News

Procurement Committee headed by Health Secy. accepted forged registration

Published

2 years ago

2023/12/23

Thilina Walpola

Keheliya Rambukwella

Fake Immunoglobulin:

… suspect in touch with Health Ministry since 2013

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Environment Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday (22) said that in spite of the then Chief Executive Officer and Director General of National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) declaring that the proprietor of Isolez Biotech Pharma AG Sugath Janaka Fernando alias Aruna Deepthi had failed to meet stringent requirements needed to supply Immunoglobulin vials, the procurement process proceeded, leading to the Health Ministry accepting fake products.

Rambukwella, who is under a cloud over the procurement of fake Immunoglobulin vials, told a hastily arranged briefing at the Government Information Department that Dr. Vijith Gunasekera had made the declaration, in his capacity as CEO and DG, at a regular meeting chaired by him (Rambukwella) to discuss issues relating to the suitability of the tenderer and other procurement issues.

Minister Rambukwella said that he had brought the issue to the notice of the Attorney General after lodging a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on 02 Oct, exactly three weeks before President Ranil Wickremesinghe replaced him with Dr. Ramesh Pathirana as the Health Minister.

Rambukwella received the environment portfolio, previously held by Ahamed Nazeer of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), whose expulsion over switching allegiance to the SLPP at the final vote on the 2022 Budget was upheld by the Supreme Court.

Responding to queries, Minister Rambukwella insisted that he had made no intervention after NMRA challenged the supplier’s suitability. The Island sought an explanation from him as to how he denied any knowledge of the manipulation of the entire process to procure fake Immunoglobulin vials against the backdrop of the then Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta being arrested and remanded in this connection.

Minister Rambukwella pointed out that Dr. Gunasekera was on record as having said that the local supplier used a fake waiver of registration (WoR) containing the forged signature and stamp of NMRA’s CEO. The removed CEO said so in the wake of the Health Sector Emergency Procurement Committee (HSEPC) declaring that it acted on the basis of the registration provided by the supplier.

The arrested Health Secretary Chandragupta, who is also the Chief Accounting Officer of the Health Ministry, functioned as the head of HSEPC. Chandragupta has been remanded till Dec 27 pending investigations. At the time of his arrest, Chandragupta, a Special Grade Officer in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, was on retirement. Chandragupta received the appointment as Health Secretary on May 24, 2022, close on the heels of Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resignation.

The CID arrested the 57-year-old proprietor of Isolez Biotech Pharma on Oct 31 for supplying fake Immunoglobulin vials. Minister Rambukwella disclosed that the conman had been in touch with the Health Ministry since 2013 and after he took over he was also approached. The Minister said that he didn’t interfere with NMRA’s process though he forwarded the supplier’s ‘offer’ to the regulatory body.

India has denied supplying the fake Immunoglobulin vials as well as ‘Rituximab’ used to treat certain autoimmune diseases and some types of cancer to Isolez Biotech Pharma AG, thereby contradicting efforts to deceive the public the two medicines were procured under USD 235 mn Indian credit line. The Gujarat-based Indian company that has been named as the manufacturer denounced the Sri Lankan company accusing it of forgery.

The CID arrested Director, Medical Supplies Division, Dr. Kapila Wickremenayake, Assistant Director Devashantha Soloman, Accountant (Supplies) Neran Dhananjaya and the Stock Controller of the Medical Supplies Division, Sujith Kumara, in connection with the high profile scam, on Nov 20, the day Chandragupta retired, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.

Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama appearing with Senior State Counsel Heshani Wijesinghe making submissions earlier on the progress of the CID investigations has told the Maligakanda Magistrate Court that prior to the Cabinet decision, taken in October 2022, tenders had been called in September 2022 and the 1st suspect Aruna Deepthi had been selected as the successful tenderer for Human Immunoglobulin and Rituximab.

She said according to Ministry Chief Accountant Savidra Cooray the 1st suspect’s company Isolez Biotech Pharma had requested for payments for Rituximab supplied and the Secretary Health Chandragupta had approved the payment of Rs 107,799,481/= in three payments to the 1st suspect, directing it to be paid on a priority basis.

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district

Published

2 hours ago

2026/04/18

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 17 April 2026, valid for 18 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern
and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

News

Oil prices plunge as Iran says Strait of Hormuz ‘open’ during ceasefire

Published

5 hours ago

2026/04/17

Priyan

Oil prices have plummeted after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely open” to commercial ships for the remainder of the ceasefire.

The cost of a barrel of Brent crude fell to $88 dollars a barrel, having been above $98 earlier on Friday.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow strip of water linking the Gulf to the Arabian sea, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquified natural gas is typically transported.

