By Sarah Hannan
The State Ministry of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply, and Regulation and the National Medical Regulatory Authority (NMRA) is yet to take a decision over the consignments of facemasks that are held at Sri Lanka Customs due to clearance issues.
When The Morning contacted NMRA CEO Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe for comments, he stated that discussions were underway with the ministry officials on the next steps about these facemasks that are held up. "Once we reach an agreement on what could be done, we will inform the public.," Dr. Jayasinghe stated.
The Morning reliably learnt that these facemask consignments had been imported over the past months and were found to be non-compliant to the regulations that the NMRA had stipulated when importing facemasks to the country.
The issue was brought up during a recent meeting that the State Minister had called, which was attended by local facemask manufacturers, importers of facemasks to the country, and the NMRA, where the quality of the facemasks had been discussed.
Moreover, the local manufacturers had agreed to increase the production of facemasks in Sri Lanka to match the country's daily requirement. Price regulations are also expected to be announced with single-use surgical masks standing at Rs. 15 and the KN95 masks to be sold at a controlled price of Rs. 100.
When The Morning contacted NMRA CEO Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe for comments, he stated that discussions were underway with the ministry officials on the next steps about these facemasks that are held up. "Once we reach an agreement on what could be done, we will inform the public.," Dr. Jayasinghe stated.
The Morning reliably learnt that these facemask consignments had been imported over the past months and were found to be non-compliant to the regulations that the NMRA had stipulated when importing facemasks to the country.
The issue was brought up during a recent meeting that the State Minister had called, which was attended by local facemask manufacturers, importers of facemasks to the country, and the NMRA, where the quality of the facemasks had been discussed.
Moreover, the local manufacturers had agreed to increase the production of facemasks in Sri Lanka to match the country's daily requirement. Price regulations are also expected to be announced with single-use surgical masks standing at Rs. 15 and the KN95 masks to be sold at a controlled price of Rs. 100.