News
Health Ministry officials, politicians blamed for underhand deal
State-owned facility prevented from collecting samples
Private lab has monopoly over PCR tests at BIA
by Rathindra Kuruwita
President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science Ravi Kumudesh told The Island yesterday that a single private lab had been entrusted with the task of conducting PCR tests on all tourists arriving in Sri Lanka.
Kumudesh added that a state-run lab has been set up at the Bandaranaike International Airport but it had not received a single sample.
“We exposed this through the media. We have even written to the President but nothing has happened. We will be compelled to reveal the names of the Health Ministry officials and politicians responsible for this underhand deal, which has allowed the private lab concerned to make huge profits.”
Kumudesh said, “Now that the state-owned lab has been prevented from collecting sample, the Health Ministry has allowed businessmen to take over the process of conducting tests. Worse, some self-proclaimed experts are manipulating data.”
Kumudesh said that when they called for establishing a PCR lab at the BIA, there was a lot of resistance from certain officials of the Health Ministry and doctors who worked at private labs.
“However, the Health Secretary gave us his blessings and we established a lab within 10 days. This is a lab that can give a PCR test report within one and a half hours. It can test 4,500 people a day. I don’t think that more than 1,500 people will arrive in the country in the coming months,” he said.
Kumudesh added that the government had taken a risk by opening up the airports, given the importance of tourism sector. They were ready to assist the government by ensuring those with COVID19 would not leave the airport, he added.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
Expressions of Interest called to develop selected locations within the Pelawatte Sugar Factory premises
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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