Organiser of unauthorised medical exhibition arrested

The police are investigating an allegation that the Colombo Medical Faculty released nearly 200 medical exhibits to a private party to hold an exhibition. Medical sources said the transaction had come to light after the Chilaw police took into custody the main suspect who initially insisted on his right to go ahead with the exhibition.

Acting on a complaint lodged by health authorities, Police arrested the suspect.

Police had moved to stop the exhibition over a week after it had begun, medical sources said, claiming the suspect had obtained the exhibits from the Colombo Medical Faculty.

Thousands of students had visited the exhibition over the past several days, police said, asserting the chief suspect had received the backing of several public officials to organise the show. Claiming that he had the patronage of the Chilaw Police, the suspect had charged an entrance fee of Rs. 20. At the time of the raid, there had been nearly 200 medical exhibits which shouldn’t have been handed over to any outsider. Under interrogation, he had claimed that he had hired them.

A Colombo university spokesman yesterday confirmed the release of the exhibits but declined to elaborate. The Vice Chancellor of the University would issue a statement today (14), the official said.