The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), Saveen Semage, has resigned, citing threats to his life, the Sunday Times reported.

According to the report, Semage, a public health specialist, has resigned from his post, effective Saturday (17 May). 

The move comes after it was reported that two men had broken into his house on 09 May at around 11.30 pm.

Footage from the CCTV installed at Semage’s house shows the two intruders walking around the house and also peeping into the bedrooms where Semage and his family had been asleep. 

It is reported that the Police are yet to apprehend the two intruders. 

Dr. Semagae served as the CEO of the NMRA from November 2021 to May 2022, after which he resigned over differences with former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

Ramesh Pathirana, who replaced Keheliya Rambukwella after the latter was forced to resign over irregularities in drug procurement, brought back Semage to the NMRA to clean up the drug regulatory mechanism. Thereafter, Semage was appointed as the NMRA Chief with effect from January 2024. 

“There was a lot of tension within the NMRA and the pharmaceutical industry during the last two to three weeks because of my efforts in pricing and in breaking monopolies and oligopolies to save public funds. I think the break-in was a threat in an effort to remove me,” Dr. Semage said, speaking to the Sunday Times. (Newswire)

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