A female doctor was subjected to severe harassment while on duty at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital yesterday, marking an unprecedented incident in the country’s healthcare system, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated in Parliament today.
According to reports, an outsider entered the hospital premises, restrained the doctor, and subjected her to serious sexual harassment. This shocking incident has raised grave concerns about the safety of female medical professionals in Sri Lanka, particularly those serving in government hospitals.
Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in the country, making the occurrence of such an act within its premises even more alarming. The Opposition Leader highlighted that if such an incident could take place in a hospital of this scale, the situation could be far worse in smaller, less secure medical institutions. He emphasized that female doctors are now living in fear and have previously faced provocative incidents at work, further underscoring the urgency of addressing their safety concerns.
Premadasa strongly condemned this act, stating that female officers in public service frequently endure harassment, including inappropriate remarks even during discussions on national security. He pointed out that while events and discussions are held on Women’s Day to highlight workplace challenges faced by women, incidents like these continue to leave them vulnerable and helpless.
“As a father of a daughter, I take this matter very seriously. Strict action must be taken against those responsible, and I fully support enacting legislation to ensure that perpetrators of such barbaric acts face severe punishment,” he asserted.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with growing calls for authorities to ensure the safety and dignity of women in the workplace, particularly in essential services such as healthcare.
