The Hon. Hector Appuhamy

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, the President came for the group meeting content and spoke here for about two hours, leaving us very little time. That is fine. I will speak briefly on two matters instead of my original topic.

¶ 02 We heard talk of conspiracies and the underworld. They speak not like a Government but like an Opposition criticizing a Government. Let me highlight a major issue you must address. In the Health Ministry, action is being taken to arrest Keheliya Rambukwella and a group of senior officials. But the question is whether the ongoing rackets within the health sector are being curbed.

¶ 03 The NMRA takes an unduly long time to register products and regulate prices for medicines manufactured locally, denying those producers opportunities. Meanwhile, India is being given favorable access. On Clindamycin injection, the NMRA documentation I table shows this clearly. For the same product and same dosage, an Indian import costs Rs. 300, while the locally manufactured product has an NMRA-regulated price of Rs. 150. Why give the local producer Rs. 150 and the Indian import Rs. 300? Where is the racket? Who is doing this? The NMRA Chairman, Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, must explain. Is this a new racket or a continuation of the old one? Many of these are officials previously appointed. Why are they still there? If you want real change, fix this now. Keeping the same chairmen implies the rackets continue.

¶ 04 On casinos: What did the Government previously say about casinos? Today the President should have explained about “City of Dreams Sri Lanka” when he spoke of his programs. Earlier there were two licensed casinos; now there are about six. Even India, a vast country, has about five casinos nationwide. Why do we have six? The previous Government granted 20-year licenses to Majestic Pride and Bluehaven Services (Pvt) Ltd, split into four five-year periods with Rs. 500 million per five-year period. Now that fee has been reduced to Rs. 30 million. This facility is being given at a much lower fee. The current President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, once spoke vehemently against casinos and the then President. Now, wearing that very Government’s coat, he comes here as if he has forgotten it all. He should also explain how “City of Dreams Sri Lanka” is to operate and how this Government started promoting casinos. Since he did not address it, I raise it here. Thank you.