“The passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

Global markets also rallied on the announcement, with the major US stock indices rising in early trading. The S&P 500 rose by 0.8%, while the Nasdaq and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) were both up by more than 1%.

European shares also rose in reaction to the news. The Cac index in Paris and Dax in Frankfurt both climbed by more than 2%, while London’s FTSE 100 rose by around 0.5%.

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut by Iran since the US and Israel launched military strikes in the country in late February.

Tankers have been unable to pass through, drastically reducing the amount of oil and gas available on global markets and causing prices to spike.

Before the conflict, Brent crude was trading at under $70 per barrel. It rose above $100 before reaching a peak of more than $119 per barrel in March.

Sharp rises in the price of oil have pushed up the price of petrol and diesel for drivers, as well as sparking concerns over the supply of jet fuel, leading to fears airlines will have to ground flights.

The closure of the key waterway has also cut off a major supply line of fertiliser, used by farmers, raising the prospect of higher food prices as a result of the conflict.

A third of the world’s key fertiliser chemicals pass through the Strait, and prices have risen steeply since the outbreak of war.

However, hours before Araghchi’s statement, motoring group the RAC said petrol and diesel prices had fallen slightly, in the UK for the first time since the US-Israel war with Iran began.

Pump prices began to ease on Thursday and continued on Friday, it said, though it remains far more expensive to fill up a tank than it did in February.

Iran’s decision to re-open the Strait of Hormuz followed a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

US President Donald Trump welcomed the move, writing on Truth Social: “IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!”

Trump added that Iran had agreed “to never close the Strait of Hormuz again… it will no longer be used as a weapon against the world”.

But, in a follow up post, he said a naval blockade of Iran will remain “in full force and effect” until a permanent deal to end the US-Israel war with the country is agreed.

Despite Iran’s announcement, one oil and gas shipping operator told the BBC it “doesn’t change anything” immediately.

“We don’t feel like we need to be taking unnecessary risks and our company approach is that we won’t be the first to go through the Strait”, the operator, who did not want to be named, said.

Another company, Stena Bulk, which operates oil tankers in the region, said it was “monitoring developments closely”.

“The safety of our crew and vessels governs every routing decision, and we will not transit until we are satisfied it is safe to do so”, the company added.

(BBC)

Latest News

Navy seize 161kg heroin shipment in high-seas operation

Published

6 hours ago

2026/04/17

Priyan

Being a key frontline stakeholder in the national mission, ‘A Nation United,’ the Navy continues to maintain a vigilant maritime shield to eradicate the drug menace from society.

During yet another successful operation on the high seas south of Sri Lanka, the Navy intercepted a local multi-day fishing trawler and apprehended four suspects in connection with the
smuggling of a stock of suspected narcotics.

The intercepted trawler, along with the suspects, was escorted to the Dikowita Fisheries Harbour today, (17 April 2026).

During a special inspection at the fisheries harbour, the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) confirmed the presence of over 161kg of heroin.

The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekera (Retd), and the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, to inspect seized narcotics.

Addressing the media, the Deputy Minister emphasized that drug trafficking has long persisted as an organized and sophisticated criminal enterprise. He highlighted that under the current government’s national mission, ‘A Nation United,’ a robust state mechanism is now in motion, integrating the Tri-Forces, Police, Special Task Force, PNB, and international agencies to dismantle these networks.

Underscoring the Navy’s operational success, the Deputy Minister revealed that in 2025 alone, the Navy seized narcotics valued at over Rs. 75,000 million. In the first four months of 2026, the momentum has continued with nearly Rs. 50,000 million worth of drugs intercepted and produced for legal action.

During this short period, 14 local multi-day trawlers and 127 suspects have been apprehended. He issued a stern assurance that seized drugs would never find their way back into society, as they are systematically destroyed under strict protocols.
“Human capital is our nation’s most vital asset,” the Deputy Minister noted, adding that a healthy population leads to a quality workforce and a resilient economy. He further remarked that the vision of a “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life”, extends beyond financial stability to include the dignity, discipline, and mindset of the citizenry.

“On the instructions of the President, new legislation is being drafted for Parliamentary approval to further empower this national mission and ensure a law-abiding, civilized society for future generations”, he stated.

Concluding the briefing, the Deputy Minister lauded the media for their role in drug prevention and urged continued responsible journalism to educate the public on the dangers of narcotics.

Meanwhile, the apprehended suspects, the multi-day trawler, and the 161kg heroin shipment were handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for onward investigation and legal proceedings.