<ul><li>38 projects delayed by up to 2,158 days</li><li>Rs. 1.7 m wasted on unused tanks, Rs. 599 m mismanaged, Rs. 267 m added due to scope changes</li><li>Rs. 551 m in contributions missed</li><li>Rs. 19 m paid to subcontractors against contract terms</li><li>Auditors call for stricter oversight and investigation</li></ul>The Government has incurred a massive loss of approximately Rs. 1.44 billion due to delays, inefficiencies, and mismanagement in several major water supply and sanitation projects, the latest available audit report on the Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project reveals.The audit, which reviewed the status of multiple ongoing and completed projects, highlighted that the implementation of 38 urban and rural water supply schemes; rehabilitation projects; and public, indigenous, and school sanitation projects had faced significant delays, with time extensions granted up to seven times.&nbsp;The delays, ranging from 330 to 2,158 days, have raised concerns despite several measures being introduced by the Government to support contractors in the construction industry.The project, executed by the Ministry of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, aims to enhance access to piped water services and improve sanitation in selected districts, while strengthening the capacity of relevant institutions.&nbsp;It is divided into four components: rehabilitation and expansion of water supply and sanitation schemes, capacity building of the Department of National Community Water Supply, sector training and water quality mapping, and project management.The total estimated cost of the project is $ 183.90 million (Rs. 27,590 million), with $ 165 million (Rs. 24,750 million) funded by the International Development Association, and the remaining Rs. 2,840 million covered by the Government of Sri Lanka and community contributions.&nbsp;The project started on 7 December 2015 and was initially scheduled for completion by 31 December 2020, but the deadline had been extended to 31 December 2023.As per the report, one of the major areas of concern is the Kotiyakumbura sand filter tank, where an investment of Rs. 1.7 million has been deemed uneconomical due to the non-usage of the tanks.&nbsp;Similarly, the Kilinochchi Water Supply Project saw Rs. 599 million spent on improper project subdivision, which violated Government procurement guidelines and caused delays in the project timeline.&nbsp;In the Mulankavil Water Supply Project, Rs. 267 million had been added to the cost due to extra work orders and changes in the project scope.&nbsp;Furthermore, the failure to collect Rs. 551 million in community contributions for rural water supply projects has led to a significant shortfall in funding.&nbsp;Another alarming finding was that Rs. 19 million had been paid directly to subcontractors for Kilinochchi District projects, contrary to the conditions laid out in the contracts.The total financial impact of these issues amounts to Rs. 1,437.7 million (approximately Rs. 1.44 billion).The National Audit Office (NAO) in the audit report has urged the Government to take immediate action to address the root causes of these delays and inefficiencies. It also calls for a thorough investigation into the management of these projects and the enforcement of stricter procurement and financial oversight to prevent further losses.The delays have been attributed to several factors, including improper planning of project durations, poor performance by multiple contractors, environmental and resettlement issues, and unforeseen challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing economic crisis.&nbsp;These factors have combined to severely hinder the progress of these vital projects, which were originally expected to be completed within a set timeframe.Despite these setbacks, when contacted, a senior official attached to the ministry who wished to remain anonymous told The Sunday Morning that almost all sub-projects had now been substantially completed.According to the project management, the projects had been progressing well initially, but the unforeseen challenges had led to the delays which could not be entirely avoided and to support contractors in overcoming these difficulties, the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Improvement Project (WaSSIP) had been compelled to accommodate time extensions where necessary.

