • 10
      0

      OC,
      “It is shameful too, that the leaders of the GMOA, who have opinions on everything from Glyphosate to milk powder, did not debunk the charges at the outset.”
      This clearly shows, what low qualified MBBS doctors they are?
      They do not know how one could sterilise, a women in ‘stealth’, without others in the OP theatre recognising or not?
      I sincerely, pity the child, who gets operated by that esteemed Neurosurgeon of the premier children’s hospital in SL, Lady Ridgeway Children’s’ Hospital!!
      Parents, please take note, and at first notice, if it happens to be so, take your child and run away overseas hospital for such operations.
      There seems to be morons, duplicating as professionals!!
      They are good for the grass eating types!! Mee Harak only.

  • 36
    1

    It is great for Mr Jayakody to apologise on behalf of (at least) the honourable people of SL but shouldn’t the Minister of Health & Minister of Justice intervene & officially apologise for the grave injustice done to Dr Shafi & compensate him for the mental trauma, insult & loss of earnings? The worst were the GMOA bunch who made no attempt to correct the false accusations in defence of one of their own. Yobs like Padeniya are a disgrace to the medical profession but then again, when judiciary & eminent professionals are happy to prostitute their integrity & the country is ruled by self serving shameless politicians & their thugs, what is to be expected?

    • 10
      0

      Do you expect “Perpetrator to correct”?
      Pigs may take flight!!!

      • 2
        5

        Those who are rushing to criticize those who are pointing out the deficiencies in conducting inquiry into the crime, please note the following: You cannot ligate and/or divide fallopian tube openly while performing caesarian section without knowledge of those in operating theater. However, fallopian tubes can be damaged by the surgeon without those in operating theater noticing. There are finger like projections (Fimbriae) at the end of tubes which help to direct the ovum (egg) to enter the tubes. They are very sensitive to hypoxia when digital compression is applied. If they get damaged, they will lose their capability to attract ovum into the tube resulting in infertility. There is possibility that Dr. Shafie while doing caesarian section could have done it. During mopping up of blood to clean abdominal cavity, surgeon could compress fimbriae with fingers hidden under the towels which will go unnoticed by others in the operating theater. Therefore full investigation has to be done by getting down all those who had failed to conceive after caesarian section done by Dr. Shafie to examine functioning of fimbriae (not patency of tubes). I suggest that Dr. Shafie should not be allowed to do caesarian section in the future, on non-Muslim women.

  • 36
    1

    I thank the author for this unqualified apology which covers each of us regardless of our position in society.
    We have collectively failed a good person and an honourable servant of the public.
    It will take a transformed society to do justice to victims of perverted minds.
    By working for such change we will absolve ourselves of hopefully a part of our crime.

  • 32
    0

    To say that Dr.Shafi has been wronged is an understatement. Some of his colleagues too at the Kurunegala Hospital should be held responsible for the slander and false accusations that went viral. Neither the GMOA nor the AMS TOOK UP HIS CAUSE.
    Seething RACISM simply because he was a Muslim!
    It was a trial by the MEDIA and they succeeded in ruining Dr.Shafi and his family.
    At least the essayist makes an Apology as a matter of decency.
    But will it erase the torment that Dr.Shafi had to undergo?
    What about his detractors? Safe and Sound after their desired miscarriage of Medical ethics!

    • 7
      0

      Plato,
      Good Morning.
      How could GMOA dream of such ‘Heinous crime’ (?), when the President GMOA was the chief election agent for the leading SLPP Contestant and the chief contender/detractor in Kurunegala district, NWP was Dr. Shafi, who had to be neutralised??!!
      If they did, it would have been “Comatose” for SLPP and you know whom?
      Thirupathy and jet flight would have been history!!!

  • 11
    51

    High profile Muslims such as Shafie, Hisbulla, Badurdeen and Azath Sally have been released one after another. This does not mean that they are totally innocent or that justice is taking its fair course, but that secret financial and political deals have been reached with Rajapakse family. This is why Ranjan Ramanayake who refused to strike a deal with Rajapkses and Tamil prisoners who do not have political and financial clout to make such deals are still in prison. Government in its frenzy has messed up Shafie’s case. There should have been proper investigation made on Shafie’s sterilization program without rushing to accusing him of damaging fallopian tubes of Sinhala women. Shafie is entitled to sterilization program, but if he had done sterilization only on Sinhala women and not on Muslim women, then he could be charged for racial discrimination. Also find out whether he received money from Islamic individuals and organisations, and if so for what reason. If Shafie cannot explain the wealth he amassed out of proportion to what he could have legally earned, then he had committed a crime. If he had received money from others, for which he cannot give reason, then it could be justly assumed that he received them for his sterilisation program on Sinhala women. Be warned that Srilanka is in the Islamisation program of ISIS.

    • 30
      1

      Dear Dr.GS.
      …Shafie is entitled to sterilization program….
      Not really. He is not entitled. He may do so after the concerned have agreed. In which case the question whether the person is a Muslim or Sinhalese, does not arise as it a mutual action.
      The charge here was that he had done this surreptitiously.
      Of course, the charge itself was ridiculous as many gynos said he could not have done it underhand, unless he was a magician with an assistant surgeon, staff nurse and attendant nurses all around him at the operation.

      • 9
        0

        And of course an anaesthetist probably just a foot away.

      • 3
        25

        Read my comment properly. I have stated that he has been accused wrongly about doing sterilization. That does not mean that he is innocent. How is that he did sterilization only on Sinhala women and not a single Muslim woman. 50 years ago a Sinhala gynaecologist under whom I worked, who was doing sterilization on Sinhala women, told me that I should not do it as racism charge will be made. I took his advice and never did one. Shafie should have followed this, or at least canvased some Muslim women to undergo sterilization.. No proper investigation was done about his receiving money from Muslim individuals and organisations for doing sterilization on Sinhala women. So do not try to cover up a crime, just because he is a Muslim.

