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Govt, UNDP sign MoU to ease procurement of hard-to-source medicines
The Ministry of Health and Mass Media has entered into a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to facilitate the international procurement of essential medicines that are difficult to obtain through Sri Lanka’s existing national procurement system.
An MoU covering the new procurement mechanism was signed recently at the Ministry of Finance following Cabinet approval, with Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa present.
Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, UNDP Sri Lanka Resident Representative Azusa Kubota and Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma signed the agreement.
Under the initiative, medicines facing limited local market availability because of restricted access to global suppliers, small procurement volumes or other supply constraints will be sourced through UNDP’s international procurement mechanisms and network of pre-qualified suppliers.
The programme is expected to strengthen the country’s medicine procurement and supply-chain management while improving the resilience and efficiency of the public healthcare system.
Officials said medicines procured through the programme would be subject to quality assurance procedures and the legal and regulatory requirements of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). All relevant quality and regulatory standards must be met before the medicines are released for distribution in Sri Lanka.
The international procurement mechanism could also enable the government to secure medicines at competitive prices through larger-scale global purchasing, while improving access to medicines recommended by the World Health Organization.
The partnership is expected to support the continued provision of essential medicines and quality healthcare at affordable cost, further strengthening Sri Lanka’s free healthcare system.
Among those present at the signing were Health Ministry Additional Secretary (Procurement) P.P.S. Rohana de Silva, Deputy Director General of Medical Supplies Dr. S.P.A.L. Ranaweera, Finance Ministry Director General of the Department of Public Finance E.A. Ratnasena, Senior Assistant Secretary (Procurement) W.S.N. Botheju, State Pharmaceuticals Corporation Chairman Dr. Indika Wanninayake, UNDP Sri Lanka Deputy Resident Representative Marina Ten and economist Dr. Vagisha Gunasekara.
A meeting between UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche and Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi was held on Monday (07) morning at the Presidential Secretariat.
Particular attention was given to the Government’s programme to resettle people who lost their homes due to Cyclone Ditwah.
The Government’s programme to address potential disasters that may arise in the future amid El Nino conditions was also discussed. The Chief of Staff to the President briefed the UN Resident Coordinator on the Government’s preparedness and plans to address such challenges.
Mr Franche stated that the United Nations was prepared to provide the necessary assistance to the Government to support the successful implementation of these programmes.
Partnerships and Development Finance Specialist at the United Nations Azam Bakeer Markar and UN Sri Lanka Humanitarian and Resilience Officer Wagisha Perera also participated in the discussion.
[President’s Media Division]
[ Cricbuzz]
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Udaygiri arrived at the Port of Colombo on an official visit today, 8 September 2026, where it was received by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with time-
honoured naval traditions.
INS Udaygiri is a 149.02m long Frigate, Commanded by Captain Vikas Sood. Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of the visiting ship is scheduled to call on Commander Western Naval
Area, Rear Admiral Harsha De Silva at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
Captain Sood served as the Defence Adviser at the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka from July 2020 to October 2023.
During their stay in the island, the crew of INS Udaygiri will participate in several goodwill events organized by the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance camaraderie between the two forces.
The visiting personnel are also scheduled to visit prominent tourist and cultural locations across the island.
Additionally, Sri Lanka Navy personnel are expected to visit the ship for capability observation and knowledge sharing, and will conduct onboard training during its stay.
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