The SAITM yesterday said that the body parts which were taken away by the CID recently from its premises were ordered for educational purposes in 2011, well before former Sri Lanka rugby player Wasim Thajudeen's murder.

They also said that the list of names of the owners of the body parts issued to SAITM does not contain the name of Wasim Thajudeen.

"Specimens of the human body and of bones are kept at our institution only for purposes of education, as is the common practice in most medical faculties. These specimens are securely stored at our Museum for medical teaching. All specimens received by SAITM have been taken over following the due and established processes with the the take- over is documented, supervised and certified by the relevant authorities,” the statement said.

It also added that "SAITM has no control over the procedures of issuing bones from the JMO's office and our records do not reveal that any body part of Wasim Thajudeen had been sent to SAITM. The list given to us when issuing bones does not contain the name of Wasim Thajudeen."

SAITM also said that its VC Dr. Ananda Samarasekara had gone on leave to facilitate investigations at SAITM.