Theft of 208 empty Oxygen cylinders from Polonnaruwa hospital

The Polonnaruwa Police has initiated an extensive investigation to arrest a health worker in connection with the theft of 208 empty Oxygen cylinders valued at over Rs.8.1 million, which had been brought to the Polonnaruwa General Hospital for patient care services and stored for refilling.

A senior Police officer stated that the investigation was launched over a complaint made on Sunday (19) by the Deputy Director of the Polonnaruwa General Hospital Dr. Mahinda Gunathilaka.

The Polonnaruwa Police said that preliminary investigations show that the theft had been going on for a long time. Investigations have also revealed that empty Oxygen cylinders of different sizes were stolen from the warehouse.

According to the complaint of the Deputy Director of the Polonnaruwa Hospital, the value of the stolen Oxygen tanks is Rs.8,125,354.04.

Consistent with what has been revealed through investigations so far, the health worker involved in this theft works at the Polonnaruwa Hospital. Investigations have revealed that he had sold the Oxygen cylinders which had been stolen from the hospital premises from time to time.

The Polonnaruwa Police said that investigations are underway to identify the people to whom he had sold the stolen Oxygen cylinders, recover the stolen cylinders and arrest the hospital employee.