Foreign-funded water projects: Billions lost due to mismanagement

<ul><li>Digital payments to save Sri Lanka 1-1.5% of GDP annually</li><li>Over 40 m bank accounts poised to access GovPay services</li><li>Rs. 1.8 t in transactions processed in 2024 for 8 Govt. entities</li><li>GovPay to connect 30 additional institutions by early 2025</li></ul>The Digital Economy Ministry plans to reduce the transaction cost for online payments from Rs. 20 to Rs. 15 as part of the Government’s initiative to digitise all financial transactions in State institutions by January 2025, according to the Ministry’s Coordinating Secretary Sumudu Rathnayaka.Rathnayaka told The Sunday Morning that the Government was working to reduce additional costs associated with online payments.&nbsp;“Currently, a 3% surcharge applies to Point of Sale (POS) transactions, but any online payment incurs a flat fee of Rs. 20. Through this project, we aim to reduce that cost to Rs. 15,” Rathnayaka explained.With the Government’s announcement to digitise all financial transactions for State institutions by January 2025, this transformation aims to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accessibility, with the GovPay platform at the centre of these efforts.GovPay, an entity under LankaPay, has been Sri Lanka’s online payment platform for many years.&nbsp;LankaPay Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Channa de Silva highlighted that GovPay was already integrated with 16 institutions, with 30 more set to join.&nbsp;He anticipated that most departments would adopt the system by January, with even more entities joining in the first quarter of 2025.&nbsp;“This platform enables real-time payment processing and automatically generates receipts, ensuring seamless and transparent transactions for citizens and institutions alike,” he said.According to Rathnayaka, GovPay simplifies processes by connecting institutions to basic banking infrastructure and executing transactions through Application Programming Interfaces (API).&nbsp;He further noted that Sri Lanka spends 1-1.5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on cash production and management, adding that developing a digital economy could save a significant portion of this expenditure.Rathnayaka stressed that digitisation could effectively combat corruption and financial mismanagement in Government institutions.&nbsp;He added that the Digital Economy Ministry would facilitate the project, while LankaPay would enforce it under the name GovPay.The Digital Economy Ministry is working closely with LankaPay, the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), and domestic banks to integrate mobile banking apps and other payment gateways, enabling citizens to make payments conveniently.Meanwhile, de Silva elaborated on LankaPay’s pivotal role in the initiative.&nbsp;LankaPay, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) owned 47% by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and 53% by commercial banks, has been modernising digital payments since 2017.“The project began as a solution to a problem faced by Customs, where banking transactions could only be made during banking hours. Ships arriving outside these hours incurred demurrage charges. We resolved this by integrating the Customs Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) portal with our online payment gateway. Payments are now reflected in real-time for Customs and customers receive updates through their banks,” de Silva explained.Since its inception, the platform has processed over Rs. 19.3 trillion in transactions, including payments for Customs, the Inland Revenue Department, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and the Board of Investment. These entities were part of the pilot project to introduce GovPay, which has since expanded to 16 Government institutions.De Silva emphasised that LankaPay’s technology allows real-time updates to Government systems, eliminating delays and inefficiencies. For example, Customs payments, previously restricted to weekday banking hours due to manual processing, now operate seamlessly through an integrated system, even on weekends.With over 40 million bank accounts in Sri Lanka, digital payments will be accessible to nearly every citizen, significantly reducing the 1-1.5% of GDP currently spent on cash production and management. De Silva added that this initiative also combated corruption by minimising cash handling.LankaPay’s systems adhere to the highest global security standards, with regular internal and external audits. While vulnerabilities like One-Time Password (OTP)-sharing scams exist, robust measures are in place to safeguard transactions. “Even NASA can be hacked, so hacking cannot be entirely ruled out, but I can assure you that we meet the highest global security certifications,” de Silva said.De Silva also explained that any person with a bank account could make payments online to the relevant Government institutions.In 2024 alone, transactions processed through LankaPay for eight Government institutions totalled Rs. 1.8 trillion.De Silva noted that the existing manual system for recording financial information could continue alongside the digital framework, with invoices sent to customers before payment. However, he admitted that subsequent changes might be introduced to further streamline the process.&nbsp;

