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All major decisions on emergency purchase of 182 types of drugs taken in 2022 while second suspect was in the UK

Published

2 years ago

2023/12/7

Controversial purchase of ‘human immunoglobulin’ from private sector

The emergency procurement of 182 items of pharmaceutical drugs, including ‘human immunoglobulin’ (HI) and ‘rituximab,’ had been decided by the Health Ministry based on a Cabinet decision taken on 26th September 2022, as per documents issued by the then Secretary, Ministry of Health, and that soon thereafter offers had been invited by an Emergency Procurement Committee (EPC), headed by the then Health Ministry Secretary. Offers had been opened on 3rd October 2022 and that the successful bidders had been selected by the EPC and informed shortly thereafter of their selection, having obtained the recommendations of the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC).

These submissions were made before Maligakanda Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrema Weerasinghe by President’s Counsel M.M. Zuhair who appeared with Anjana Rathnasiri and Rizwan Uvais for Dr. Wickramanayake, the 2nd suspect in the controversial government decision to purchase 182 pharmaceuticals, including HI, from private sector suppliers, under the Indian line of credit of US $ 200 million offered by the Delhi government in March 2022.

During virtually the entire year in 2022, when all the major decisions were taken to purchase from local suppliers, as decided by the Cabinet including HI and other pharmaceuticals, Dr Kapila Wickramanayake was in the United Kingdom on an officially released assignment and was not the Director in the medical supplies division of the Health Ministry.

The 28/10/2022 letter of the Health Secretary, also states that letters of acceptance of the selected offers had already been issued to the successful suppliers.

The second suspect had nothing to do with any of the major relevant decisions relating to this purchase and on his resuming duties as the Director, MSD, in 2023, he had no personal involvement, even at the delivery point in the Health Ministry Stores.

These submissions, Zuhair PC said, were being made based on the CID reports of investigations, dated 1st and 20th November 2022, made to the Maligakanda Magistrate, following certain incidents of adverse reactions on some patients, allegedly from the human immunoglobulin supplied by the first suspect’s company.

He said that according to the CID investigations, filed in Court dated 1/11/2023, the first suspect’s company had apparently disclosed in their offer to the EPC that the raw material for the production of ‘HI’ will be imported from the named Indian manufacturer and produced in Sri Lanka and supplied by and on behalf of the Indian Company.

Zuhair PC urged the CID to produce to Court, the Health Secretary’s letter, dated 28/10/2022, addressed to the Deputy Director General of the medical supplies division requiring payments for supplies to be done within 45 days, failing which delayed payments will cost the Ministry an additional 3% monthly charge payable to the supplier by the Ministry, whereas the penalty for late deliveries and quantity failures payable by the supplier can be waived by the Ministry.

When all these happened here in 2022, the second suspect Dr Wickramanayake was working in the UK. He is entitled to bail as the Public Property Act has no application considering the facts of this case, he submitted.

According to paragraph 18 of the police investigations, Counsel said, the successful tenderer of the human immunoglobulin is alleged to have submitted a forged WOR to the Medical Supplies Division, which is subject to investigation. The said supplier is the first suspect.

If so, it is the officials in the Medical Supplies Division who had been cheated by the Supplier, and these officials could be important witnesses. The Magistrate reserved order for 13/12/2023.

Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama appeared on behalf of the Attorney General for the CID. Kalinga Indatissa PC appeared for the first suspect Sudath Janaka Fernando, the supplier. Kasun Chanaka AAL appeared for the third suspect Shanthini Soloman. Roland Perera PC appeared for the fourth suspect Niran Danajaya. Asoka Serasinghe AAL appeared for the fifth suspect Sujith Wasantha Kumara.

