Maligakanda Magistrate Janitha Roshani Perera issued warrants for the immediate arrest and production of the directors of Asiri Hospital, including its Chairman Ashok Pathirage, yesterday (25), after they failed to appear in court despite being summoned in a case involving the sale of medicines to a resident patient at inflated prices.
The warrants were issued against directors Ashok Pathirage, Anthur Nand Thadani, Manjula Karunaratne, Sudharshan Ahangama, Harris Premaratne, Sivakumar Sellaya, Haresh Kumar Kaimal, and Ajith Karunaratne.
Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama, appearing for the prosecution, and Attorney-at-Law Ranjith Hillage, representing complainant Sanath Kumara Athukorala, argued that the directors of the Colombo-based hospital were not above the law and should be held accountable. The magistrate agreed and granted the request for arrest warrants.
The court also reissued a notice to Vishal Bali, another director of Asiri Hospital, to appear on November 12, after reports that the summons had not been properly served. Additionally, the magistrate warned the hospital’s Narahenpita representative, B.D. Sandathisaru is to be present in court on the same date.
This order followed a ruling by Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne, who earlier rejected an interim relief application filed by the hospital’s directors seeking to stay the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court proceedings.
Complaint and Charges
The case stems from a complaint lodged by Sanath Kumara Athukorala, a resident of Nugegoda, to the Ministry of Health. Following the complaint, the Food and Drug Inspector of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) filed a case against Asiri Hospital and its directors under the Medicines Regulatory Authority Act.
They face 11 charges relating to the alleged overpricing of medicines prescribed to Samarakoon Mudiyanselage M.P. Kumarihami, who was a resident patient at Asiri Hospital, Narahenpita, between February 7 and 19, 2023.
Initially, on January 17, when the Chief Magistrate was on leave, Acting Magistrate Himali Ekanayake accepted a guilty plea from the hospital’s authorized representative, Kelum Gimentra Jayasuriya. The court imposed a Rs. 25,000 fine and ordered six months’ imprisonment in default.
However, complainant Athukorala challenged this decision, arguing that the Acting Magistrate’s order was defective. Former Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrama Weerasinghe upheld the complaint and reopened the case, issuing fresh summons to the hospital and its directors.
Revision Petition in High Court
In response, Asiri Hospital and several directors, including Ashok Pathirage, Manjula Karunaratne, Harsha Kumara Kaimal, and assistant manager B.D. Sandathisaru filed a revision petition before the Colombo High Court.
Judge Thilakaratne adjourned the petition to January 19, 2026, and directed both parties to file objections and counter-objections by November 27, 2025. The request for an interim stay on the Maligakanda proceedings was rejected.
