Alleged mismanagement and transparency lapses at the Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) are raising concerns over drug safety and oversight in Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical sector, according to experts.
Health specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa highlighted what he described as systemic failures within the DRA and the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation, warning that continued administrative irregularities are affecting public trust and the effectiveness of the drug regulatory system.
Key issues cited include delays in reporting banned bacterially toxic drugs, acceptance of quality certificates from foreign pharmaceutical companies despite persistent failures, weak enforcement against non-compliant companies, and questionable drug price control practices. Experts also point to conflicts of interest, with specialist doctors and professors in the Drug Price Control Committee allegedly maintaining close ties to pharmaceutical firms, while some members are serving long past retirement age.
Dr. Sanjeewa further raised concerns over the politicization of the regulatory process and the lack of effective oversight by the Health Ministry. He claimed both the DRA and the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation have pressured the Attorney General’s Department to relax regulations in ways that benefit pharmaceutical companies.
The issues come amid an ongoing High Court trial against former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukkala, which Dr. Sanjeewa says has revealed further facts that warrant a deeper probe into corruption, fraud, and systemic irregularities in the health sector.
Industry observers warn that without urgent reforms, continued lapses at the DRA could compromise drug quality, market transparency, and public safety, calling for structural and governance changes to restore confidence in the nation’s pharmaceutical regulatory framework.