        • 8
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          ..… he HAS been accused WRONGLY about doing sterilization. That does not mean that he is innocent…..
          Well a wrong accusation means that one is absolved from the accusation. Accept one or the other.
          …. How is that he did sterilization only on Sinhala women and not a single Muslim woman…..
          So you accept the accusation (unproved), that he did sterilisation. Further you accept Rathane’s & others accusation that he singled out Sinhala women.
          You have prejudged the accusations entirely.

          • 3
            4

            Hello MyView,
            With malice towards none.. –
            What Dr. Gnana said is logically correct irrespective of what actually happened. I express no opinion because I do not know.
            The statement ” .. he HAS been accused WRONGLY about sterilization. That does not mean he is innocent…” is perfectly logical.
            A person could be WRONGLY accused because there was no proper investigation to support the accusation. [Investigations of such nature are not trivial!].
            Clearly, Gnana’s statement does not logically lead to the conclusion that sterilization never occurred simply because all instances have not been investigated.
            Thus, the deduction “So you accept the accusation (unproved), that he did sterilisation.” is not valid.
            A person could be acquitted but it does not mean that a person has not committed an offence.

            • 7
              0

              Dear SA,
              With malice towards none – surely and always.
              “Wrongly accused” means a false allegation, and it follows one is deemed innocent of the allegation or charge.
              Wrongly accused means false accusation of a crime occurs when someone gets accused of a crime that he or she did not commit.
              Dr GS goes on to say DEFINITELY :…… I have stated that he has been accused wrongly about doing sterilization. That does not mean that he is innocent. HOW IS THAT HE DID sterilization only on Sinhala women and not a single Muslim woman.…
              Has he not prejudged Dr. Safie in above statement and context, and assumed Dr.Safie is guilty.
              Further, …” but that secret financial and political deals HAVE BEEN reached with Rajapakse family…..That is a definite statement as he elaborates that …This is why Ranjan Ramanayake WHO REFUSED to strike a deal with Rajapakses” ….
              Serious definitive statements without proof. Here I do not hold candle to the Rajapakses.
              So in overall context, one could have been more circumspect in the comments.
              … A person could be acquitted but it does not mean that a person has not committed an offence….
              Perfectly true but the acquittal to be after inquiry of “apparently fair” accusations remaining unproved – but if wrongly accused it means one is innocent of the accusation.

              • 2
                0

                Dear SA.
                ………A person could be acquitted but it does not mean that a person has not committed an offence……
                Legalese :
                May be you refer to discharge which does not mean that the accused has not committed the offence, it just means that there is not enough evidence to proceed with the trial. … Acquittal means that the accused has been held innocent and the accused cannot be tried again for the same offence once he has been acquitted.
                Recent discharges were those accused by Bribery Comm because of the wrong procedure followed and they could be charged again.

                • 1
                  6

                  Acquittal does not always mean that the accused has been held innocent. There are instances where witnesses and/or police have been bought over, and where prosecution deliberately or by negligence mess up, to cause the cases to collapse. Accused can be tried again by reopening the case, if fresh evidence surfaces.In the case of Dr. Shafie investigation has not been carried out fully. There must be pressure exerted on government to open up the case to find out whether he has amassed wealth more than his legal earnings and if so how did he get that, secondly did he receive any money from Muslim individuals or organisations and if so for what purpose. Even for the charge of sterilization inquiry is not complete.

                  • 6
                    1

                    My GOD! Woman! Or wotever u are!
                    You’re unremitting!
                    UN BeLIEVable!
                    You’ll be a welcome recruit to the Sinhala B nationalist army! Better still — they can have a rest while one minority deals with another, for them.
                    Waaaaaay to go, Doc! We need some excitement in our old age, dont we. And the Tamils have suffered long enough — quite understandable that you’d like to see someone else at the receiving end for a change. The anti-Muslim campaign is only just heating up — over here, anyway. It’s been going strong elsewhere since 9/11. Time for someone to heap a few more coals on the fire here. And thank for the tips on easy sterilisation– I’ll pass them around so the new batches of Sinhala medics have a ready tool with which to deal with the surging birthrate of undesirable minorities.

                    God! Dr S! You’re worth a dozen militant SBs!

                  • 4
                    0

                    Dear GS.
                    …There are instances where witnesses and/or police have been bought over, and where prosecution deliberately or by negligence mess up, to cause the cases to collapse…..
                    On an average that is very minimal.
                    …Accused can be tried again by reopening the case, if fresh evidence surfaces…..
                    Your prejudgement insists, in some way or other, even clinging to straws, to ensure guilt. You insist he must be tried again and again until proved he either amassed wealth or did sterilisations surreptitiously.
                    No man made law can cover each and every contingency. It is the best average one can hope for, in the result. Your prejudgement insists that Dr Shafie is guilty and be tried again and again.
                    Even Natural and scientific law or theories recognise that they apply to best average only – hence different laws for macro and micro levels.
                    By extension it could mean ANYONE is possibly guilty of any ACCUSATION EVEN BASELESS (wrongly accused). For example YOU could be deemed “not be innocent” by other neighbours, purely on the neighbour on one side falsely accusing you of throwing stones at his house when you definitely did not.

    • 35
      2

      Dr Sankaralingam
      I am saddened by your inability to acknowledge the crime that has been done to Dr Shihabdeen, let alone accept the opportunity that has been offered here to express apologies (at the very least).

      Not only do you seem to be totally unmoved by what he has endured, but, while repeating the ISIS accusation you add yet another –that of bribery.  And not even as a possibility but as a certainty.

