The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, under Standing Order 91 (E), I seek a minute or two regarding statements made about me by Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa while I was absent. He said I made reckless statements, presented inaccurate information and caused unwarranted fear regarding the health sector. That is a mischaracterization. I have never made personal allegations against him. I believe he is honest. But at times Ministers come here to whitewash errors of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). He himself accepted that complications were reported on 17 August 2024 following the use of human immunoglobulin, and that steps for inquiry were initiated on 28 August. On 07 September the entire production—not just a batch—was withheld. The whole stock was withdrawn due to certificate issues. Thereafter, a person took a sample in his possession for testing; that was not an MOH-held sample. The Minister said it was a WHO prequalified lab; in fact, it was a zonal lab, not the central facility. I have all records.

¶ 02 Please allow me to conclude. The issue is that despite complications and a reported death, the drug was reintroduced. I asked why NMRA did not obtain a test report from an institution outside India. For comparison, during the Keheliya Rambukwella investigation, the CID had tests conducted in Germany. I have those reports, including the Indian report. One report tested about 15 components; the other about 168. Our concern is justified. Endotoxin presence led to complications; two patients have died. Typically, a patient may die due to liver disease, cancer, or a heart attack; but here the complications followed administration. Please ask NMRA why they did not act, and why the drug was reintroduced after a privately-held sample test from an Indian lab. Two deaths have occurred.

¶ 03 Minister, you said I corrected a point later; yes, I corrected an error promptly at a press briefing. I have never lied to Parliament. But I must ask: your leader, Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, said if someone needs to lie, they come to Parliament to do it.