eNMRA #DataScam : Files deleted on purpose or a mistake ? Criminal Probe underway

COLOMBO (News 1st); Multiple groups have called on the government to conduct an immediate investigation over the mysterious disappearance of files sent to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), from the Lanka Government Cloud (LGC).

The events have been dubbed as the #DataScam in Sri Lanka where Terabytes of information attached by various companies over the new registrations or renewals of expiring registrations of medicinal drugs have gone missing.

Serious concerns have been raised as to who managed to enter the LGC which hosts information related to national security as well.

Activist have stressed that the mysterious disappearance of files is a threat to national security.

The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), plays a key role in certifying and regulating medicines, medical devices, borderline products, clinical trials and cosmetics.

Activist say they are baffled as to how these filed disappeared from what is believed to be a secure cloud.

All stakeholders involved have conceded that key data belonging to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority submitted via the eNMRA portal have gone missing.

As a Criminal Investigations is underway, the NMRA said it cannot disclose any further information.

The College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) President Ravi Kumudesh said what has happened is something similar to the infamous 2015 - 2016 Central Bank Treasury Bond Scam.

'The government should not resort to appointing a commission to probe the matter as it would take more time,' he said noting that by immediately exposing those responsible would also expose the various malpractices taking place within the NMRA.

If Sri Lanka fails to expose who is responsible for this, international companies would suspend their supplies of medicines to the country, he warned.

'The lethargic approach by the government and the Health Ministry over this situation, is a cause for concern,' he added.

Ranjith Vithanage, a Consumer Rights Activist slammed the government for not maintaining a backup records system.

The Criminal Investigations Department must expedite its probe to determine if the files were deleted on purpose or if it was a mistake, he added.

'We believe there is someone untouchable, who the CID cannot taken in for questioning,' he alleged.