      It is very sad that your own possible experiences as a member of another ethnic minority, do not make you even more aware of and sensitive to the kind of injustice– to put it mildly — that Dr S has endured.
      …./…

      • 2
        21

        Manel Fonseka, I have full capability to name a criminal as a criminal. It is well known that Muslim criminals escape punishment by bribing Sinhala politicians of all sides and Sinhala officials in security forces. You cannot have double standards. There are several Tamils held in prison without being brought to trial for whom this author has no concern. There had been several Tamils who were in remand for more than 10 years and after an inordinately lengthy trial were found not guilty for who this author did not convey his apology. What about the Tamil youths who were wrongly implicated in murder of two policemen at Vavunathivu, what about the Tamils who were wrongly implicated in planting grenades at a private hospital and Saint Anthony’s church. Problem is these people had been released as innocent after proper inquiry. Author will do service for truth and justice if he carries out investigative journalism to find out how Shafie amassed wealth out of proportion to his legal earnings. Surely he is not accused of taking bribes or commissions.

        • 10
          0

          Dear Dr Sankaralingam —

          How can you assume that because a person addresses a particular case he “has no concern” for others similarly victimized? When you perform an urgent operation on someone, say, of Tamil ethnicity, should you be accused of not attending to an equally needy Sinhala patient instead or at the same time (if that is possible)? Of not caring about other ethnic groups? And anyway, what do you know of Ruwan’s concerns, his other writings?

          I was shocked by your “So do not try to cover up a crime, just because he is a Muslim.” Implying that not only has a crime DEFINITELY been committed but that RLJ is someone who would stoop to cover up a crime. And why should Sinhala RLJ do such a thing because the subject is a Muslim? I don’t understand your argument at all.

          You remind me of an earlier occasion when a similar question was asked of me, a kind of reproach, by a well-known, Kandyan, Sinhala, Buddhist, female academic whom I happened to run into after years, 1986/7
          >2/4

          • 9
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            2/4
            Those days, a member of the Civil Rights Movement (CRM), I was dealing daily with distressing reports of Tamil victims of various human rights violations. And we were urging the govt to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to come in. Lalith Athulathmudali declared that SL did not qualify for their assistance as the conflict was an internal one. On studying the 4 Geneva Conventions & ICRC annual reports, I found many situations like ours in which the ICRC had provided its services. We drafted an appeal to the govt to allow them in on the basis of Common Article 3 which governs internal armed conflict, & they finally acceded.

            One of our most dedicated members, lawyer, K. Kanthasamy, fell foul of a militant group in Jaffna in 1988; we brought out a book about him. I wonder if you have read that, Dr. S.
            > 3/4

            • 8
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              3/4
              There were so many matters crucially affecting the Tamil people at that time. One was the Sending of Tamil Public Servants on Leave after several bombings. CRM had an emergency meeting & suggested alternative actions to the govt. However, I felt so strongly about the situation I decided to write something for which I alone would be responsible. I tried to write as one who regarded herself as a Sinhalese, though I can’t really think of myself of any particular race or community. And I was appealing to commonsense, self-interest, rather than any idealist notion — not addressing the converted.

              The Daily News didn’t carry my article, but sometime later, I was surprised to learn it had appeared in the Jaffna-based Saturday Review (a paper edited by a Sinhalese journalist, & banned by the govt from time to time to time. In 1984, when Mr Nadesan QC filed an action against one such closure, he asked me to be one of the petitioners.) The Review (31/1/87) titled it: ‘Right Understanding’, with the by-line ‘Manel – A Civil Rights Worker’.

              • 8
                0

                4/4
                To come back to the Kandyan lady.
                The early signs of the 2nd JVP uprising were appearing & perhaps already deaths of JVPers & incarceration of suspects, etc. The KL’s first words when we bumped into each other after years:

                “Why hasnt CRM said anything about what’s happening to the SINHALESE right now? They are being slaughtered & all you lot are concerned about are the Tamils!”
                Well, something to that effect…..
                I really get fed up of being accused one of not responding to everything at the same time.

                No one worked for CRM on any paid basis; most had jobs, so it wasnt easy to arrange meetings as soon as some new issue developed; we might take time to start to relate to something “new”.

                May I draw your attention to “21 Years of CRM” (covering only the first 21), which will give you an idea of the scope of concerns over those years.

                Finally, I was quite shocked by your “It is well known that Muslim criminals escape punishment by bribing Sinhala politicians…Sinhala officials in security forces”. What on earth is your evidence for this? I had no idea that any ethnic group here had a monopoly of bribery!

        • 8
          2

          Gnana,
          .
          Yours are disgusting comments when seen in the context in which they occur. Ruwan Jayakody is one of the few Lankans who write about topics that are uncomfortable, and he never writes carelessly. He investigates every incident that he reports on. He is a shy man who doesn’t write for worldly results.
          .
          I have never met this remarkable young man, but I have heard of him, and more than all else read the carefully researched articles that he writes.
          .
          If you keep commenting like this, you won’t have any friends left; and your ostensible cause of. obtaining Justice will also suffer. See this article by Ruwan:
          .
          https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/navaly-church-bombing-25th-year-remembrance/
          .
          It is such a man whom you insult.
          .
          Panini Edirisinhe

      • 13
        1

        Manel
        I am surprised at your surprise about this medic’s travesty.
        Unfortunately his is not alone in this kind of hate-driven reasoning.

        • 5
          0

          SJ, I’ve been thinking Gnana was a woman!

          • 3
            0

            Manel
            I doubt if even a half decent woman will be so insensitive.

      • 20
        1

        Manel Fonseka

        Day by day Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam becoming a bigoted grumpy old man. One fine morning he might chose to join Rathna and Channa, who are fighting to protect Sinhalese from Evil Muslims. I won’t be surprised if he converted himself into a Sinhala/Buddhist, just like Wimal Sangilige Weerawansa’s ancestors.

