During a COPE session held in Parliament on 26 March under the chairmanship of MP (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera, it was disclosed that the former Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella, had instructed the selection of ‘Savorite’ for importing these medicines through unsolicited proposals. The former Secretary to the Ministry of Health confirmed this directive to the committee.

The Committee Chair noted that the NMRA issued WoR certificates to ‘Savorite’ on 30 December 2022 without conducting the required evaluations. He stressed that the NMRA was established to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines and that this responsibility could not be shifted to the Medical Supplies Sector.

Former NMRA Board of Directors members testified that they had not approved the imports without proper evaluation and, therefore, did not accept responsibility for the decision. They stated that such imports required prior approval and adherence to evaluation procedures.

The committee extensively discussed the matter, further confirming that the former Health Minister had authorised the selection of ‘Savorite’ to import medicines in short supply for a period of three months.

The revelations have raised serious concerns over regulatory oversight and transparency in Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical procurement processes. The COPE committee is expected to pursue further inquiries into the matter to ensure accountability and prevent future irregularities.

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has revealed that a private company named ‘Savorite’ was issued Waiver of Registration (WoR) certificates to import 38 types of medicines in 2022 without evaluation by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

During a COPE session held in Parliament on 26 March under the chairmanship of MP (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera, it was disclosed that the former Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella, had instructed the selection of ‘Savorite’ for importing these medicines through unsolicited proposals. The former Secretary to the Ministry of Health confirmed this directive to the committee.

The Committee Chair noted that the NMRA issued WoR certificates to ‘Savorite’ on 30 December 2022 without conducting the required evaluations. He stressed that the NMRA was established to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines and that this responsibility could not be shifted to the Medical Supplies Sector.

Former NMRA Board of Directors members testified that they had not approved the imports without proper evaluation and, therefore, did not accept responsibility for the decision. They stated that such imports required prior approval and adherence to evaluation procedures.

The committee extensively discussed the matter, further confirming that the former Health Minister had authorised the selection of ‘Savorite’ to import medicines in short supply for a period of three months.

The revelations have raised serious concerns over regulatory oversight and transparency in Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical procurement processes. The COPE committee is expected to pursue further inquiries into the matter to ensure accountability and prevent future irregularities.