I am innocent Says his friend paid his airfare

By Sandun A. Jayasekera  

Rejecting allegations about the purchasing of a consignment of medicinal drugs under the Indian Credit Line (ICL) and his visit to inspect the production of drugs to India, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday said no misappropriation or misdeed occurred in the process.  

Minister Rambukwella addressing a hastily convened news briefing flanked by top officials of the Ministry of Health, the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA) and Medical Supplies Division (MSD) said, he reimbursed the air fare paid by a friend.  

“India has allocated US$ 200 million from the US$ 1 billion credit line to purchase essential and life saving drugs. These drugs have to be purchased from Indian suppliers. The purchases had to be concluded by the end of November and after speaking to the Indian High Commissioner I was able to get it extended by another three months. Medicinal drugs cannot be purchased from the open market like dhal or rice. You will have to call tenders, go through the tender procedure, quality assurance, safe storage and safe distribution etc. which take about six months,” Minister Rambukwella said.  

“Drug shortage – the essential and life saving drugs in particular - is reported from many parts of the country. In some cases there are allegations that certain drugs are substandard. The media has lambasted us mercilessly on this issue and I decided to go to India to see for myself the production line as some say Indian drugs are produced as a domestic industry,” Minister Rambukwella stressed.  

The Minister said he took the CEO of the SPC with him to India as he is not an expert in pharmacology and his expenses were borne by the SPC. When he paid for his air tickets, it was rejected as his credit limit was less than the air fare. Then, one of his friends paid for it and he reimbursed him, Rambukwella said.  

The cabinet on November 02, 2022 gave the green light to the Health Ministry to sign an agreement to purchase drugs from Savorite Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., on a cabinet memo submitted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies.  

The said company, which Keheliya said is one of the top medicinal drug producers in India, exports 65% of its products to Australia. A purchasing order from Sri Lanka is a tiny portion of their total production. After a purchasing order is placed it takes about 6 months to make the delivery as about 15 approvals and a tedious and time consuming process has to be followed to make sure best and quality medicines are supplied to the buyer in accordance with the international and WHO guidelines.