President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has turned down Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella's nominee for the Chief Executive Officer post at the Netional Medicinal regulatory Authority (NMRA).

Rambukwella has nominated Dr. Vijith Gunasekera, Director of the Maharagama Apeksha Cancer Hospital, to the post.

The President then appointed Dr. Savin Semage as the Chief Executive Officer of the NMRA.

Semage is the Deputy Director of the Army Hospital and was also in charge of the vaccination program.

Meanwhile, the President has appointed Dr. DS Samarasinghe as the Managing Director of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation.

He worked in the Procurement Division of the State Ministry of Pharmaceutical Products Supply and Regulation.