18 November 2020 12:10 am
By Sandun A Jayasekera
The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday donated over 100,000 Antigen kits manufactured and imported from Korea’s ‘SD BIOSENSOR Inco. to Production, Supply and Regulations of Pharmaceuticals State Minister Channa Jayasumana.
This was the first consignment of 200,000 Antigen kits that the WHO had pledged to Sri Lanka.
A spokesman of the Production, Supply and Regulations of Pharmaceuticals State Ministry said this donation would put to rest the controversy circulated in the last few weeks pertaining to the import of 200,000 antigen kits by a private company well before the Health Ministry called for tenders.
“Antigen kits are used to carry out Rapid Antigen Tests that identify Covid 19 virus accurately in a short period of time with less costs,” it is said.
The handing over ceremony was also attended by WHO country representative DR. Razia Narayan Pendse, Health Secretary, Major General (Rtd) Sanjeewa Munasinghe, State Ministry Secretary Mr. K.R.Uduwawala and Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardana.