A pharmacist of the Apeksha Cancer Hospital, Maharagama has been arrested by the Bribery Commission while accepting money to issue drugs.
Acting on a tip-off, bribery officers arrested the pharmacist who was involved in selling medicines while working as a government hospital pharmacist, Director (Investigation) of the Bribery Commission SSP Nuwan Asanka said.
“The arrest was made when the suspect sold a medicine meant for cancer patients at the hospital for Rs.21,000. Desperate families of cancer patients are paying the suspect exorbitant amounts for medicine,” SSP Asanka said.
Bribery officers also raided the suspect’s house in Maharagama.
“We found large stocks of medicines with some containing the government emblem as well,” he said. The suspect and his wife both are pharmacists attached to the Cancer Hospital.
The Bribery Commission is conducting further investigation.
Pediatric Oncologist of the Cancer Hospital Dr. Sanjeewa Kulasekara told the media on Wednesday that the hospital is currently facing a shortage of medicines.
“Annually about 250 children die from cancer in the country and every year about 900 children are detected with cancer. We have been managing medicines gifted by donors to treat cancer patients,” he said.
The Government is finalising a list of names to be posted as heads of Sri Lanka’s missions abroad with ex-Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya assuming the position of Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.
Kandiah (Ken) Balendra, a veteran corporate leader and the first Sri Lankan chairman of John Keells Holdings (JKH) has passed away at the age of 85.
The CID has arrested Susantha de Silva, former Managing Director of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) for allegedly misappropriating 6.1 million rupees in 2014.
Chief Justice Murdu Fernando has forwarded the names of four senior High Court judges to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to fill four existing vacancies in the Court of Appeal.
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