News
Expert: Lockdowns not effective unless coupled with aggressive testing
By Rathindra Kuruwita
It was difficult to say whether the lockdown had helped reduce the transmission of coronavirus because of the drop in testing and changes in how deaths are reported, Executive Director of the Institute for Health Policy (IHP), Dr Ravi Rannan-Eliya told The Island yesterday.
Those developments had made it very difficult to assess the trend in infections, he said, adding that it was quite possible transmission had increased.
“One sign of this is the steady rise in the fatality rate. It is clear that the lockdown failed to curb the spread of the virus or to put us on a path to ending this outbreak. Further, I am quite sure that the lockdown and other measures adopted so far will not be sufficient to stop the spread of the Delta variant which we will most likely face in the next few months.”
Dr. Rannan-Eliya said that it was not surprising as global scientific evidence showed lockdowns had to be coupled with aggressive testing and isolation. Since Sri Lanka also reduced testing during the lockdown period, it was not surprising from a scientific point of view that the lockdown was not very effective, he said.
“Further, the lockdown was not properly planned; there are in fact much better ways making lockdowns more effective in stopping the viral transmission without causing so much of suffering to the public.”
The IHP Executive Director said that unless the government and health experts took testing seriously, Sri Lanka would not succeed in controlling the pandemic.
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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