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Massive fraud in purchase of rapid antigen test kits – Minister

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Chief Government Whip and Health and Media Minister, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated in Parliament yesterday that the Health Ministry is investigating fraud committed in the purchase of rapid antigen test kits during the COVID period.

The Minister also said that Parliament will be informed about the details of this fraud in the future.

The Minister revealed that a company that was not registered with the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has spent the largest amount for the purchase of rapid antigen test kits.

In addition, Rs. 2.2 billion of public money has been spent on the purchase of two million rapid antigen test kits from this company.

The Minister said this in response to an oral question raised by MP Rauff Hakeem.

A total of Rs. 3.2 billion was spent on the purchase of COVID vaccines and rapid antigen test kits during the pandemic. Of this, Rs. 2.2 billion was spent on this company which was not even registered with the NMRA.

Meanwhile, Rs 3.2 billion was also spent on purchasing PCR kits. The total amount spent by the government on PCR kits and rapid antigen test kits was Rs. 6,422 million.

In a lengthy response to a question raised by MP Hakeem, Dr. Jayatissa also said there are 26 companies in the list. Out of these 26 companies, PCR kits and rapid antigens test kits have been purchased from seven companies. George Steuart & Company Ltd has provided rapid antigen test kits and PCR kits. However, the company called Divasa Pharma Ltdwhich provided Rs. 2 million worth of rapid antigen test kits, while the government has spentRs. 2, 200 million to purchase these rapid antigen test kits, is not an NMRA registered company.

(dailynews.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Former Eastern Provincial Council member arrested

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Ampara District Organizer of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal party and former member of the Eastern Provincial Council K. Pushpakumar alias Iniya Bharathi has been arrested.

He was arrested over the abduction and disappearance of the former Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University Prof. Subramaniyam Ravindranath.

Sivanathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, the leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) and former State Minister, was arrested by the Colombo Criminal Investigation Department at his office in Batticaloa on April 8, over this incident.

He was later detained for 3 months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Iniya Bharathi, also known as Kumaraswamy Pushpakumar, was arrested based on information revealed during the interrogation of Pillayan.

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e-Revenue Licence system down due to technical glitch, ICTA says

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The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) said the electronic Revenue Licence system (eRL 2.0) is currently unavailable due to a critical technical infrastructure issue.

According to the ICTA, the disruption began on July 3, 2025, and has made vehicle revenue licence issuing services inaccessible.

The unavailability is expected to continue until July 9, 2025.

The ICTA expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the public and assured that technical teams are working urgently to resolve the issue.

The agency also said that further updates will be shared as work progresses, with an official notice to be issued once services are restored.

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Three injured in Kosgama shooting, including 12-year-old girl

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Three people, including a 12-year-old girl, were injured in a shooting incident at Suduwella, Kosgama, early this morning (6), police said.

They said the victims were travelling in a three-wheeler when two individuals on a motorcycle opened fire using a pistol-type weapon.

The injured include a 30-year-old woman and her 12-year-old daughter, both residents of Avissawella, as well as a 44-year-old man.

All three have been admitted to Avissawella Hospital for treatment.

Police said the motive for the attack and the identities of the suspects have not yet been established.

Kosgama Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.

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