        By the way he was educated in Sri Lanka just like other bigots.

        • 2
          8

          I am speaking the truth and fighting for justice. Tamils are being attacked by both Sinhala and Muslim racists. Native Veddha, why not join Hisbulla, Athavulla and Badurdeen who are fighting to save Muslims from evil Tamils. I will not be surprised if you convert yourself to Arab / Islamist like their ancestors. Today is the anniversary of Kondavatuwan massacre in 1986 carried out by Army and Muslim home guards where over 150 Tamils were killed. Buddhist racism is open and is subject to criticism, but Islamic racism is subtle and goes unnoticed. Why are you frightened to investigate the monetary award Shafi got from Islamic extremist individuals and organisations, for sterilizing Sinhala women.

          • 9
            1

            Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam


            “Today is the anniversary of Kondavatuwan massacre in 1986 carried out by Army and Muslim home guards where over 150 Tamils were killed. “

            Hope you do remember the following anniversaries:

            Anuradhapura massacre 14 May 1985
            Kattankudy mosque massacre 3 August 1990
            Aluth Oya massacre 17 April 1987
            Eravur massacre 11 August 1990
            Massacre of surrendered unarmed Sri Lankan Police officers 11 June 1990
            ….
            ….
            …..

            ….

    • 7
      8

      Dear Dr Gnana
      Yes you are spot on.. How about the rest , unlawfully detained and wrongfully prisoned by the forces of evil without proper trial. How about the political prisoners , even the TNA doesn’t want to talk about

  • 24
    0

    Ruwan, thank you so much for writing this article.

    • 9
      0

      I just read two similar stories. Today a police Sergeant attached to cinnamon garden was acquitted and released from a theft case after 10 years, which was framed by crime OIC of the same station due to personal animosity. Apparently OIC had threatened the sergeant to implicate in a false case. Sergeant pleaded the human rights commission to get him transferred. In the mean time a drunk custom officer made a complaint of missing car which was later found elsewhere in aquatic club car park (where the moron was drinking with his buddies). The Sergeant not only recovered the car but stashed money (probably ill gotten) and handed over in the station (adhering to due process). What more, OIC framed a case against Sergeant alleging he stole the money belonging to the complainant. The other is the ordeal Nasser Shaikh’s went through to get justice for his murdered brother Kuram. It’s a recap on 10th death anniversary. Reportedly Discovery + is presenting a documentary “the real death in paradise” which shows pictures of Namal and Mahinda posing with the smiling murderer Vidanapathirana.

  • 32
    0

    Dear Ruwan J,
    It is indeed fitting for all to admit guilt in this sordid affair fuelled by Rathana & Weerawansa abetted by the hospital director who left the service and contested under the SLPP, and the Magistrate who was a drinking pal of the Medical Director.
    …we apologise as indeed we all collectively……
    Amen

  • 33
    0

    Dear Ruwan Laknath Jayakody,
    .
    You say, “We aplogise”.
    .
    Please include me, “Panini Edirisinhe” among those “We”.
    .
    What was done to Dr Shafi Shihabdeen shames all of us Lankans, even those of us who never approved.
    .
    Ruwan, you are a blessing to us all.

    • 11
      1

      And me too.

      Soma

      • 3
        0

        soman

        “And me too.”

        What you mean?
        Did anyone (say monks, politicians, local thugs, policeman, church elder, teacher, …) molest you?
        Are you a rape survivor?
        I feel sorry for you.

        • 0
          4

          NV
          You don’t have to publicize the images you visualise for ma********n.

          Soma

    • 7
      0

      RJ/
      .
      Please add mine as well to ur ” we”/ from my childhood on I have remained “srilanken ” never have I called me ” sinhalese”.Today “Medamulanism” has set the nation upside down/ so I dont think that many would be happy to be proud of being sinhalaya/ not Chamuditha or th like journalists but Rajapakshes should be attacked with Molotov cocktails/ then only we could breath in well😌😌😌😌😌😌😌😌

  • 28
    0

    Ruwan Laknath Jayakody,
    I welcome your stand on behalf of the Fourth Estate even though you yourself most assuredly would not have been complicit in this shocking, criminal, deadly, shameful assault on an innocent man (yes, I believed very early on that he was innocent) and, thereby, his family. Seemingly launched by a jealous colleague, aided and magnified by growing anti-Muslim fervour, it is really to the shame of us all that such a diabolical scheme, campaign, was allowed to develop into the virtual assassination of a powerless individual whose only crimes would seem to be his professional skill, his respected (envied?) position, his business acumen and his ethnic/religious minority identity.

    How many people in this benighted land today are being targeted and destroyed in this manner? I’m sure we can all name several in a flash.
    …/…

    • 27
      0

      …/ …
      What can we do about it? And what hope is there of recompense to those who have suffered in this way? At least of material compensation – the rest is a burden to be born for the rest of one’s life.

      The right to innocence until proved guilty must cease to be a airy-fairy catch-phrase; it must become a sine qua non. And the REALLY guilty in situations like these — the lying accusers, the purveyors of diabolical rumours, the irresponsible (to put it mildly) elements in the media who rush to print such allegations, embroidering and magnifying them in the process –THEY must now be rigorously investigated, they must be exposed.

      Dr Shihabdeen, Hejaaz Hisbullah, and others whose lives are similarly devastated, condemned without trial, without charge, I use the occasion created for us by Ruwan Laknath Jayakody here, to offer my own apologies and hope that you will be able to recover from this terrible assault on your lives and receive meaningful compensation – if, indeed, one can really be compensated for such an experience.

