{
  "id": 17159438,
  "title": "Over Rs. 8 mn worth of copper stolen from KDU Hospital lightning protection system",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/over-rs-8-mn-worth-of-copper-stolen-from-kdu-hospital-lightning",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T00:04:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/over-rs-8-mn-worth-of-copper-stolen-from-kdu-hospital-lightning-protection-system/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Committee on Public Enterprises has discovered that a staggering Rs. 8,442,091 worth of copper has been stolen from the lightning protection system at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Hospital. The Committee, led by MP Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, recently convened to scrutinise the hospital's 2023 and 2024 financial reports as well as its current operations.\n\nDuring the meeting, they expressed concern over discrepancies between the amount of copper reported stolen and the quantity allegedly recovered by the police. The Committee also raised doubts about the accuracy of measurements documented in court evidence. Furthermore, they highlighted the hospital's inadequate asset management and internal control systems, including the lack of proper documentation of assets, unclear responsibilities for electrical systems, and failure to conduct regular maintenance inspections.\n\nThe Committee questioned the decision to replace copper wires with aluminium during repairs, and inquired if this affected the system's technical standards and safety. They also highlighted the hospital's underutilised wards, operating theatres, and intensive care units, as well as the shortage of medical staff.\n\nIn light of these issues, the Committee instructed the hospital's management to decide whether it should operate under a government or private model, and take necessary actions. They stressed that a lack of clear decision-making could exacerbate the existing problems. The Committee also examined issues related to the repayment of foreign loans for the hospital's construction, the delay in building an auditorium, and financial and administrative controls at CUE Technologies Lanka, a company linked to KDU.\n\nThey urged the amendment of the University Act to improve the university's governance structure and address identified administrative and management concerns. The Chair of the Committee stressed the importance of effectively utilising public resources by increasing operational capacity, addressing staff shortages, improving medicine management, and strengthening financial and administrative control systems.",
  "summary": "A loss of Rs. 8,442,091 has been incurred due to the theft of 2,199 metres of copper strips from the lightning protection system of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Hospital, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has been told. The Committee, chaired by the Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, Member of Parliament, met at […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}