News
Procurement Committee headed by Health Secy. accepted forged registration
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.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
