News

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

Published

8 months 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

G.L. hints at Impeachment against President

Published

2 hours ago

December 11, 2023

editor

MP of the Freedom People’s Congress – Prof. G.L. Peiris has warned of a possible impeachment motion against President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Speaking at a media briefing today (Dec. 11) Prof. Peiris has said that an impeachment can be brought forth on the grounds of the constitution being violated by the President’s arbitrary interference in the affairs of the Constitutional Council.He also emphasized that the opposition will stand united against the President’s dictatorial rule.

Pointing out that 2024 is a year of elections with the Presidential election and General Election already announced, Prof. Peiris emphasised that it is of utmost importance that the Constitutional Council is allowed to function independently during elections.

He also said that there is a reasonable doubt that the vacancy at the Election Commission is not being filled with the objective of scrapping future elections.The MP also said that there is a possibility of Sri Lanka losing the GSP+ concession due to the violation of international conventions.

He further noted that the international community has already given Sri Lanka a red light due to the implementation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and has notified that democracy should be secured during the election period.