Digitising financial transactions: Government to reduce online payment costs

<ul><li>Private importers bring in 72,000 MT</li><li>Deadline for imports extended till 10 Jan.</li><li>STC shipments delayed at loading point; shipments expected this week</li></ul>The Government has failed to import any rice stocks as at noon yesterday (28), despite attempts by the State Trading Corporation (STC) to import 70,000 MT of rice to address shortages, The Sunday Morning reliably learns.STC Chairman Ravindra Fernando confirmed to The Sunday Morning the previous week that the first shipment of 5,200 MT of nadu rice was expected to arrive last Monday (23).&nbsp;However, an official from the Ministry of Trade stated that the shipment had been delayed due to issues at the loading point.&nbsp;The official confirmed that rice shipments were now expected to arrive starting today (29).The Government had planned to import 70,000 MT of nadu rice to address supply shortages and stabilise prices for consumers.&nbsp;This initiative aimed to bridge gaps in rice availability despite Sri Lanka’s annual paddy production of 4.8 million MT, which includes 3.1 million MT of nadu paddy processed into 2.1 million MT of rice.&nbsp;Although there is a theoretical monthly surplus of 1.04 million MT, supply issues persist due to price controls, difficulties faced by farmers in selling their paddy, and unaccounted surplus rice, some of which is used for industrial purposes.To resolve these issues, the Government tasked State-run organisations Sathosa and the STC with managing rice imports, initially capped at 70,000 MT, with operations scheduled to begin before 15 December.Rice clearance at Customs, which had been briefly halted, resumed on Thursday (26).&nbsp;Sri Lanka Customs Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda stated that, as of Friday (27) morning, Customs had cleared 72,000 MT of rice, including 32,000 MT of kekulu rice and 40,000 MT of nadu rice.As reported by The Sunday Morning, STC Chairman Fernando stated recently that, in addition to the cleared stocks, the STC had floated three other tenders: one for 5,200 MT of nadu rice and two for 20,800 MT each.The 5,200 MT tender, floated on 16 December, has closed and evaluations have been completed. However, evaluations for the other two tenders are yet to commence.Initially, all imports were to be handled by the STC, while local purchases were to be managed by Sathosa. However, the Government later allowed private importers to import rice stocks as well. The deadline for rice imports was extended to 10 January 2025, with a gazette notification issued on Tuesday (24).Attempts by The Sunday Morning to contact STC Chairman Fernando yesterday were unsuccessful. When contacted, STC Deputy General Manager – Marketing Mahesh Mendis stated he was not authorised to speak to the media and directed inquiries to the Chairman. Rice prices continue to climbNo changes to MRPRice prices in the local market continue to rise, as retailers remain reluctant to sell imported rice at the Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) set by the Government.&nbsp;Retailers claim they cannot sell rice at these rates without incurring losses due to additional transport costs.Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Chairperson Hemantha Samarakoon confirmed to The Sunday Morning that the Government had no plans to revise the gazetted MRPs as of yesterday (28).&nbsp;“The Government views the gazetted MRP as the standard price and has not considered changes,” he said, warning that the CAA would take strict action against retailers charging above the controlled price. However, he was uncertain about potential future revisions.Samarakoon attributed the recurring year-end rice shortages to the absence of a buffer stock, which has been a long-standing issue. “From October to December, there is always a rice shortage. Every government resorts to importing rice due to the lack of a buffer stock,” he explained.Meanwhile, speaking to The Sunday Morning, Deputy Minister of Trade R.M. Jayawardana stated that given the availability of local and imported rice stocks, there should be no shortage of nadu and white kekulu rice varieties.&nbsp;However, he acknowledged issues stemming from retailers’ reluctance to sell at the gazetted prices, which they consider unprofitable. This has led to complaints about a lack of consumer purchases.He further noted that, with the 72,000 MT of imported rice and locally milled rice, there should be enough stocks to last for two months. However, he confirmed a shortage of red kekulu rice.Earlier this month, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake introduced controlled prices for rice in response to criticism over shortages and potential hoarding. According to the President’s Office, traders were directed to sell nadu rice at a wholesale price of Rs. 225 per kilo and a retail price of Rs. 230 per kilo.According to Central Bank of Sri Lanka statistics released Friday (27), at the wholesale market in Pettah, nadu rice has been priced at Rs. 225 per kilo, with no change from Thursday (26), while white kekulu rice also holds steady at Rs. 215 per kilo. Red kekulu rice, which was previously unavailable, is now priced at Rs. 220 per kilo.&nbsp;Imported rice varieties have experienced slight increases in price, with nadu rice rising from Rs. 219 to Rs. 220 per kilo and white kekulu rice increasing from Rs. 214 to Rs. 215 per kilo. The price of imported red kekulu rice is also Rs. 220 per kilo, aligning with the local price.&nbsp;When comparing local and imported rice, imported nadu rice is slightly cheaper, priced at Rs. 220 compared to Rs. 225 per kilo for the local variety, while the difference between local and imported kekulu rice is minimal.

