Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told Parliament yesterday that he would give a chance for the Opposition MPs on Friday to meet the expert panel conducting investigations into the import of sub-standard drugs.

The Minister was responding to a statement made by JVP parliamentary group leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding the recent problems reported in the health sector even claiming the life of a school girl in Kurunegala.  “An expert panel conducted investigations into the first death of a school girl after Rubella vaccination. According to the report, there had been no issue regarding the quality of the vaccine given to her. The death had occurred due to asthma. Investigations are still being conducted into the second death of a school girl following Rubella vaccination,” he said.

He said, “There is a team of specialist carrying out investigations into the import of low quality drugs.   I am going to arrange a meeting for them with the Opposition MPs. Then, they can raise their questions  and expel their doubts.”

However, Mr. Dissanayake, in his statement, said that the people appeared to have become the victims of a drug mafia in this country, and there had been examples of the imports of sub standard drugs   allowing some elements to make commissions. 

The JVP MP pointed out that the government could not abdicate its responsibility in this regard.