News

SPC incurs Rs.190 mn. loss due to defective medicines

Published

2 years ago

April 11, 2023

editor

The State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) of Sri Lanka has suffered a loss of over Rs.190 million in 2020 and 2021 due to quality failure, expiration and damage of some of the medicinal drugs purchased, a report issued by the National Audit Office said.

According to the report, a stock of medicinal drugs worth more than Rs.210 million from the medicinal drugs purchased as of January 1, 2021 was either expired or damaged.

The Audit Office said that out of the medicinal drugs purchased by the SPC in 2021, a stock worth nearly Rs.130 million has been identified as defective, expired and damaged.

It said that more than Rs.20 million is yet to be collected from the suppliers for a stock of medicines worth over Rs.40 million which were identified as defective in 2020 and 2021.

In the meantime, the SPC had kept 28 containers related to 28 indents imported in 2021 and 2022 in a private warehouse for six months from August 20, 2021 to February 21, 2022. The SPC has paid more than Rs.48.2 million for the warehouse, but this additional cost incurred by the corporation had not been reimbursed from the Medical Supplies Division.

The audit report showed that the SPC had to store these stocks of medicines in a private warehouse due to the lack of storage facilities in the Medical Supplies Division’s warehouse complex.

This audit report was attached in the 2021 Annual Report of the SPC which was recently submitted to Parliament.

(Newsradio)

News

COVID subvariants spreading in Asia detected in Sri Lanka

Published

10 hours ago

May 31, 2025

editor

The Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka has confirmed that the COVID-19 variant currently spreading in the Asian region has also been identified in the country.

Dr. Jude Jayamaha, a specialist in viral diseases at the Medical Research Institute, stated that patients infected with the Omicron subvariants LF.7 and XFG are being reported locally.

Dr. Jayamaha explained that this finding was confirmed through research conducted on biological samples collected from several hospitals across the island.

However, he emphasized that there is no need for undue fear regarding these COVID-19 variants.

Health authorities have also stressed the importance of vulnerable groups—such as pregnant mothers, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses—following health guidelines, including wearing face masks and avoiding crowded places.

Dr. Jayamaha reiterated that new COVID-19 variants emerge periodically, and health authorities are continuously monitoring the situation, so the public should remain calm.

(newswire.lk)

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

News

Anudi misses out from Miss World Quarter-Finals

Published

10 hours ago

May 31, 2025

editor

The Miss World organization has announced its quarter-finalists, selecting 40 contestants from across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Sri Lanka’s Anudi Gunasekara, was not selected in the top 40, despite being recognized for her impressive performances in the Multimedia and Head-to-Head challenges.

The top 40 consisted of 10 contestants each from Asia & Oceania, Europe, Africa and the Americas.