Rice shortages: No Govt. imports yet, only private sector

<ul><li>Minister yet to respond to meeting request from pharmacy owners</li><li>Shortage of qualified pharmacists due to brain drain</li><li>Mandatory for all pharmacies to employ qualified pharmacists</li></ul>Pharmacies around the country are facing a serious risk of closure due to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) making the full-time presence of a qualified pharmacist mandatory for the operation of pharmacies.However, the All-Island Private Pharmacy Owners’ Association (AIPPOA) claims that the Health Ministry is yet to respond to its numerous attempts to contact the Minister to discuss this serious matter over the past few months.“This situation will only worsen from 1 January,” AIPPOA President Chandika Gankanda stated.&nbsp;“We have been requesting a meeting to discuss this situation with several relevant institutions, but we have yet to receive a response.”Stressing on the gravity of the situation and its negative impact on the country, Gankanda highlighted the struggles faced by the general public, especially patients in rural areas, due to the decline in operating pharmacies.&nbsp;“The closing down of pharmacies in village areas hinders the health of these areas, as people are forced to travel to places such as Colombo to receive medication,” he said. “These issues will continue to worsen if no action is taken.”Gankanda emphasised that their request was not to dismantle the registration system but to address the shortage of qualified pharmacists.Out of the 5,100 pharmacies currently in operation across the country, many are facing closure due to the shortage of qualified pharmacists. Sri Lanka is experiencing a brain drain, where qualified professionals emigrate in search of better opportunities.According to Gankanda, the number of pharmacists in the country is declining as qualified individuals leave.&nbsp;As of November, re-registration by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) revealed that only 6,700 pharmacists were currently active across the island.In accordance with the NMRA Act, “the dispensing of medicines, medical devices, or borderline products shall be carried out by a pharmacist or a registered apprentice pharmacist under the direct supervision of a pharmacist”.Gankanda stated that while the NMRA’s expectation of employing qualified pharmacists was fair, it was not feasible under the current circumstances.The SLMC’s application for pharmacists states that a certificate of proficiency/efficiency as a pharmacist, issued by the Ceylon Medical College Council, is required.&nbsp;However, only 5% of candidates pass the Government examination for pharmacists.When contacted by The Sunday Morning, Ministry of Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe stressed that pharmacy owners should first discuss the matter with the NMRA.However, according to a coordinator to Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, the Minister is planning to meet with pharmacy owners in the first week of January. Yet, the pharmacy owners have not been notified of this meeting.When The Sunday Morning asked Dr. Jasinghe about the meeting, he said that he was unaware of it.Meanwhile, NMRA Chairman Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama clarified that the NMRA was not responsible for training pharmacists.He raised concerns about the growing number of applications for opening new pharmacies, questioning whether pharmacies should be registered without qualified pharmacists.Dr. Wijewickrama suggested that, in some cases, pharmacists were not working in pharmacies due to inadequate pay, which may explain the frequent applications to establish new pharmacies.He also emphasised the importance of ensuring that pharmacies were staffed with qualified professionals to maintain standards and ensure public safety.&nbsp; Minister to meet with companies in Jan.Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa is set to meet representatives of pharmaceutical companies in the first week of January 2025.&nbsp;The meeting aims to address pressing issues within the pharmaceutical sector, including pricing regulations and the availability of essential medicines.This development follows the introduction of price controls on 60 medicinal drugs through Gazette No.2336/53, issued under Section 142 of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Act No.5 of 2015.The regulations, which took effect on 26 June 2023, established Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) ranging from Rs. 2.18 per unit for ibuprofen 200 mg tablets to Rs. 2,270.02 per unit for insulin soluble human injection (100 IU/1ml, 10 ml vial).The upcoming meeting is expected to serve as a platform for stakeholders to discuss the implications of these price caps and explore solutions to challenges faced by the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare providers.However, when contacted by The Sunday Morning, Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) Senior Manager – Administration Maureen Candappa said that the organisation had not received formal notification about the meeting yet.Meanwhile, the NMRA is consulting the Attorney General to resolve legal challenges hindering its efforts to regulate medicine prices in Sri Lanka.&nbsp;A court injunction, prompted by legal action from medicine importers and manufacturers, has blocked the NMRA’s attempts to enforce price caps, citing inadequate consultation during the regulatory process.– By Kenolee Perera

Shortage of pharmacists: Pharmacies facing shutdown

The tax liability on bank interest income exceeding Rs. 150,000 per month will be determined only when individuals file their tax returns, the Government has revealed.A senior official from the Ministry of Finance who wished to remain anonymous confirmed this, stating that if an individual held multiple accounts across different banks, it was their responsibility to submit a tax return, after which the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) would assess their total income and corresponding tax liability.The official clarified that the tax applied to interest income generated from deposits, not the deposit amount itself.&nbsp;This means that if an account holder’s interest income surpasses Rs. 150,000 in a month, it will be subject to tax.&nbsp;The tax is not triggered by the deposit of Rs. 150,000 or more into a bank account but by the interest accrued on such deposits.This tax mechanism will come into effect from 1 April 2025, giving individuals three months to prepare.The official also noted that systems were already in place to collect bank account details and that the IRD was currently receiving data from account holders. However, further details on the implementation process are still under discussion.Recently, Deputy Finance Minister Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando stressed that the recent increase in Withholding Tax (WHT) on bank deposits was intended as a tax credit that could be offset when filing a tax return, rather than an additional tax burden.He explained that individuals earning less than Rs. 150,000 in monthly interest income, who have had the 5% WHT deducted, often did not request refunds, inadvertently paying the tax.Minister Fernando assured that the Government was working on a mechanism to ensure individuals earning lower interest amounts did not pay the WHT unnecessarily, with further measures to be finalised in the coming months.