      • 9
        0

        Manel, we are a nation led by emotions, utter emotions……….not by rational thinking at all. Remember the snake erupted out from the Kelani river and the wave it created in our society? It showed how susceptible even the PhD holders were! Where has all that wisdom which was abundant in our society few decades ago gone to ?? :(

        • 5
          0

          Jit,
          .
          I think those architect knew that this would just be a trick knowing the mentality levels of the average.
          :
          Now it is becoming clear, that none of them even utter a single world pro or contra in terms of ” SO CALLED SAFI SAGA”.
          .
          If our JOURNALISTS are brave, they should have cleared this with MAHINDA RAJAPAKSHES at the begining.
          :
          Media s silence or their rise whenever RAJAPKSHES wanted them, should be blamed nothing else.

          • 6
            0

            LM, sadly, 95% of our journalists are on the pay roll of bloody Rajapaksha gang!! What else can you expect from them than the stinking crap that they throw at you now?

        • 5
          0

          Jit

          “we are a nation led by emotions, utter emotions……….not by rational thinking at all.”

          Compassion is also another form of emotion or a form of response to the suffering of another person. Why do the people in general and the rulers and their b***s carriers in particular completely lack it?

          Dr. Ekman outlines three benefits of compassion:

          1. It generates an intrinsically good feeling (compassion joy).

          2. It can increase our self-regard; it supports a positive view of oneself, as well as a sense of well-being and purpose.

          3. It can elicit the approval of others: when other people learn about the compassionate action, accidentally or by design, their regard for the compassionate person may be increased. In turn this acknowledgment and approval may elicit further enjoyment in the compassionate actor.

          Please also watch the video:
          Dr. Paul Ekman and the Dalai Lama discuss Global Compassion
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr8TLka3c2M

          You may have a contrarian view however leave it in your library(?) and listen to Dalai Lama whom you (the Sinhala/Buddhists establishment) have completely banned from visiting this island in order to please SJ and his China.

          • 5
            0

            NV, with all due respect, compassion is not an ’emotion’. Compassion is defined by Oxford dictionary in many ways;
            1. The ability to understand something with comprehension.
            2. The power of abstract thought – intellect.
            3. An individual’s perception or judgement of a situation.
            These traits do belong to advance minds which is possible only with above average cognition levels.
            One of the main messages of Gauthama Buddha was compassion and he surely was way past an emotional man?

            • 3
              0

              Jit

              Compassion

              The feeling or emotion, when a person is moved by the suffering or distress of another, and by the desire to relieve it; pity that inclines one to spare or to succour.
              https://www.oed.com/viewdictionaryentry/Entry/37475

              compassion (from the Latin compati, suffer with).
              To feel another’s suffering as keenly as one’s own, and be moved to succour. In compassion are subsumed pity, the emotion of tenderness aroused by the suffering of another, and … https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198662242.001.0001/acref-9780198662242-e-198

              What does compassion mean?

              While there is no single all-encompassing definition of compassion, it is generally understood to be a response to the suffering of another person.
              The kind of suffering we’re responding to could be a variety of things ranging from physical, emotional or mental pain brought on by anything from disease to injury to a general dissatisfaction with life. The cause of the discomfort may come form external or interpersonal events, real or imagined. In any case, it is our care or concern for the person suffering that is considered compassion. https://www.paulekman.com/what-does-compassion-mean/

              Nothing personal

              • 3
                0

                NV, Probably you are right, I wouldn’t dispute what you trying to explain. Its just that I see a different side to it.

        • 7
          0

          Jit,
          “Where has all that wisdom which was abundant in our society few decades ago gone to ??”
          It’s gone to Australia, Canada, USA, EU, and many other places.

        • 5
          0

          Stupid me, Jit, please remind me what that Snake was.

          Of dear! Thank goodness I caught it in time! I almost posted before noticing that ‘snake’ had “mobilsed” into my husband’s name!

          • 2
            0

            Now, dear readers, regard that comment by Manel.
            .
            I’ve never met this dear, lovable, wise, committed, and witty, Manel.
            .
            However, we correspond; don’t speak to each other. I also know who her husband was. Now she has almost revealed her husband’s first name. A husband who was dearly loved by her, as I have gathered. Had one of us who knows, committed the same “crime“, we would have had our heads bitten off (only metaphorically, she’s far from being a cannibal).
            .
            Dr Shafi; now that you’re virtually free, I hope that your sufficiently relaxed to find the foibles of your friends and supporters amusing.

  • 23
    0

    I use this platform to offer my own apologies to Dr. Shafie and thank you Ruwan Laknath Jayakody for this unqualified apology which covers each of us regardless of our positions in society. We can’t undo the past, but we can in an apology, recognize the fact that many actions in the past did grave injustices not only to Dr. Shafie., but to several others too. What was done cannot be undone, but we can end the silence. We can look at you in the eye and finally say on behalf of everyone what they did to you was shameful and we are so very sorry.

    • 22
      0

      Diyani/
      Asking an apology for any wrong doings is not easy for sinhala Buddhists/ I mean sinhala Buddhists okay? First they should be taught true buddhism base on true teachings of Dharama. 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

      • 3
        0

        See at the time, srilanken forces eliminated LTTE terror within the country, they should have praised western nations for providing shelter for srilanken people.
        :
        My eyes cant believe, but true most nations in EUROPE treated our people, be them tamils, sinhalaya, muslims or others very human. Today if you would travel across europe, thanks to them, the second generations of our srilankens have become part of their communities. Some of them are in much higher positions while others too do a better living. None of our state men praised this yet today. That is why I think our politicians are dogs. I think CBK and RW could do it if they would have become the welcome leaders of the majority.

