PCR and Antigen test kits imported by unregistered company: Minister

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Parliament, December 18 (Daily Mirror)-  PCR and rapid antigen test kits have been imported to Sri Lanka by a company which has not been registered with National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA) during the COVID 19 pandemic period, Parliament was informed today.

Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa who was responding to an oral question raised by MP Rauff Hakeem in the House said, Divasa Pharma which has not been registered with NMRA has imported PCR and Antigen test kits worth Rs 2200 million.

“Divasa Pharma is a company which belongs to another large entity which was highlighted in the news during the pandemic period. We will conduct an investigation into the matter and will inform Parliament details on it shortly,” he added.

It was revealed that the government had borne a total amount of Rs 3,156,533,000 ( Rs 3.1 billion for rapid antigen tests while a sum of Rs 3,285, 678, 627 for PCR tests. A total sum of Rs 6,442, 211,627 for both test kits.

It was further revealed that a total of 2,197,318 antigen tests 4.041,124 PCR tests had been carried out by the government while the private sector had carried out 618, 538 antigen tests and 2,641, 326 PCR tests had been carried out by the private sector. All these tests had been carried out from 2019 to 2022.