By Saroj Pathirana
BBC Sinhala serviceMr White is not registered “either as a medical practitioner, dentist or an assistant medical practitioner” A high profile healer who describes himself as President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s personal physician is not a registered medical practitioner in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Medical Council’s Registrar Dr NJ Nonis told BBC Sinhala service: “The person named Eliyantha White is not registered in the Council either as a medical practitioner, dentist or an assistant medical practitioner.”
Dr Nonis made the revelation when the BBC requested the Council’s response to people who have no qualifications allegedly prescribing banned substances to national sports personal.
Six national sports personalities including cricket star Upul Tharanga have recently failed doping tests.
Tharanga has been tested positive for taking a banned substance after the World Cup semi-final match against New Zealand on 29 March.
‘Eradicate cancer’
Tharanga is facing a two-year ban if found guilty at an ICC hearing to be held next week, according to the Sunday Times published in Colombo.
If an un-registered person prescribed it, he is committing an offence under the Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Act and could be prosecuted. The Director General of Health Services is the implementing authority for the CDD Act and should take action if an offence had been committed
Dr NJ Nonis, Registrar, Medical Council
Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage admitted that Mr White treated Tharanga as well as many other cricket players.
“A person who is not registered cannot prescribe the drug Prednisolone alleged to have been used,” Dr Nonis said.
“If an un-registered person prescribed it, he is committing an offence under the Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Act and could be prosecuted,” said the Registrar of the Medical council.
Dr added that the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) is the implementing authority and should take action if an offence had been committed.
Dr Geethanjana Mendis, the head of national anti-doping agency and the head of the medical unit of the sports ministry of the sports ministry told BBC Sandeshaya that players who found to have used banned drugs should be given maximum punishment “to eradicate this cancer.”
Dr Mendis has allowed Eliyantha White to treat national sports personnel including the cricket players, according to Sri Lankan media reports.
Presidential Secretariat
Dr Mendis refused to answer why he allowed Mr White to treat Sri Lankan cricket players.
Upul Tharanga during the recent Cricket World Cup
Tharanga is facing a two-year ban if the allegations are proved, says Sunday Times
He is also the head of the board of inquiry appointed to investigate accusations against Upul Tharanga by the sports minister.
According to Mr White’s own blogsite, he could only be contacted through the presidential secretariat.
“Patients who intend to meet Dr Eliyantha White need to make the request through the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka,” says the blogsite.
The BBC is yet to receive a response to the detailed questionnaire sent two weeks ago to the Presidential Secretariat to the two emails mentioned in the blogsite.
The two email addresses have since been removed from the blogsite.
BBC Sinhala efforts to contact Secretary to President Rajapaksa Lalith Weeratunga failed.
An official at the Presidential Secretariat contacted by the BBC refused to comment.
BBC Sinhala