Pharmaceutical Importers warns they will stop importing drugs if the Central Bank fails to pay US $ 25 million a month to import drugs.

"It has been two weeks since we had a discussion with Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal to get the dollars, but the dollars have not been received to issue Letters of Credit. As a result, there is a shortage of drugs in pharmacies and it will worsen within the next three months,"said Chandika Gankanda, President of the Private Pharmacy Owners' Association.

Sri Lanka's Pharmaceutical Importers had requested Minister of State Channa Jayasumana to deregulate drug prices and increase prices. Accordingly, the State Ministry is likely to give permission to increase the price of drugs by 5% in the future.

Informed sources state that there is an acute shortage of medicines in many government hospitals as well and the patients are asked to buy medicines from private pharmacies.