Tax on bank interest: Assessment via tax returns

<ul><li>PC Elections under 1988 Act, scrapping 2017 amendments</li></ul>The Government is planning to hold the long-delayed Provincial Council (PC) Elections by the middle of next year under the Provincial Councils Elections Act No.2 of 1988 by abolishing the newly-introduced Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Act No.17 of 2017, The Sunday Morning learns.It is reliably learnt that the bill will be submitted to abolish the amended PC Elections Act following the Local Government Elections to be held in April.The amendment introduced in 2017 requires that any election awaits a completed delimitation process.&nbsp;This amendment, which aimed to align Provincial Council boundaries with population growth and demographic shifts, has proven difficult to implement due to political and administrative challenges.Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Prabha Ruwan Senarath confirmed that a bill would be presented in Parliament to abolish the newly-introduced amendments to the PC Election system and revert to the old PC Election system by mid-2025.“Although the PC Elections can be anticipated only after the Local Government Elections, we will not be able to proceed with them unless we introduce suitable amendments to the legislation. The amendments introduced by the former Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government required a delimitation report approved by Parliament, which turned out to be a joke,” Senarath stated.According to the Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Act No.17 of 2017, the President must appoint a delimitation commission to prepare these boundaries, with the goal of providing equitable representation across the nation’s diverse regions. However, although the need for delimitation was recognised years ago, the report from the Delimitation Commission is yet to be completed.A review committee, appointed in 2018 and led by then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, was supposed to finalise the new boundaries within two months, but five months later, it had still not submitted its report. As a result, PCs across Sri Lanka, which had their terms expire between 2017 and 2018, remain inactive, with public services and local governance left in a state of uncertainty.&nbsp;Deputy Minister Senarath referred to the report of the Delimitation Commission that was submitted by former Minister Faiszer Musthapha in 2018 in terms of an amendment to Section 3A(11) of the Provincial Councils Elections Act No.2 of 1988 introduced by Act No.17 of 2017. The delimitation report was unanimously rejected, with even the then subject Minister who presented the report, Musthapha, voting against it.The Maithripala Sirisena-led Government of the time rejected calls to conduct the PC Elections under the old system. No amended or improved delimitation report for the new PC Elections system was taken up for debate in Parliament during the term of Musthapha or under any subsequent Government.

Provincial Councils: Govt. plans polls for mid-2025

The Ministry of Agriculture has prohibited the sale of pork contaminated with African Swine Fever (ASF), despite scientific confirmation that the disease poses no direct health risks to humans.Agriculture Ministry Secretary D.P. Wickremasinghe stressed that only meat from livestock certified as healthy by veterinary authorities could be sold, in line with national animal health and production guidelines.ASF, a highly contagious viral disease affecting pigs and wild boar, has severely impacted Sri Lanka’s pig farming sector, particularly in the Western Province.It has also spread to wild boar populations in key forest reserves, including Gampaha, Mirigama, Monaragala, and the Yala National Park.The virus is known for its high mortality rate in the porcine family. However, it does not transmit to humans or other animal species.The ministry has introduced biosecurity measures to contain the outbreak, including banning the use of leftover food waste (swill) as pig feed – a suspected vector for ASF transmission – and isolating infected animals to prevent further spread.&nbsp;Veterinary authorisation is now mandatory for slaughtering pigs, with only certified meat permitted for sale.Department of Wildlife Conservation Director of Wildlife Health Dr. Tharaka Prasad highlighted the gravity of ASF’s impact on the wild boar population, stating that the mortality rate among infected animals was extremely high.&nbsp;While exact data on deaths remain unavailable, the spread to wild populations raises significant ecological and agricultural concerns.ASF, distinct from swine influenza, does not pose a zoonotic threat. However, it disrupts livestock production and has economic repercussions. The virus is transmitted through direct contact, contaminated feed, or fomites such as clothing and vehicles, necessitating stringent containment protocols.Separately, swine flu, caused by influenza A virus, continues to circulate among pigs globally, with subtypes such as H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 being prominent. Unlike ASF, swine flu can reassort genetic material when pigs are co-infected with human, avian, and swine influenza viruses, potentially leading to novel strains.With the outbreak, the ministry has also prioritised the establishment of a long-delayed laboratory for medicine quality checks to enhance the nation’s capacity for veterinary diagnostics and disease control.Wickremasinghe confirmed that efforts were underway to expedite this critical infrastructure, along with comprehensive data collection on medicine shortages, livestock health, and related issues to inform future policy actions.

