Many more battles to face

Dr Shafi Shihabdeen continues to defend himself on multiple fronts. The Health Ministry sent him on compulsory leave following his remand, citing the Establishments Code. He appealed to the Public Service Commission (PSC) seeking his reinstatement and payment of salary with arrears. On the PSC’s directive, the Health Ministry in December, while not recalling him, ordered his dues be settled. This is yet to be done.

Following the directives, the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital (KTH), where Dr Shihabdeen last worked, summoned him in late December to provide a statement in a “preliminary inquiry” it had started. The letters were issued two-and-a-half years after the allegation of illegal sterilizations first surfaced.

Last year, the PSC served Dr Shihabdeen with three charge sheets related to, among other things, changing the name of a bedhead ticket; being a director of a private company between June 2017 and May 2019; and allowing his wife to make an entry in his official logbook. He showed cause, was severely reprimanded and had a salary increment withheld. The inquiry is closed.

Separately, Dr Shihabdeen in June 2019 filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court. It is yet to be heard. The main case against him is pending in the Kurunegala Magistrate Court. He has not been charged. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) continues to report facts to Court after starting a new probe in December 2019. After his arrest, he was additionally accused of amassing illegal wealth and being linked with a terrorist organization. The case will be taken up again on Friday.