Rs. 2.5 million collected from each drug company to make ‘drug policy act’ disappear – President

“The first National Drug Policy Act we prepared got lost when it was about to be presented to the cabinet. When we prepared a second act an owner of a drug company told me that Rs.2.5 million was collected to get the first act disappeared. If you go through the list of drug companies that are registered with the ministry you would able to know how much was collected to disappear the drug act,” says President Maithripala Sirisena.

Speaking further at the 18th commemorative of Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda held yesterday (4th) President Sirisena said, “When we prepared the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act the cabinet said if the act is adopted not a single tourist would come to the country. We didn’t try to ban smoking but what we wanted was to have pictures on the packet of cigarettes to warn those who buy regarding consequences. So, the cabinet put away the Act saying it would harm tourism.

When we gazette the Act the directors of tobacco companies and I were called to the Temple Trees and I was questioned in front of directors of tobacco companies. The Tobacco company authorities did not want 80% of picture warning was not necessary. Former President then asked tobacco companies to take legal action saying he would look after everything. I felt very helpless as the Minister of Health. However, once I became President I got picture warning on 80% of the packet of cigarettes with the approval of the Parliament.”

He further said that former President also had said that ministers need not worry about frauds and corruption in the country saying it would be done by the audit sections.