Six were arrested over theft of oxygen cylinders from Sri Lanka hospital

In a shocking incident, six suspects have been arrested by the police for allegedly stealing and selling at least 80 cylinders of oxygen from the Polonnaruwa General Hospital in Sri Lanka. Among the arrested, one suspect is a hospital staff member while the other five are employees of an oxygen supplier.

According to a complaint filed by the Hospital Director, at least 208 oxygen cylinders have been reported missing since March 2020, raising severe concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic when access to oxygen has become a matter of life and death.

The police investigation uncovered a possible racket involving the theft and sale of oxygen cylinders, further fueling public outrage. The suspects are expected to face criminal charges for their alleged involvement in the crime, and the police have assured that they will leave no stone unturned in bringing the culprits to justice.

The incident again highlighted the urgent need to ensure the safety and security of essential medical supplies, especially during the ongoing health crisis. The Polonnaruwa General Hospital has also taken measures to tighten security and prevent such incidents from happening in the future.