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Blood feud over saving Chandrika's life

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan doctors on Thursday threatened to take action if a colleague is penalised for cutting red tape and making withdrawals from the state blood bank to treat President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) said they feared action might be taken against doctor Athula Wijesundera who had ordered 12 pints of blood and blood products for President Kumaratunga.

The doctors had bypassed procedures and made the withdrawal from the national blood bank even though the president was admitted to a private hospital after being injured in a suicide bomb attack on December 18.

"Doctor Wijesundera, a member of the GMOA, has acted with responsibility and we commend his work," the GMOA said.

The statement came amid reports that the director of the blood bank had called for an explanation from Wijesundera for drawing a large quantity of blood without following strict administrative procedures.

However, the GMOA which has clashed with the authorities as well as President Kumaratunga herself recently, said their member had acted to save the life of the president. AFP