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Indian pharmaceuticals expected here in two weeks

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/9

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Sri Lanka will start receiving pharmaceuticals, under the Indian credit line in the coming two weeks, Secretary to the State Ministry of Drug Production, Supply and Regulation, Dr. Saman Rathnayake, said.

Dr. Rathnayake said that Sri Lanka currently faced a shortage of 188 essential drugs.

“As with other shortages in the country, this was caused by the dollar shortage. We have been trying to purchase medicines through the aid of international organisations. And these attempts have been successful. The World Health Organization (WHO) has pledged 73 million US dollars, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has promised 60, 73 million US dollars, and India has given us credit worth, 126 million US dollars,” he said.

Sri Lankan hospitals use over 1,500 medicines and they have stocks for over 1,350 medicines. Some of the 188 essential drugs which are in short supply, are only needed in small quantities.

“We have most of the drugs. The problem is that we didn’t order drugs last year. So, we have to order drugs we need for 2022 and we need to start ordering for 2023. We need to start opening LCs and make orders. If we do not do this now, there will be a drug shortage in 2023 too,” he said.

Dr. Rathnayake also commented on reports that the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) had found that Sri Lanka has received over USD 330 million, as donations, to procure essential drugs, but these funds have not hitherto been used.

The COPE Chairman said Sri Lanka had received USD 200 million in financial assistance to purchase drugs, under the Indian credit line facility. By 22 April 2022, the Health Ministry’s Drug Sub committee had only wanted medical supplies worth USD 55.5 million, which is only 28% of the Indian grant. Even by 18 May 2022, Health Ministry had wanted drugs worth USD 92.9 million.

“This is how the delay happened. Let’s talk about the Indian credit line. While, the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) plays a role here, so do the Indian companies. The State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) was entrusted with the operations at our end. However, they also had to find Indian companies who would agree to be paid in Indian rupees. A company that agrees to be paid in Indian rupees must send us a document called the D-Form. We only got the D-Form at the end of May. Now the Treasury will hand over the documents to the Indian High Commission and then onward action will be taken,” he said.

Dr. Rathnayake said that Sri Lanka would start receiving Indian drugs in the coming two weeks and that they had not worked with most of the Indian suppliers who are sending medicines in the coming weeks. “We are working with new companies, new banks, so things take a bit of time,” he said.

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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and showers about 50-75 mm in other areas

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.

Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.

Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Easter Sunday attacks: Govt. says wife of Katuwapitiya Church bomber alive

Published

6 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sara Jasmine

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday that information uncovered during ongoing investigations indicated that Pulasthini Mahendran, also known as Sara Jasmine, linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, was not dead.

Responding to a question raised by Opposition MP Mujibur Rahuman, the Minister said there was no confirmation that Sara Jasmine was currently in India, despite speculation to that effect. He added that investigators suspected she may have fled the country and stressed that further inquiries were underway to establish her whereabouts.

“If necessary, the government will take steps to obtain a warrant,” Wijepala said, noting that legal action related to the Easter attacks had already been initiated, based on available evidence.

Minister Wijepala said the new government had launched an thorough probe to determine whether a political or other conspiracy had been behind the attacks that killed more than 270 people in 2019. However, he declined to disclose certain details in Parliament, citing the risk of hampering investigations.

Sara Jasmine, Mohammed Hashtun, who bombed St. Sebastian’s Church, in Katuwapitiya, in 2019, was long presumed to have died in a suicide blast in Sainthamaruthu, days after the attacks. Wijepala said attempts by previous administrations to establish her death had failed, with recent reports indicating that DNA tests conducted at the time were inconclusive.

During the debate, MP Rahuman recalled that senior figures, including then-Opposition MP Nalinda Jayatissa, had previously claimed Sara Jasmine was in India. He questioned why authorities had not sought an open warrant for her arrest whether the issue had been raised in talks with Indian officials.

Wijepala, responding on behalf of Deputy Minister of Defence Arun Jayasekara, said the government would not hesitate to pursue legal action, including warrants, if necessary.

By Saman Indrajith

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Indian Army Chief here

Published

6 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

BIA staff welcoming Chief of the Indian Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, who arrived here yesterday (07)

The Chief of the Indian Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (07). On arrival, the COAS was accorded a Guard of Honour by the Sri Lanka Army.

The Indian HC said that: “He will engage with senior military and civil leadership, including the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Deputy Minister of Defence and the Defence Secretary; and hold detailed discussions on matters of mutual interest, including training cooperation, capacity building and regional security.

During the visit, the COAS will address officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and interact with officers and trainees at the Army War College, Buttala, reflecting India’s strong commitment to defence education and professional military exchanges with Sri Lanka.

General Dwivedi will also pay homage at the IPKF War Memorial, honouring the supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers.”

General Dwivedi arrived here from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he attended several events during 05 to 06 January.