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Deputy CMO reinstated; withdraws case against Colombo Mayor, officials
View(s):The Court of Appeal (CoA) ordered to restore Colombo’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Anna Kariyawasam to her former status, after she agreed to withdraw her case against the Mayor and senior officials of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).
The CoA also granted permission for Dr. Kariyawasam to continue her work under the provisions of the Establishment Code and Food Hygiene Regulations. Dr Kariyawasam filed a writ application with the CoA challenging her interdiction and also filed Contempt of Court papers against the CMC Commissioner and the Colombo CMO.
Lawyers of both parties informed Court on Tuesday that their clients had agreed to a settlement. CMC officials agreed to restore Dr Kariyawasam’s status, and to stop preliminary investigations against her, while also permitting her to continue with her Food Hygiene related work. Hence, Dr Kariyawasam’s party agreed to withdraw the writ application and the Contempt of Court papers.
Dr Kariyawasam was interdicted over her private work related to Food Hygiene, but she stated to the CoA by a writ application that the revenue from the private tests went to the CMC, and at the time of her interdiction, she attended to the private tests with prior verbal approval from the Mayor.
The CoA issued an interim order on the letter sent to Dr Kariyawasam by the CMC Commissioner, and ordered to hold the preliminary investigation against her. However, Dr Kariyawasam filed Contempt of Court papers on May 5, complaining that CMC officials were continuing preliminary investigations against her, by violating the terms of the CoA’s interim order.
The CoA then ordered CMC Commissioner, V.K.A. Anura and Colombo CMO Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni to appear before court for Contempt of Court.