  • 18
    0

    Dr. Shafi was not simply a moslem being attacked. His politics in Kurunegala was a danger to a political party hell bent on winning even risking murder. Padeniya from Kurunegala played safe to be on winning side while the medical profession was too stunned at the accusations from women. It is not any better today even though my roots too are in Kurunegala making me sad even during times of good memory recall.

    • 10
      0

      DTG,
      Good morning.
      Funniest of all that occurred.
      One of the women and her Husband, claiming that they are unable to bear a child, though tried to on many occasions, ultimately conceived after a few months thereafter. No explanations how that happened was not forthcoming

      • 10
        0

        DTF,
        Padeniya is self-serving crook.
        He does not have any scruples and lacks intellect at all as medical professional and/or Trade Unionist!
        He created all sorts of ‘hardships specially, the poor 2016-2019’, did not ‘stir’ when vaccination went ‘wonky’ 2021???
        Front row SLPP congregation post parliamentary elections! Self-Serving!
        You may recall, during 2016 campaign, respect of the Neville Fernando Private Medical College (NFPMC), GMOA stand that basic requirement of NFPMC, of 2 C’s and 2 S’s for entry, inadequate.
        GMOA articulated MBBS degree of Government Medical College (GMC) had a higher entry requirement! Which was only partly true!!
        The compromised outcome due to the ‘Area’ and ‘Z’ score! Then it became less than, 2 C’s and 2 S’s
        At that time, questions were raised as a consequence of this stand, inquiring as to his and GMOA colleagues, ‘A’ level examination results at the time of their selection and entry to GMC!
        No answers were proffered or forthcoming, except stoic silence, ignoring/deflecting the questions!!
        Good reflection for those of his ilk with the ‘hypercritic oath’
        How he became a doctor, progressing to become paediatrician is mind boggling and beyond comprehension???!!!

    • 15
      0

      Ironically, Ballige Putha Paddeniya is said to be medical graduate. How come Paddeniya to betray medicine and join hand with the bangwagen which stood against such a myth ?
      .
      Entire medical world should stand against the kind of fake public perceptions based on human biology. Where on earth medical panels would be able to do such act in OHRs. Uneducated ballige puthas might have compared manning market environment with that of an operation theatre. These people are born primitive.
      :
      If any kind of fake public statements would take ground, the MEDICAL COUNCIL or other bodies should come forward in a civilized society because they are held as experts in a country. But that di dnot happened yet today…. how deep is the STUPIDITY levels of this country where MEDAMULANISM is on the top of their day today life ?

  • 19
    1

    Dear Ruwan
    Though I forgot the vividity ofthe case in question, we all appreciate your writing. Taking on the task of an apology well deserved Well done sir

    Undoubtly there are more innocent souls languishing in our jails . Their only crime being that they have upset the regime in one way or the other.
    We must collectively campaign for their release.The country is but a police or more aptly an army state.Democracy in Lanka is a joke

  • 20
    0

    Ruwan Laknath Jayakody, You speak for me as well.

  • 20
    0

    This is where Sri Lankans should hide their faces in utter shame. From the start we knew this was a made-up story by the so called ‘fourth estate’ or the ‘rotten estate’ of SL. Unbelievable even the very basic elements of media ethics were and are not practiced in this sickening sordid land! These journos are not good enough or worthy even to clean toilets!! I do not know the state of mind of this family but I’m sure it was a hellish ride for them all. Who is taking the responsibility or paying back any compensation?? No one! Because they are Muslims!!

  • 8
    0

    It is a crime committed against humanity. Lies over lies by Politicians, Media, and Monks to create a terrorist image of an innocent doctor and their community for political purpose. This is not the first or last political murder that happened in this country. Muslim community is branded as a “Terrorist community” since 2009 for political witch – hunt by a group of majority community through out the history. It is the sane that happened for Tamil community since independence. The apology did not come from those criminals or those who encouraged that crime. We should remember some time back the death (suicide or murder) of a 16 year Hindu girl who worked as a “maid” in a Muslim politician home and the family members including the MP charged as involved with the murder. No body talks about it now and no one know what happened to that case.

    The purpose of political objective is now achieved (coming to power) and now it is a time to face UNHRC session and it looks like a victory for justice. How do you get justice without none of the Criminals are punished?

  • 15
    1

    Just imagine being Dr Shafi Shihabdin now, after wrongful imprisonment, betrayal by colleagues, despicable bigotry by a rabid monk or thug in yellow, and betrayal by the justice system. How would you feel? Could you go back to your “Sinhala Buddhist” patients and pretend that all is gung ho? No. These wounds are lifelong and will never be totally healed. It is best if he packs his bags and goes to a country where he can peacefully practice his profession and be respected for it. But wait…he is only out on bail..! That means the state has still not managed to get its act together and have him released and compensated. That is Sri Lankan justice for you..! Wonder of Asia, ain’t it…?

  • 12
    0

    I believe the President and the Prime Minister should publicly apologise to this Doctor for the grievance caused to him and his family. This will show how genuinely they regret what has happened and provide some solace to the victim. I also expect the GMOA to make a public apology to the Doctor. I cannot see any of this happening but it is worth a try.

    • 5
      0

      President and PM to apologize? While I don’t expect oil from sand, I do not want their apology either. Ever heard of ‘To err is human, to forgive is divine’?. Apologies originate only from human beings!

    • 4
      0

      Humble, PM cannot apologise as his seat and vested interest is from that region

    • 5
      0

      If the President (former defence secretary) and the Prime Minister (former President) will never publicly apologise to the doctor and if they have to apologise they have to apologise for number of cases including Easter Bombing and many other crimes they are directly or indirectly connected in the decision making. The Easter Bombing happened in April 2019. The accusation against Dr. Shafi was published in May 2019 and the Muslim community were attacked in Kurunagala by Buddhist Monks and two major Monks Gnanarasa and Ratna Theros was in high pitch against the Dr. Shafi , and then lawyer Hisbullah followed by Rishard, and Azaath Ali in order to put the blame on the Muslims and they used this for election victory with over 75% of the Buddhist Sinhala votes to rob this country again and again.

