A high-level meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was held this afternoon (22 July) at the Presidential Secretariat to address and streamline the procurement and distribution process of essential medicines across Sri Lanka.
The discussion included Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Deputy Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, and senior health officials. The meeting focused on current challenges within the medicine procurement and distribution mechanisms, with an emphasis on preventing shortages and ensuring uninterrupted access to vital drugs at public hospitals.
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the President:
- Instructed officials to urgently address existing inefficiencies in the system,
- Called for immediate measures to resolve any ongoing medicine shortages,
- Emphasised the need to implement long-term plans to prevent future disruptions.
President Dissanayake reaffirmed that necessary funds for medicine procurement have already been allocated by the Treasury, and stressed that collective responsibility and swift action are essential to deliver reliable and high-quality healthcare to the public.
Among those present were:
- Dr. Anil Jasinghe – Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media
- Dr. Asela Gunawardana – Director General of Health Services
- W.S.N. Botheju – Senior Assistant Secretary (Procurement), Ministry of Health and Mass Media
- Dr. Manuj C. Weerasinghe – Chairman, State Pharmaceuticals Corporation
- Prof. Jayantha Wijayabandara – Chairman, State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation
- Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama – Chairman, National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA)
- Other senior officials of the Ministry of Health
The meeting reflects the Government’s ongoing focus on strengthening Sri Lanka’s public health infrastructure, especially in the wake of prior medicine shortages and procurement delays.
