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NMRA’s WoR issued through a special procedure sans formal approval!

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The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) disclosed that the Waiver of Registration (WOR) Certification by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) had been issued through a special mechanism without the approval of the formal committee.

This was disclosed during the recent (12) meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) held in Parliament, chaired by MP Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera. 

The meeting was held to review the Auditor General’s reports for the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and current performance of the NMRA.

During the meeting, extensive discussions took place regarding the intervention of the NMRA in the emergency procurement of medicines. 

It was disclosed that the WOR certification had been issued through a special pathway, bypassing the formal committee approval process, utilizing a fast-track mechanism. This process has thus allowed the Chief Executive Officer to make unilateral decisions regarding emergency purchases. It was further disclosed that the Chief Executive Officer who held office in 2022 was involved in this special mechanism and that approval for the bulk purchase of medicines was sought during a dinner event held at a prominent hotel in Colombo. However, the doctors representing the Board of Directors opposed this move, and the matter is currently under judicial review in the Supreme Court.

Following discussions at length, COPE decided to call the former Board of Directors of the NMRA holding office during the relevant period before the Committee for further investigation.

Additionally, the COPE highlighted the need to regulate the use of perfumes and creams due to the health issues associated with them. However, it was disclosed that no institution has legal authority in this regard. The officials present pointed out that the necessary legal provisions should be made in this regard and their institution should be given authority. Accordingly, the COPE instructed the Secretary to the Ministry to take the necessary legal steps to provide the NMRA with the required authority.

The committee also discussed the regulation of drug prices. Officials stated that there was no price control unit until 2022, however, a unit was established the same year and drug price comparisons are thus conducted regionally. COPE instructed the officials to remove the existing obstacles related to the drug pricing formula and implement it without delay.

When questioned about the inspection of imported drugs, the officials disclosed that there was an issue with laboratory facilities for testing. Upon inquiry about the NMRA’s financial reserves, the officials stated that there was a reserve of Rs. 7 billion. COPE directed the NMRA to utilize these funds to establish a laboratory for post-import testing of drugs.

Furthermore, COPE instructed the NMRA to promptly address the weaknesses in the existing NMRA Act to facilitate efficient operations.

In addition, the COPE Chair stated that a sub-committee would be established to further investigate the NMRA. The names of the members of this sub-committee will be announced in due course.

BIZ

All necessary procedures to launch Starlink services in SL competed – Dy. Minister

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The government has completed all necessary procedures to launch Starlink services in Sri Lanka, says Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne.

According to Deputy Minister Weeraratne, once the expected information dashboard is received from Starlink, the service could be launched without any operational delays.

He made this statement while attending a bilateral meeting organized by the Sri Lankan High Commission in Singapore, held alongside the 2025 Tech Summit Asia in Singapore.

The matter was discussed during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne and Ambassador Stephan Lang, the United States’ Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy at the U.S. Department of State.

During the meeting, several strategic areas were also discussed.

Ambassador Lang emphasized the importance and urgency of these initiatives, describing them as both challenging and essential for Sri Lanka’s digital future. He reiterated the United States’ continued commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in implementing these transformative digital policies and programs.

(adaderana.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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2 more arrested over shooting Halloluwa’s vehicle

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Two more individuals have been arrested over the shooting incident targeting the vehicle of former Executive Director of the National Lotteries Board –  Thusitha Halloluwa.

According to the police, the duo was arrested by the Colombo South Divisional Crime Detective Bureau today (02).The suspects, aged 27 and 37 have been arrested in Kadawatha and Ganemulla.

According to Police, a cache of 13 rounds of T-56 type ammunition and 10 grams of the crystal methamphetamine also known as ICE were also found in the suspects’ possession.

The suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (June 03).

Further investigations are underway.

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MoH issues update on Covid-19 situation

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Secretary of the Ministry of Health – Dr. Anil Jasinghe has issued a special statement with regard to the Covid-19 situation in Sri Lanka.

“According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), a global increase in the activity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, has been reported since February 2025. Based on the International Respiratory Surveillance System, several countries, including several countries in Asia have reported a notable rise in COVID-19 cases in recent months, the statement states.

In May 2023, the WHO officially declared the end of the COVID-19 global pandemic status, and since then, COVID-19 has been treated as a disease that circulates endemically, similar to other common respiratory infections. It is a known phenomenon for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to undergo genetic mutations during its transmission,” the statement added.

“It is a known phenomenon for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to undergo genetic mutations during its transmission. The currently circulating variant reported in many countries in 2024 has been identified as a sub lineage of a previously known genetic variant. In 2024, this same variant has been detected in Sri Lanka as well.”

“In May 2025, specimens tested by the Medical Research Institute (MRI) confirmed the presence of these previously identified sub-lineages. Therefore, these are not novel variants, and no evidence of increased severity or complications has been reported,” the statement further notes.

Noting that seasonal increases in respiratory illnesses like influenza are commonly observed in recent times, especially under prevailing climatic conditions, the statement states that health authorities remain vigilant in monitoring disease trends, and the public need not panic unnecessarily.

“If individuals experience fever or respiratory symptoms, there is no need for hospital admission out of fear. However, if someone experiences difficulty breathing, medical attention should be sought,” Dr. Jasinghe says.

“Nevertheless, it is important to maintain good respiratory etiquette and general health practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viral infections, such as influenza. Recommended measures include covering the mouth and nose with a tissue or the elbow when coughing or sneezing, avoiding unnecessary contact with the face, and ensuring frequent hand hygiene through proper hand washing or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. It is also advisable to avoid touching the face with unclean hands. Individuals exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness should wear a face mask to minimize the risk of transmitting the infection to others and avoid crowded public settings unless essential. Special attention must be directed towards high-risk populations, as they are more susceptible to developing complications from respiratory infections. These groups include older adults, pregnant women, and infants and young children, whose immune systems are either compromised or still developing. Furthermore, individuals with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, diabetes, renal disease, cancer, or other chronic diseases, as well as those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, are at increased risk and require additional protection,” the statement further adds.

The full statement is as follows :

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