- the Bill for the establishment of the said Regulatory Authority prepared by the Legal Draftsman was presented to the Cabinet by Hon. Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Health. The main objectives of setting up of the said Authority are -

* to ensure the availability of safe and good quality medicinal drugs, safe, effective and acceptable quality devices and quality cosmetics to the general public at affordable prices;

* to function as the central regulator for all matters connected with the importation, manufacture, storage, sale, distribution etc. of medicinal drugs, devices and cosmetics;

* to ensure through the services provided by the National Medicinal Drug Quality Assurance Laboratory and other recognized laboratories, only safe and good quality medicinal drugs are made available to the health care sector and the general public;

* to ensure that all activities related to importation and registration of medicinal drugs, devices and cosmetics are carried out in a transparent manner; and

* promote and encourage the manufacture of medicinal drugs in Sri Lanka.

Cabinet decided to refer the draft Bill to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Legislation for recommendations, in the first instance.