• Writes to Health Min. against MSD DDG/SPC Chair citing ongoing legal proceedings, alleged drug procurement delays  

The Civil Intelligence Front (CIF) has protested against the appointment of Dr. Lakshman Edirisinghe as the Deputy Director General (DDG) of the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) of the Health Ministry, and the continued tenure of Dr. Manuja Weerasinghe as the Chairperson of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC).

In a letter addressed to Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, CIF Convenor Sanjaya Mahawaththa alleged that Dr. Edirisinghe, who previously served as the Director of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), was involved in providing blood plasma to produce substandard human immunoglobulin (IVIG), outside proper procedures and under the instructions of the then Health Ministry Secretary. “This matter is still under investigation, and court proceedings are ongoing. Despite this, he has now been placed in a senior role in the MSD where key documents related to the case are held.”

Mahawaththa also opposed the continued presence of Dr. Weerasinghe as the Chairperson of the SPC. “Dr. Weerasinghe, at the time of his appointment, publicly denied the existence of substandard medicines. He is also delaying the pharmaceutical drug procurement process, worsening the issues in the health sector.”

The CIF further stated that they had hoped that the current Government would take a stricter and more transparent approach to addressing the irregularities and corruption that had occurred in the health sector in the past. 

However, claiming that appointments such as these are undermining public confidence, the CIF called for immediate action to remove the officials in question, who, in their view, have failed to uphold their responsibilities in roles that directly impact public health and safety.

Multiple attempts to contact the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni proved futile. As the official website of the NBTS still lists Dr. Edirisinghe as its Director, The Daily Morning attempted to contact him through the NBTS’s listed number, but the attempts were unsuccessful.