News

Deletion of NMRA data: SLPP MPs accused of protecting culprits

Published

5 years ago

2021/09/6

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Samagi Jana Balaveya (SJB) lawmaker Manusha Nanayakkara says a section of the SLPP (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna) parliamentary group is trying to save those responsible for deleting NMRA (National Medicines Regulatory Authority) data.

Galle District MP Nanayakkara questioned the rationale behind SLPP MPs highly publicized visit to NMRA at a time the institution was under fire over deleted cloud data. The former UNPer accused the SLPP of working overtime to protect crooks, instead of having the institution investigated.

The NMRA regulates the issuance of licenses to pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and pharmacies in the country.

SLPP MPs met top NMRA representatives in the wake of Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s assurance that the CID would inquire into the issue at hand and submit a report in this regard. The assurance was given on August 30 at a meeting with the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka. Among those participants were State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana, the Number two at the German embassy Oliver Malchow, section head of the German Delegation Andreas Hergenroether, Health Secretary Maj. Gen. Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe, DGHS, Dr Asela Gunawardena and NMRA Chief Dr. Rasitha Wijewantha.

Lawmaker Nanayakkara emphasized that the government shouldn’t try to absolve itself of the responsibility by diverting public attention. The SJB spokesman maintained that the SLPP was engaged in an effort to suppress the controversy through propaganda means. According to him, only four persons had the required pass word to access to the erased data.

Therefore, at least one of them had to be involved in the deletion of data, MP Nanayakkara, said, urging the government to name those responsible for it.

Lawmaker Nanayakkara compared SLPP MPs’ visit to NMRA with their earlier similar high-profile performances to hoodwink the public like the demand that the Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila should resign over fuel price increase, over 100 SLPP MPs writing to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the releasing of Riyaj Bathiudeen, a section of the government calling for a three-week lockdown and sharp split over the East Container Terminal.

MP Nanayakkara alleged that the SLPP was pursuing a political strategy to deceive the people.

MP Nanayakkara said that it wouldn’t be difficult to establish the identity of the person behind the clandestine operation. But the issue at hand was whether the government had the political will to go the whole hog, the MP said, vowing to raise the issue both in and outside parliament.

Lawmaker Nanayakkara asked who would benefit from deleting NMRA data. According to him, those who sought to cripple it wouldn’t have proceeded unless they were sure of political backing.

The group of SLPP MPs who visited NMRA addressed the media outside the authority and subsequently at the Government Information Department. The ruling party basically blamed the previous government for the current situation on the basis the system was established during that period. The group insisted all data pertaining to Sri Lanka’s covid-19 response was intact as such information had been manually recorded.

MP Nanayakkara said that the SLPP had proved over and over again the new administration couldn’t be trusted. The handling of investigations into 2019 Easter Sunday carnage showed the government’s response to such a sensitive issue, the MP said, urging the public not to be deceived by the present lot ruling the country.

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.