Connect with us

News

Unregistered medicines imported under Indian Credit Line: Dr. Ananda

Published

on

All 36 types of medicines imported under the Indian Credit Line from Savorite Pharmaceuticals in Gujarat have not been registered in Sri Lanka, Consultant Physician at National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said.

He said that about 80 per cent of medicinal drugs purchased under the Credit Line are not registered with the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

It was also said that medicines which are not required by the patients have also been imported to Sri Lanka under this Credit Line.

Dr. Wijewickrama revealed that the medicines which have been removed from the list of medicines of the medical supply department have also been imported.

“This is a serious issue. Cough medicines and shampoos which are not necessary for patients have also been imported,” he said.

Dr. Wijewickrama said that in the list of medicines given for the approval of the Evaluation Committee of the NMRA, about 270 types of drugs have not been registered in the country.

On various occasions, the Sri Lanka Medical Association has informed the Ministry of Health and the President to prevent the importation of unnecessary medicines into the country.  However, there has been no outcome despite having a series of discussions in this regard.

Source – Aruna

News

Early childhood education compulsory for children at age 4: Minister

Published

on

By

While Sri Lanka becomes one of the few countries in the world with free education and further expands free educational opportunities from the first-year to university, early childhood education will be made compulsory for all children who reach the age of four, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

The government will intervene on behalf of children who cannot pay for it, and based on the need, early childhood development centres can be held in primary schools where space is available.

This will also be a solution for schools facing the challenge of closure, he said.

He also said that the most fundamental step to success in educational transformational reforms is the formal early childhood development of children in this country.

The Minister said this while attending a programme at ‘Suwa Diviyai Sathutu Sithai’ in Battaramulla for the school health promotion month.

Continue Reading

News

President leaves for Germany ; 5 Acting ministers appointed

Published

on

By

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has left for Germany on an official visit.

The President and the 12-member delegation left the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake early this morning.

President Wickremesinghe during the four-day visit is scheduled to hold discussions with several political and business leaders.

The President will hold talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on a number of topics.

Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to make the opening remarks at the Leaders Dialogue session on the first day of the ‘Berlin Global Dialogue’.

The inaugural Berlin Global Dialogue is a German high-level global initiative to address current geopolitical and economic challenges.

During his absence, the responsibilities of the ministries falling under the purview of the President have been assigned to the respective state ministers.

Accordingly, the following state ministers have been appointed as acting ministers :

  • Pramita Bandara Thennakoon – Acting Minister of Defense
  • Shehan Semasinghe – Acting Minister of Finance
  • Kanaka Herath – Acting Minister of Technology
  • Anupa Paskuval – Acting Minister of Women, Children Affairs and Social Empowerment
  • Ranjith Siambalapitiya – Acting Minister of Investment Promotion

Continue Reading

News

Rosewood timber stock rots in Customs for 9 years

Published

on

By

Sri Lanka Customs has had to store 3,669 logs of confiscated Rosewood weighing 420 metric tons at a cost of more than Rs.80 million as storage fees, a report issued by the National Audit Office said.

Although these logs were planned to be sold, they have been stored for 9 years due to the delay in obtaining the permit from the Wildlife Conservation Department.

The logs have already been damaged by insects.

These logs were sent from Zanzibar in Tanzania for re-export to Hong Kong via Sri Lanka by declaring them as African solid wood.

The audit report said that due to the delay in issuing the license, these logs have been stored in a Customs yard from 2014 until April 30, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board has to pay more than Rs.30 million to the Customs in the form of port development tax and value added tax for a high-powered radioactive element imported on April 23, 2021.

The report said that the overdue tax amount has not been paid to the Customs by January 1, 2023.

This information was revealed by an audit report included in the 2022 annual report of Sri Lanka Customs.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 Sri Lanka Mirror. All Rights Reserved