By Tharindu Chaturanga

Body parts have been dumped into the garbage outside the Colombo National Hospital, the All Ceylon Nurses’ Association (ACNA) alleged.

Images submitted by the ACNA showed the body parts placed behind the National Epilepsy Building of the Colombo National Hospital.

Tons of clinical waste is thrown out daily following a number of operations conducted at the National Hospital including intestines, fingers, scabies, flesh, blood, pores, and body fluids.

ACNA Coordinator S.B. Madiwaththa told The Morning that usually the clinical waste is removed from the hospital and safely burnt on a daily basis. However, over the past month, the clinical effluents have not been removed.

By now, thousands of bags of waste have been stored outside the hospital premises. This situation poses a serious threat to the hospital's environment, its staff, and patients, Madiwaththa pointed out.

"The hospital authorities have been informed of this situation and so has the Health Ministry and the Minister, but no action has been taken so far by the Health Ministry to address this serious issue," Madiwaththa said.

When The Morning contacted National Hospital Director Dr. Kumara Wikkramasinhe he refused to comment.