• SLHMOA calls for investigations to be completed and examination held without delay 

The homoeopathic registration examination has been indefinitely postponed amid complaints and ongoing investigations into alleged malpractice involving some candidates, with the Sri Lanka Homoeopathic Medical Officers’ Association (SLHMOA) calling for the inquiry to be completed and the examination held without further delay.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (16), SLHMOA Co-Secretary Dr Rukshan Wijesuriya said the examination, which candidates are required to pass to obtain permanent registration to practise homoeopathy, had been postponed following several complaints received by the Ministry of Health.

He said investigations were also underway into alleged irregularities involving certain candidates. “About 35 candidates are said to have been rejected, but we have not yet received the list. We are being told that some candidates do not have Grama Niladhari certificates or the relevant documents,” he said.

He said a complaint submitted by the association to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on 10 July had also resulted in an inquiry concerning one of the candidates.

According to Wijesuriya, the Homoeopathic Medical Council had selected the candidate and an inquiry was subsequently conducted to establish whether a medical centre where the candidate was allegedly practising was actually operating. “When the investigating officers went there, the shutters of the clinic were closed. Statements were then obtained from four people, who said that the candidate had not practised there,” he said.

He also said the doctor who had issued a letter recommending the candidate had stated that he had taught the candidate for three months, but was unaware whether the candidate had actually practised at the centre. He said the doctor subsequently resigned on 27 July, while the candidate and another person believed to be his brother had also left. “The investigations are still continuing, and we have not yet been called to give statements. But the people concerned have already left,” he said.

The latest developments come shortly after The Daily Morning reported on 9 August on concerns over 49 homoeopathic registrations allegedly being granted without examinations.

Wijesuriya said the current dispute had its roots in earlier legislation governing the registration of homoeopathic practitioners. He said an amendment introduced in 2008 allowed 212 people to obtain temporary registration for five years, subject to their qualifications and successful completion of an examination covering 10 subjects. The previous legislation also contained provisions allowing people with lengthy experience in homoeopathic practice to apply for permanent registration if the Medical Council was satisfied with their experience, he said.

According to Wijesuriya, 27 people were subsequently granted permanent registration after fulfilling the relevant requirements, while another 19 obtained registration following a court decision and after sitting the examination in accordance with the procedure set out in a 2018 Gazette.

The remaining applicants were later given a special opportunity under Section 30 (1) of the Homoeopathy Act No 10 of 2016 Act, with applications called in 2017 and an examination held in 2018. Nearly 190 applications were received, he said. However, Wijesuriya said the issue remained unresolved despite further attempts to complete the examination process.

A Medical Council appointed in 2022 conducted an examination in 2024, at which 27 candidates passed. A second examination was held shortly afterwards, with another 16 candidates passing. Around 133 candidates remained. However, following the appointment of a new Medical Council in June 2024, applications were called again in 2024 and 2025 instead of completing the examination process for the remaining candidates, he alleged. “There were supposed to be two examinations to complete the process. Instead of holding the final examination, they called for new applications,”  

He said the investigations arising from the complaints had not yet been completed and that the registration examination had consequently been postponed indefinitely.

Health Ministry Secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe was unavailable for comment.