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Advisory for Heavy Rain issued for the Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

Advisory for Heavy Rain Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 08.30 a.m. on 22 February 2026 valid for the period until 08.30 a.m. 23 February 2026

Due to the influence of the low level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Therefore, general public is advised to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by heavy rain, strong winds and lightning during thundershowers

News

Matara Festival for the Arts’ inaugurated by the Prime Minister

Published

9 hours ago

2026/02/22

Priyan

The inaugural ceremony of the Matara Festival for the Arts, featuring a wide range of creations by local and international artists, was held on February 19 at the Old High Court premises of the Matara Fort, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The festival, centred around the Old High Court premises in Matara and the auditorium of the Matara District Secretariat, will be open to the public from 20 to 23 of February. The festival will be featured by visual art exhibitions, short film screenings, Kala Pola, and a series of workshops conducted by experts.

The inaugural event was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Ms. Saroja Paulraj, along with artists, guests, and a large number of schoolchildren.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

Only single MP refuses salary as Parliament details pays and allowances

Published

13 hours ago

2026/02/22

Thilina Walpola

SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilake is the only MP to forego salary and allowances, with all payments suspended following his written notification on August 20, 2025.

Only one Member of Parliament has chosen not to receive the salaries and allowances entitled to MPs, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya revealed in Parliament last Thursday, shedding light on the financial perks enjoyed by members of the Tenth Parliament.

Speaking on Thursday (Feb. 19) in response to a question from SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri, the Prime Minister outlined the full range of pay and allowances provided to parliamentarians.

According to Dr. Amarasuriya, MPs receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 54,285, an entertainment allowance of Rs. 1,000, and a driver’s allowance of Rs. 3,500—though MPs provided with a driver through the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs are not eligible for the driver’s allowance.

Additional benefits include a telephone allowance of Rs. 50,000, a transport allowance of Rs. 15,000, and an office allowance of Rs. 100,000. MPs are also paid a daily sitting allowance of Rs. 2,500 for attending parliamentary sessions, with an additional Rs. 2,500 per day for participation in parliamentary sittings and Rs. 2,500 per day as a committee allowance.

Committee meetings held on non-parliament sitting days also attract Rs. 2,500 per day.

Fuel allowances are provided based on the distance between an MP’s electoral district and Parliament. National List MPs are entitled to a monthly allocation equivalent to 419.76 litres of diesel at the market price on the first day of each month.

Despite the comprehensive benefits, only SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka has opted not to draw a salary or allowances. Dr. Amarasuriya said that in accordance with a written notification submitted by MP Wasalathilaka on August 20, 2025, payments have been suspended since that date.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that she, along with the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, committee chairs, ministers, deputy ministers, the Opposition Leader, and senior opposition whips, have all informed the Secretary-General of Parliament in writing that they will not claim the fuel allowance.

Challenging the ruling party’s voluntary pledge to forgo salaries, MP Wijesiri pointed out that all MPs except Wasalathilaka continue to receive their salaries and allowances. “On one hand you speak about the people’s mandate, which is good. But the mandate also included people who said they would voluntarily serve in this Parliament without salaries. Today we have been able to prove, Hon. Speaker, that except for one SJB MP, the other 224 Members are drawing parliamentary salaries,” he said.

The Prime Minister responded by defending the political culture and practice of allocating portions of MPs’ salaries to party funds. Referring to previous practices by the JVP and NPP, she said: “It is no secret to the country that the JVP has for a long time not personally taken MPs’ salaries or any allowances. I think the entire country knows that these go to a party fund. That is not new, nor is it something special to mention. The NPP operates in the same way. That too is not new; it is the culture of our political movement.”

When MP Wijesiri posed a supplementary question asking whether diverting salaries to party funds was an indirect method of taking care of MPs, Dr. Amarasuriya said: “There is no issue there. No question was raised; the Member made a statement. What we have seen throughout this week is an inability to understand our political culture and practice, and a clash with decisions taken by political movements that misused public funds. What is coming out is a certain mindset. That is why there is such an effort to find fault with the 159. None of these facts are new to people. He did not ask a question, so I have nothing to answer.”

The disclosures come days after the Government moved to abolish the parliamentary pension, a measure that has sparked renewed debate over MP compensation and the transparency of funds allocation.