    • 2
      0

      Dear Humble,
      .
      I appreciate your sentiment. May I add that I’m happy that you have outgrown your habit of attributing all sad happenings, like those that have been here recounted by Ruwan Jayakody, to conspiracies by “Freemasons“.
      .
      Now, now; don’t let my stating that provoke you into making that very claim.

  • 8
    0

    Ruwan,
    I take the ‘Hat off for your effort’! Momentous and thanks for same on behalf of the SL 4th estate.
    First and foremost, whether Sinhala Buddhists, Sinhala or Tamil Christians, Tamil Hindus, Muslims, Malays, Burghers, Parsis, Sindhis, Moors is immaterial.
    My take is they (one and all) must acknowledge failing on their part and say “Mea Culpa with farsighted forthrightness!!!!
    Then, the matter could be resolved as it is only ‘HUMAN TO ERR’!!
    If any one group in Sri Lanka they should RESPECT EACH OTHER as SRI LANKANS and so show empathy towards each other as HUMANBEINGS!!!
    If they do not, then they do not belong to the category of HUMANS.
    Do not wish to speculate!!!
    Then without exception, as per accepted legal norms, acknowledge innocence of ‘alleged’ offender, until proved beyond all reasonable doubt!
    Media to bear in mind ensure strict compliance, causes reputational damage
    Climax (no pun intended) person, claiming thousands of SB women been illegally made ‘infertile’ by this doctor!!!
    It was too apparent, that it was a venture to promote a certain party to promote themselves as the ‘Saviours’ of the Sinhala Buddhist of SL, to win the Presidential/Parliamentary elections 2019!!!
    Very Sad, indeed.

  • 18
    1

    Dr.GS

    Of the 20 readers who have commented so far, you are the ONLY person who has an adverse view about Dr. Shafi. And, you are a Doctor yourself!. Professional Jealousy??? Giving you the benefit of the doubt, let me give some details.

    1. The CID informed the Court on the 27th June 2019 that “no evidence found for all allegations against Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen”. The CID submitted a 210 page report to the Court on their investigation. The CID said a large number of statements were recorded from medical doctors, nurses and other staff members who worked with Dr. Shafi, and that their statements proved that he had not committed wrongdoings as had been alleged.

    The CID also confirmed that “no evidence was discovered connecting the doctor to the National Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ) or terrorist activities.”

    More details at : https://www.ft.lk/front-page/CID-informs-Court-no-evidence-found-for-all-allegations-against-Dr–Shafi-Shihabdeen/44-680838

    2. Many Mothers Who Claimed to have been Sterilized by Dr. Shafi given birth again. Details at: https://lankanetnews.com/?p=1373

    Here is hoping that your comments will be fair and balanced in the future, particularly in relation to Muslims.

    • 14
      1

      Muhandiram, injustice met to Dr. Shafi is so gross, I tried addressing it often here in CT. Many have hurt this poor Doctor and hope GS in not one among them. In one of my comment months ago, I tried listing all the people who wronged the doctor and his family including Government, politicians, judiciary, AG department, many of the staff, colleagues (especially the one who was jealous and made false accusations), police, medical council/associations, opposition/UNP ( reportedly he was one time party candidate), public especially doctors in denial, sitting Kurunegala MP none other than Tsunami hora, Kurunegala teaching hospital/administration, master minds behind Easter carnage, pissu sira, cronies who sat on commissions, social media propagandist, the evil thero, pseudo patriots/nationalist —— the list goes on. And for all this the only mistake he committed was is to stay in Govt health care and provide services (including to some of those amoral ungrateful women) for years.

      • 11
        1

        For those few ignorant, as I had expected Pujitha and Hemasiri are acquitted from all concocted charges in connection with Easter Sunday Carnage. This also reveals the master minds behind the political mass murder. One ignorant here says doctor took the patient in the middle of night and carried out a C-Section without anyone’s knowledge and assistance. This clown doesn’t realize removing a infected nail plate is not possible in this manner let alone a C.Section which may last from 45 to 60 minutes. I guess she was enjoying the whole procedure throughout, so much so, did not bother raising any alarm. She and her family somehow forgot the whole incident even when paying additional OT,Anesthesia, surgery charges at the time of discharge. The retard questions how do you explain that ??? Then continues to type , two complained of getting pregnant after forcible sterilization. Wow that is really interesting. Is the complaint is about sterilization ?? or getting pregnant ?? or both ?? Goes to show, regardless of the outcome, these amoral ungrateful greedy ones were willing to do anything for a few Rupees. The retard should try finding how many of those knew who the actual father is ???

  • 0
    15

    An apology? Huh!
    Hundreds of pregnant mothers have complained against Dr. Shafi for carrying out caesarean surgeries for no medical reason. Some have complained that they were sterilized without their permission. One pregnant mother has complained that she was abruptly taken to the operations theater by Dr. Shafi in the middle of the night, and carried out a caesarean surgery without a nurse or a hospital attendant. How do you explain that?
    Around 600 complaints have been made against Dr. Safi but none were investigated.The Police have said that two women who complained against Dr. Shafi for forcible sterilization got pregnant. Of course, there is a 5/1000 chance of women who have been sterilized get pregnant in the first year and that is not a reason to not investigate complaints of forcible sterilization.

    • 7
      1

      Champass

      “Some have complained that they were sterilized without their permission. “

      If Dr Shafi was not fit for the job do you think our Surgeon General Shavendra could do the job properly? Perhaps Wimal?

