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NMRA current and former chairmen to appear before CoI to answer questions over import of cancer drug from Russia
The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) appointed by the President to investigate and inquire into serious acts of fraud, corruption, and the abuse of power, state resources and privileges by the the government, has issued summons on the current and former chairmen of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) to appear before the CoI to testify on April 9.
The summons were issued by CoI Chairman, retired Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne over the import of the Russian-made cancer drug Herticad by the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) for the Maharagama Cancer Hospital.
This drug is deemed to be of an inferior quality, and can only be used on patients with stage two cancer, the CoI says.
Mr. Abeyratne observed that SPC had decided to import a drug that couldn’t be used for all stages of the disease in spite of paying such a high price for it. Furthermore this drug lacked the approval of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Medcines Agency (EMA).
Several Oncologists in the country had objected to the use of this drug and many are prepared to provide evidence at the CoI, Chairman Abeyratne said.
NMRA senior pharmacist Gopi Chrishantha Silva, who this week appeared before the CoI also alleged that the appointment of Prof. Asitha De Silva as chairman was questionable given the fact that he had prepared the report on the drug.
Prof. De Silva replaced Prof. R.L Jayakody as chairman in 2016. Both will appear before the CoI next week.
The AG’s Department leading evidence was to initially bring in an oncologist to testify on Friday (April 5), but Chairman Abeyratne ordered that the two chairmen be summoned first.
“I have a few questions that I need to ask them first,” he observed. He also cautioned the AG’s Department lawyers to avoid unnecessary facts that deviated from the commissioners’ questions on the subject.
Earlier in the week, Amal Suriyage of the Lammermoor Estate in Maskeliya told the CoI that there were attempts by officials from the Ministry of Rural Economic Development and Foresight Engineering Pvt. Ltd to intimidate him following his testimony on the import of malnourished dairy heifers from Australia.
The witness complained that 12 persons, including four from the ministry and seven from Foresight Engineering, the local agents for Wellard Rural Exports Pvt. Ltd. Australia, had forcibly entered his farm, inspected the premises and taken photos of the premises. Word had reached Mr. Suriyage from a supervisor of the farm that the team was led by veterinary officer for Maskeliya, Dr. Suresh Kumar. Dr. Kumar had claimed he was acting on the orders of Minister P. Harrison.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG,) Ayesha Jinasena who led evidence requested the commission to act according to the powers bestowed upon the CoI by the Commission of Inquiry Act and the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act , and to ensure full security to Mr. Suriyage.
Mr. Abeyratne ordered the Police Unit attached to the CoI to start an investigation.
“We also order the secretary of the commission to inform the National Authority for The Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses about what has transpired,” he said.
The Ministry took a decision to import 20,000 ‘high-yielding’ dairy heifers from Wellard Rural Exports Pvt. Ltd. Australia in 2017, and this idea was sold to the local farmers as a project that would improve their economic position.
“The Ministry told the investors that the pregnant cows from Australia would produce 20 litres of milk a day on average and had advised some of the investors, who were already raising domestic cows to get rid of them,” Mr. Suriyage said. The investors paid Rs. 200,000 per cow and the government contributed Rs. 265,000 as part of a subsidised scheme. But many of these cows had died after contracting diseases that required costly treatment. Still others were found to have their udders removed and were mal-nourished.
Livestock Development Ministry Additional Secretary K Dharmasiri in his testimony before the CoI this week, claimed ignorance of the complaints about the dairy heifers. He added that the Ministry had sent an advanced payment to the treasury for the import.
Mr. Abeyratne found fault with the Ministry for doing this having known there was corruption in the project.
The CoI is set to take up a number of complaints this month. Former Senior Assistant Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nishanthi Jayasinghe will appear before the commission on Tuesday over the issue of tablets given to Advanced Level students by the Education Ministry. She is now a senior assistant secretary at the Health Ministry.
Another case, involving the decision by the Agriculture Ministry to rent a building for Rs. 22 million, which was taken up previously is set to continue. The Government initially valued this building at Rs. 13.5 million.
A complaint made by Sri Lanka Air Force officers alleging corruption in the tender process for procurements by the Air Force Commander, is also scheduled for this month.
The CoI comprises retired Supreme Court Justice Upali Abeyratne (Chairman), retired High Court Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardhena, retired Auditor General P. A. Pemathilake, retired Ministry Secretary Lalith R. De Silva and retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Vijaya Amarasinghe.