News
Procurement of sub-standard medicine: Ex-Health Secy. chaired committee that gave go-ahead
… approved payments to supplier on priority basis
Maligakanda Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrema Weerasinghe said in open Court on Wednesday (13) that the matters already before Court showed the alleged involvement of persons in high positions in the procurement of alleged substandard medicines, The Magistrate ordered the CID investigating the case to immediately arrest and produce all suspects before Court regardless of their standing in the society.
The Magistrate observed that though the requirement for the Cabinet approved emergency purchases was to import from India on credit and supply the medicines, those responsible for the procurement process had selected the suspect tenderer though he specified in his tender documents that raw materials would be imported from India and produced by his company here.
The Magistrate said the whole process appeared to have been manipulated by two or three persons in high positions. The then Secretary had control over these matters and the investigations disclose a questionable and suspicious role in many actions by him. All suspects must be brought before Court, the Magistrate ordered.
The government recently removed Health Secretary Janaka Chandragupta.Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama appearing with Senior State Counsel Heshani Wijesinghe making submissions earlier on the progress of the CID investigations said that prior to the Cabinet decision in October 2022, tenders had been called for in September 2022 and the 1st suspect had been selected as the successful tenderer for Human Immunoglobulin and Rituximab.
The DSG said, according to the Chief Accountant Savidra Cooray, the 1st suspect’s company Isolez Biotech Pharma had requested for payments for Rituximab supplied and the Secretary Health had approved the payment of Rs 107,799,481/= in three payments to the first suspect, directing it to be paid on a priority basis.
M.M. Zuhair PC appearing with Anjana Ratnasiri, Duleeka Imbuldeniya and Rizwan Uvais for the 2nd suspect Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake, submitted that the 2nd suspect hadn’t been the Director, Medical Supplies Division, as he was away on a one year assignment in the United Kingdom, from January to December 2022, during which period in 2022 the Health Sector Emergency Procurement Committee (HSEPC), chaired by the Health Secretary and the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC), were set up and the entire process of calling for tenders, evaluation and selection of the successful tenderers were completed. According to the then Health Secretary’s letter dated 28th October 2022, to the Deputy Director General of Health, the successful tenderers have already been informed of their selection by that time.
After Dr. Wickramanayake returned to Sri Lanka and assumed duties as Director MSD, the penalty payable by the 1st suspect for delayed supply of the pharmaceuticals was recommended by the 3rd and the 2nd suspects for recovery from the 1st suspect. However, the recommended penalty was ordered to be waived by the Secretary Health and was not recovered from the 1st suspect, the supplier of the disputed pharmaceuticals, Counsel submitted.
Nalinda Indatissa PC, appearing for the aggrieved party, said that the Cabinet was aware that these drugs were going to be manufactured in Sri Lanka when approval for emergency purchase was granted by the then Minister of Health.
Ronald Perera PC, appearing for the 4th suspect, said that the MSD officer may have accepted the deliveries without suspecting the alleged forged copy of waiver of registration, that may be due to oversight or negligence as there is no evidence of any complicity with the 1st suspect at the warehouse delivery point but those do not amount to any criminal offence.
In respect of the 1st, 3rd and 5th suspects Attorneys Navin Shanaka, Asoka Serasinghe and a team of several lawyers appeared for them and moved for bail. The Magistrate said a detailed order on the bail applications will be made by her on 27th December.
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
