Sudden transfer of MRI Director raises concerns amidst new COVID-19 cluster

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The sudden transfer of Dr Jayaruwan Bandara from his post as the Director of Medical Research Institute (MRI) raised concerns within the health authorities, Times Online learns.

Currently MRI is one of the country’s prime institutions tasked to carry out PCR tests and verification processes as the new COVID-19 cluster in Divulapitiya saw an increasing trend of fresh COVID-19 cases. The country marked the highest number of COVID 19 cases with 466 new cases reported today alone.

The transfer came a day after Dr Bandara told in a panel discussion in a private television network that ‘COVID-19 cases have been in the community as early as in January,”

Co-Cabinet Spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwela told the reporters during the weekly Cabinet briefing today that the transfer is an administerial step within the ministry and refuted any political interference in the transfer.

He said that the Minister in Charge will make a statement over the transfer shortly since it is purely a Ministerial step.

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