Minister to meet Pillai:

Lanka to clear allegations

Rasika Somarathna

Allegations raised by defeated Presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka regarding the happenings during the final stage of the conflict is expected to take centre stage during a meeting between Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navatheem Pillai in Geneva, Switzerland today. Minister Samarasinghe who flew to Geneva yesterday morning is expected to meet Pillai today and during discussions would brief the Commissioner regarding the above matter among others, Ministry sources said.

In addition, the Minister who is to arrive in the island shortly after his visit is expected to take wing again to Geneva to participate in a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in the first week of March.

During the course of these sessions, Minister Samarasinghe is expected to make a formal statement regarding the Government’s stance on the controversial statement made by Fonseka, they added.

Imported Thyroxine tablets are available in both State hospitals and private sector medical institutions.

The SPMC exports certain varieties of drugs to a few countries. Papua New Guinea and Fiji import drugs from Sri Lanka with the assistance of the Japan International Corporation Agency.

It is expected to increase the variety of drugs manufactured in Sri Lanka up to 250. At the moment, the Corporation manufactures 59 varieties.

Sri Lanka spends Rs. 10 million every month to import Thyroxine from UK and Argentina. It will cost SPMC Rs. 5 million to produce the country’s Thyroxine requirements.