By The investigation into the procurement of counterfeit drugs by the Sri Lankan Health Ministry has revealed that several senior officials were involved in the deals. However, only four junior employees have been arrested so far.
The senior officials who have not been arrested include former Secretary of Health Janaka Sri Chandragupta, Additional Secretary (Production, Supply, & Regulation of Pharmaceuticals) Saman Ratnayake, and Deputy Director General of the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) D.R.K. Herath.
These officials were involved in the approval of the deals, despite the fact that they lacked proper tender procedures and did not involve medical specialists. They also waived penalties for late deliveries, even though the drugs were counterfeit or never arrived.
It is not yet clear why these senior officials have not been arrested. However, it is possible that they are being investigated further or that the authorities are preparing to charge them with more serious offences.
It is also worth noting that the Cabinet of Sri Lanka approved a decision in April 2022 that allowed the Health Ministry to make payments for medicines and surgical devices without imposing fines for late deliveries. This decision may have been used to justify the Health Ministry’s failure to penalize Isolez for its late deliveries.
The investigation into the procurement of counterfeit drugs by the Sri Lankan Health Ministry is ongoing. It is possible that more arrests will be made in the future.
