• The stock of drugs had been re-packed in boxes with fresh dates of manufacture

By H. M. Dharmapala - Dehiwala

 A large stock of expired drugs labeled with forged dates of manufacture and expiry was seized and a suspect arrested by the investigators of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) and the police during a raid on a house at Nedimala, Dehiwala.   

  They carried out the raid on information from the Western Province Police Intelligence Unit received through the OIC Dehiwala Police Chief Inspector H. L. Dushmantha.    The Chief Food and Drugs Inspector of the NMRA Amith Perera said the stock of drugs had been re-packed in boxes with fresh dates of manufacture and expiry dates. He said a stock of stickers and printing equipment were also seized during the raid.   The official said the suspect was an authorised dealer in drugs but the license issued by the NMRA had expired. He pointed out that it was illegal to remove the genuine dates of manufacture and expiry and to re-label them.    The official said legal action would be taken against the suspect on the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nimal Jayasiri.