The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law
Hon. (Mrs.) Nilanthi Kottahachchi stated that past political and official misconduct had undermined public trust in medicines through the supply of substandard drugs, and said those responsible are now subject to legal action and asset freezes. She linked current health sector reforms to restoring quality and public confidence, noting international recognition through Sri Lanka’s Health Minister chairing the WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee. She highlighted plans to expand primary care access to about one facility per 5,000 people within three kilometres and supported maximum retail price controls to ensure affordable, quality medicines in a patient-centred and equitable health system.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, our folk wisdom says “Think before you leap,” but during the previous regime the people felt they had to “think before they swallow,” due to distrust of medicines. White-collar crime flourished—decisions made by political authorities, aided by complicit officials, led to substandard drugs and harm. Those responsible are facing justice and asset freezes.
¶ 02 The WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee is now chaired by our Health Minister—recognition that we are restoring quality and public trust. Health is a fundamental human right under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; obstructing access is inhumane.
¶ 03 We are expanding primary care so that within about three kilometres and for every 5,000 people there is accessible care—improving from the current 10,000-to-one ratio. In the market, prices vary across brands; through maximum retail/ceiling price controls we create a fair environment so patients can access affordable, quality medicines. Our aim is a patient-centred, efficient, timely, safe and equitable health service.
¶ 04 Thank you.
Provenance
- Source
- Hansard, Tuesday, 21 October 2025 ·No. 22635 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Attorney-at-Law. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 21 October 2025. No. 22635. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/29636