At least one death is reported every week, while there are many patients who have lost their eyesight, as a result of substandard medicine, former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said. "They have promised compensation.

What is the use of compensation when lives have been lost? What compensation can you offer for eyesight?" he questioned.

The former minister was heavily critical of the manner in which medicines have been imported to the country in the recent past, predicting that more lives will be lost, even if the issues are rectified.