The Chairman of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC), Dr. Prasanna Gunasena has resigned sources said today (19).
It is learned that the decision was taken by Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, a veteran Neuro surgeon , as he could no longer bear the pressure of duty.
Sources further said that the President has been informed of the resignation and that the Minister of Health has not yet received the letter.
Meanwhile SPC sources said Lalith Jayakody, the Managing Director of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation has also decided to resign from his post.
When we inquired about this, Dr. Saman Ratnayake, Secretary to the State Ministry of Drug Supply, Distribution and Regulation stated that since the appointment of Dr. Prasanna Gunasena as SPC Chairman was made by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, only the President could remove him from office, otherwise the Chairman would resign voluntarily. That it is possible.
If Dr.Prasanna Gunasena resigns voluntarily, his resignation letter should be handed over to him, but no such action has been taken so far, he said.
The Secretary further said that since Dr Gunasena played a pivotal role as the Chairman, who expedited the importation of vaccines during the Covid pandemic, and acted swiftly to fill the oxygen shortage in the country, his it would be a problem if he resigns. He further said that it would be a challenge for the country to act swiftly in the future if a Covid wave occurs again.