  • 8
    0

    Dr. Sankaralingam comment with regards to Dr. Shafi. was very insensitive and incorrect, However, what he stated about the Thamizh prisoners and other things are correct and accurate. This does not justify what happened to Dr. Shafi and he deserves an apology for what happened to him and I will apologize to him and sympathize with him for what happened to him, although I had nothing to do with it. Please also follow your own advice to Dr. Sankaralingam and in the future be fair and balanced in your comments, especially in relation to your fellow non-Muslim Thamizh, as in my opinion and in the opinion of many others here, they are all very biased. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others.

  • 2
    10

    Is there a dearth of gynecologists in Sri Lanka? It’s a bit strange that an Islamic man is one. It is Haram in most cases.

    • 8
      1

      RTF,
      “Is there a dearth of gynaecologists in Sri Lanka? It’s a bit strange that an Islamic man is one. It is Haram in most cases.”
      How does one come to the conclusion that, THERE IS DEARTH OF GYNOCOLOGISTS IN SRI LANKA, BECAUSE AN ISLAMIC MAN (DOCTOR) is the Gynaecologist?.
      If memory serves me right, not so long ago, (1990’s) the Chief Gynaecologist in Colombo National Hospital (CNH) was a Muslim and the Professor of genecology and Obstetrics, at the Colombo Medical College to boot for a long period of time.
      i am not sure whether it is haram to be Gynaecologist by profession according to Islam!! News to me.
      He (Dr. Shafi) is practicing his profession of seeking for which he has been well trained at government expense, in turn discharging his duty with due diligence and serving the people with due duty of care, none should fault him/her

      • 2
        7

        Mahila,

        You misconstrue my words in rather odd fashion. No, there is no dearth of gynecologists in Sri Lankan because an Islamic man is a (doctor) is a gynecologist. That’s quite a twisting of words.

        I ask why an Islamic man has to become a gynecologist at all, when there are Fatwas against it , and only permissible if a female doctor is not in place.

        So I reiterate my question as to whether there are lack of non-Muslim gynecologists or obstetricians in Sri Lanka.

        I mean, these doctors are Sri Lankan Muslims and not from Islamic states and places, but one would have thought they would still have an aversion for this type of profession. If at all, the guy did all those many caesareans because the Toweed Jamaat would have put a price upon his head and so he had to change the way he worked with deliveries.

        https://ctc.usma.edu/harmony-program/fatwa-43-question-ruling-presence-male-ob-gyns-treat-women-possibility-female-ob-gyns-although/

        https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/87015/male-muslim-in-obstetrics-and-gynecology

        https://ctc.usma.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/NMEC-2015-125621_Fatwa43_English.pdf

        • 3
          0

          RTF,
          Wish you good morning.
          No intent to convolute or misconstrue.
          The statement as reproduced herein was considered as the content. Your words.
          More so surprised at the content, “as to Islamic being the Gynaecologist/Obstetrician”!!
          The question and statement posed,
          1. “Is there a dearth of gynaecologists in Sri Lanka?” immediately followed by,
          2. “It’s a bit strange that an Islamic man is one”,
          Portends a substantive position, and raises the sublime question, weren’t there alternatives available??!!
          SL is a multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural nation, and predominantly Sinhala Buddhist, with Muslims, Tamils, Sinhala Christians and Malays constituting a fair share of the minorities.
          However Sri Lankan Muslims are not followers of Hard-core Islamists sect as those in Saudi and Iran, who are famous for Fatwas issued by hierarchy to their followers!
          They – Sri Lankan – Muslims are more moderate Islamists and perhaps covered by the ‘exception clause’ in the Fatwas to perform this profession!
          There is certainly no ‘Dearth’ of Gynaecologists in SL, and we are proud nation, with many serving in countries such as UK, Australia, and New Zealand to name a few countries. Certainly there would be many in the states too, in this profession?

          • 2
            2

            Manila,

            My substantive position is about what reason Islamic men have to attain prominent positions in this medical discipline in the first place, especially as there is generally and traditionally a culture of aversion amongst Islamic men to work in this field.The sublime question of not having other alternatives is yet your conjecture, not mine. See, it’s not that there are no others who can do it , but that these Islamic men ensured that they acheived these positions out of all the other medical disciplines they could have achieved.

            • 0
              1

              Mahila* ……I mean.

    • 9
      0

      ramona grandma therese fernando

      “It is Haram in most cases.”

      Does the Sinhala/Buddhist Mahawamsa say that an Islamic man being a gynecologist is haram?

      • 2
        1

        NV,

        No, they are very trusting. They probably feel that the Islamic men have an ancient heads up on all things scientific and medical. The doctors themselves must be quite brilliant and very caring, and seen a lot of suffering women they wanted to help. Yet, one wonders about all those infertile women and the many caesareans performed.

  • 9
    0

    Champass

    “Some have complained that they were sterilized without their permission. “

    If Dr Shafi was not fit for the job do you think our Surgeon General Shavendra could do the job properly? Perhaps Wimal?

  • 4
    1

    NV, these are the so called intellectuals of Lanka. In Kerala and Karnataka most leading Gyn and Obs doctors are Muslim women. Reason the pregnant Muslims prefer going to a Muslim that too a lady. Where is the Haram in medical scienve ?? Ofcourse ekelbroom will claim its mentioned in one of the 72 sect ??? You mean to say Pakistan and Saudi dosrnt have one single lady Obstetrician??. That too coming from a person claiming to have lived in Pittsburgh. Another clown claims a person was hauled into OT in the middle of night and underwent surgery / forced sterilization without any one’s knowledge.

    • 4
      1

      NV, obviously sterilization could have avoided, having so called intellectuals of Lanka / tragedy. .

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