African Swine Fever outbreak: SL’s wild boar population and pig farms affected

<ul><li>Substitutes available for unavailable medications</li></ul>Despite the record of over 50% reduction in medicine supplies to Sri Lanka, the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) of the Ministry of Health claims that there are no shortages of pharmaceuticals in the country and that any unavailable medications have relevant substitutes.According to MSD Director Dr. Dedunu Dias, there has never been a shortage of essential medicines in hospitals.&nbsp;He said that the MSD had held multiple discussions to ensure a steady supply of pharmaceuticals and continued to deliver necessary medicines without interruption.“The process of supplying medicinal drugs is complex,” Dr. Dias explained.&nbsp;“There are several critical requirements, such as ensuring the correct medicine is distributed to the correct patient in the proper dosage. Quality assurance is essential in this process.”He said that the regulatory procedures for ensuring high-quality medicines were strictly followed and substitutes for unavailable pharmaceuticals were always provided.Dr. Dias added that when certain medicines were in short supply, the MSD had assisted hospitals in privately purchasing the necessary medicines and that programmes were being implemented to address and resolve any issues within the MSD’s procurement system.He also assured that there was no shortage of life-saving medications and reiterated that the MSD was working diligently to ensure all essential medicines remained available.As of 3 December, over 5,000 medicinal drugs and their variations were registered in the National Medicines Regulatory Authority’s (NMRA) system.However, as reported previously, Sri Lanka has faced a decline in the supply of medicines, with shipments dropping from 2,000 consignments last year to just 750 this year. This marks a sharp 62.5% reduction in the country’s receipt of medicines.

No shortage of meds: MSD

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been summoned to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on 3 January 2025 in respect of an ongoing investigation.The investigation is in relation to a claim of ownership over a property in Kataragama, Police Media Spokesperson Buddhika Manatunga said.“There is an ongoing investigation in respect of a property in Kataragama, where we had questioned Major Neville Wanniarachchi day before yesterday (27) and Rajapaksa has been summoned as a part of ongoing investigations,” he said.&nbsp;Major Wanniarachchi is the former Chief Security Officer to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.When asked if a case had been filed, Manatunga replied negatively.&nbsp;He said that legal action would be pursued only after the conclusion of investigations.&nbsp;

Foreign-funded water projects: Billions lost due to mismanag ...

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Digitising financial transacti ...

Rice shortages: No Govt. imports yet, only private sector

Rice shortages: No Govt. impor ...

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Shortage of pharmacists: Pharm ...

Tax on bank interest: Assessment via tax returns

Tax on bank interest: Assessme ...

Provincial Councils: Govt. plans polls for mid-2025

Provincial Councils: Govt. pla ...

African Swine Fever outbreak: SL’s wild boar population and pig farms ...

African Swine Fever outbreak: ...

No shortage of meds: MSD

No shortage of meds: MSD

Yoshitha summoned to CID

Yoshitha summoned to CID

Digitising financial transactions: Government to reduce online payment ...

Digitising financial transacti ...

Rice shortages: No Govt. imports yet, only private sector

Rice shortages: No Govt. impor ...

Shortage of pharmacists: Pharmacies facing shutdown

Shortage of pharmacists: Pharm ...

Tax on bank interest: Assessment via tax returns

Tax on bank interest: Assessme ...

Provincial Councils: Govt. plans polls for mid-2025

Provincial Councils: Govt. pla ...

African Swine Fever outbreak: SL’s wild boar population and pig farms ...

African Swine Fever outbreak: ...

No shortage of meds: MSD

No shortage of meds: MSD

Yoshitha summoned to CID

Yoshitha summoned to CID

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Rice shortages: No Govt. imports yet, only private sector

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Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Shortage of pharmacists: Pharmacies facing shutdown

Shortage of pharmacists: Pharm ...

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Tax on bank interest: Assessme ...

Provincial Councils: Govt. plans polls for mid-2025

Provincial Councils: Govt. pla ...

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African Swine Fever outbreak: ...