Lanka Awaits Info On Kidney Racket

By Waruni Karunarathne

The police have not received any information about the alleged kidney racket said to be taking place in Sri Lanka.
Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told The Sunday Leader that the police have not received any complaints or information about a kidney racket in Sri Lanka.

He said that, while several journalists had made inquiries from him about the matter, the Indian police had not yet communicated the incident to the local police.

The Indian police have expressed suspicions of an alleged international kidney racket operating in Sri Lanka after an Indian national had died after allegedly selling his kidney. The Indian media quoted the Indian police as saying that the racketeers had been using Facebook and other social networking sites to identify the potential victims.

Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayake told The Sunday Leader that the Ministry was not aware about a kidney racket operating in the country.

“We have a procedure to carry out kidney transplants in Sri Lanka. The donor has to be a relative and donate the kidney free of charge. Several other regulations need to be met before carrying out a kidney transplant,” Dissanayake said.

He added that both public and private practices are bound by these rules and regulations stated under the Tissue Transplant Act. Kidney transplants should be specifically approved by a committee appointed to take decisions related to kidney transplants.
He added that, if anybody was carrying out illegal transplants in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Health will take measures to file legal action against them.