A company that had recently imported a stock of cataract lenses that were subsequently rejected, has secured a fresh Tender to import another 70,000 lenses, reports say.
The previous stock imported by the company – PTC Holdings (Private) Limited, was rejected as the lenses had lacked the required specifications.
They company has bid to provide a cataract lens at Rs. 9,000 to the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) of the Health Ministry. A cataract lens obtained by the Osu Sala costs around Rs. 30,000, reports add.
It is also learnt that the MSD is being increasingly pressured to accept the rejected stock of lenses, which has been imported from India. However, in a backdrop of the case concerning the controversial procurement of substandard human immunoglobulin vials, MSD officials are reluctant to do so.
On their website, PTC Holdings (Private) Limited has named Mr. Gihan Beneragama, Mrs. Gimhana Wickramasurendra and Mr. Jaliya Wickramasurendra as their Director Board members.
Mr. Gihan is the son of Dr. Hemantha Benaragama, former director of the National Medical Regulatory Authority.
Monara TV, launched with much fanfare just a year ago under the Swarnavahini media network, has reportedly shut down operations.
Employees have been informed that the closure is temporary, citing the need to resolve certain administrative issues.
The channel, led by Buddhika Wickramadhara, was ceremonially launched on June 25, 2024, with a grand event at Waters Edge.
Producers who supplied teledramas to Monara TV say they are owed nearly Rs.200 million in unpaid dues.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the parent Swarnavahini TV channel is also reportedly grappling with a serious financial crisis, paying teledrama producers only after 60 episodes are broadcast.
Producers claim they are compelled to wait about 03 months to recover an investment of around Rs.15 million per teledrama. Even then, payments are made in small portions, covering just 05 episodes at a time.
Producers who supplied teledramas before the appointment of Mr. Susara Dinal as CEO say it is even harder to claim their outstanding payments, as they have been asked to recover the dues from former CEO – Udara Wijesinghe.
The Swarnavahini Media Network is owned by Subaskaran Allirajah – Chairman of Lyca Group, which also owns Lycamobile, a global telecommunications company.
A young woman was found in the Dewipahala-Dodam Ella area in Kuruwita, after being brutally attacked and her gold necklace stolen
According to the police, the victim was found collapsed on the roadside with severe neck injuries caused by a sharp weapon. She was rushed to the Ratnapura Hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly after admission.
The victim has been identified as a 26-year-old.
Arrests are yet to be made and an investigation is underway.
