Sri Lanka not to blacklist errant Indian drug suppliers

Sri Lankan health authorities have said that there will not be any black listing of Indian drug suppliers who have violated procedures in medical supplies to Sri Lanka, a local media report said.

Instead of black listing, the errant companies will have to forego the cash bond furnished in terms of the supply contract, the authorities were quotes as saying.

The firms will accordingly be asked to forfeit the cash bonds between 5 to 10 per cent of the contract value.

The Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Ashok Kantha met the Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena following news of Sri Lankan protests over Indian companies who had either delayed supplies or supplied sub standard drugs.

Kantha said a visit by the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMAEXCIL) to Sri Lanka to meet Sri Lankan health authorities would prevent those interested in exploiting loopholes in the current procedures.