Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 80% of all deaths in Sri Lanka, with high blood pressure and diabetes among the leading causes, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, said early this week.

Dr. Jasinghe pointed out that the two conditions were interrelated and could lead to a range of serious health complications, with heart attacks being among the most severe consequences.

Dr. Jasinghe made these remarks while attending the commencement of construction of a modern Cardiac Care Complex at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital on Wednesday (16).

The Health and Mass Media Ministry Secretary said:

“The main issue is that these two diseases are interconnected and cause a range of complications in a person’s health. Looking at the current situation in Sri Lanka, only around 50% of those suffering from high blood pressure are under effective control. Similarly, only around 25% of diabetic patients are under proper control. As a result, this has now become a major problem in society.

“The most serious complication associated with both these diseases is Myocardial Infarction (MI), or a heart attack. This has also become the

leading complication. So, how do we control this modern epidemic? This is the biggest challenge before us.

“While establishing modern facilities across the country, our health system must also recognize the changes that have taken place in the demographic structure of our population and disease patterns. Accordingly, our health system must be adapted to suit these changing circumstances.

“Under the policies of the government led by the President and the guidance of the Minister of Health, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media is currently implementing a major programme in this regard. Its three main components are Arogya, Cluster Systems and High-End Care Institutions, which need to be developed to suit the requirements of our health system.”

Former National Transport Commission (NTC) Chairman Renuka Perera was remanded until September 29 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court after being arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over alleged corruption in the issuance of bus route permits.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama issued the remand order after considering submissions by CIABOC officials and defence counsel.

According to CIABOC, Perera was arrested over allegations that he unlawfully issued route permits during his tenure as NTC Chairman, causing a financial loss to the government while conferring an unlawful benefit on an outside party.

Perera was arrested around 9.55 am yesterday (17) over allegations that he issued 56 passenger transport service permits for buses to operate on the Southern Expressway in violation of prescribed procedures and without collecting the applicable annual fees as a single payment.

CIABOC said the alleged offences were committed in contravention of the National Transport Commission Act No. 37 of 1991 and recommendations contained in a Cabinet decision dated September 19, 2014.

Perera, a senior member of the SLPP, currently serves as the party’s Administrative Secretary. He previously served as Chairman of state-owned dairy producer and marketer MILCO.

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Energy Affairs has approved the Order governing the calling for investment proposals for the exploration and development of petroleum resources in Sri Lanka, parliamentary sources said yesterday.

The approval was granted at a meeting of the committee held at Parliament recently (11), chaired by Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation and Energy Anura Karunathilaka.

The Order was made by the Minister of Energy under Section 48 of the Petroleum Resources Act, No. 21 of 2021, read together with Section 17 of the same Act, and had already received Cabinet approval. It was subsequently published in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2497/37 dated July 16, 2026.

Under the new framework, any party seeking to explore or develop petroleum resources in one or more identified blocks must submit an investment proposal along with payment of the administrative fee specified in the relevant bid invitation.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Energy Arkam Illyas, Members of Parliament, senior officials of the Ministry of Energy and other representatives.