SJB MPs’ unannounced visit to NMRA sparks controversy

• Visit garners mixed reactions from both government officials and opposition leaders  

By Yohan Perera 
An unanticipated visit by a group of opposition MPs to the National Medical Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has stirred controversy with Speaker Mahind Yapa Abeywardena insisting on the procedure to be followed.   
Led by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Kavinda Jayawardana, the impromptu visit has garnered mixed reactions from both government officials and opposition leaders.   
According to reports, MP Jayawardana and his group paid an unannounced visit to the NMRA office in Colombo, seeking clarification on the ongoing usage of inferior quality drugs in the country’s healthcare sector. The move came without prior intimation to the relevant authorities, raising concerns about proper protocols for MP engagements with state institutions.   

In response to the incident, Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella, voiced his disapproval, highlighting that no Member of Parliament should walk into any state institution without prior notice. Citing a conversation with Speaker Mahinda Yapa, the Minister emphasized the importance of adhering to the established procedure, wherein MPs are required to provide prior notification before visiting any state institution.   

“I was in a meeting with the NMRA CEO and chairman when MP Jayawardana and the group arrived,” Minister Rambukwella stated. He asserted that he had offered to meet with the opposition MPs after his ongoing meeting with NMRA officials, but they chose not to wait.   
In contrast, MP Jayawardana conveyed that they went to the NMRA offices with the intention of seeking clarification from officials on the continuous use of substandard drugs in the healthcare system. However, upon arrival, they found that senior NMRA officials were not present at that moment. Subsequently, the group received a phone call from Minister Rambukwella, who expressed his willingness to meet opposition MPs and discuss issues pertaining to the health sector.   

Despite the Minister’s outreach, MP Jayawardana and the SJB party remained firm in their stance, expressing disinterest in engaging with the Minister on the matter. The MP asserted that the Minister should have proactively offered a discussion before their visit to the NMRA, citing tardiness on the part of the Minister.