#DataScam : Who is responsible? Blame Game Continues

COLOMBO (News 1st); The National Medicines Regulatory Authority maintains that Epic Lanka Technologies is responsible for operating its database, from which multiple files mysteriously disappeared.

The Information Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka has also said Epic Lanka Technologies holds a major share of the responsibility.

The Information Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka, National Medicines Regulatory Authority, and Epic Lanka Technologies had signed an agreement in May 2018 for operating the data base for a five-year period.

The responsibilities of Epic Lanka Technologies outlined in the agreement are as follows;

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Bear sole responsibility for protecting and managing data

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Take swift action to address any breakdown of the server

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Maintain a back-up system

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Bear responsibility for the hardware and software of the server

The responsibilities of the Information Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka are as follows;

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Advise Epic Lanka Technologies as required.

Epic Lanka Technologies has said that the data had gone missing due to a mistake committed by one of its employees, dubbed as a Human Error.

Dr. Rasitha Wijewantha, the Chairman of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority said the human error of Epic Lanka Technologies is a serious issue as it could mean that one engineer can easily wipe the database clean.

"This system designed by Epic Lanka for the NMRA is still in the development stage. I have my concerns about how this was maintained without a backup system," he said.