News
SL cautious over concerns of deadly Lambda variant sneaking in
by Suresh Perera
Sri Lanka’s overwhelmed public health care sector, already under tremendous pressure over galloping Covid-19 infection numbers, has raised the alarm over the possibility of the deadly Lambda variant sneaking into the country.
“We have to be on the alert”, a senior medical official cautioned, as the latest mutated variant of the coronavirus swept across 30 South American countries.
There are stringent quarantine measures in place at points of entry into the country, but there is always the possibility of some people arriving from overseas escaping detection, says Dr. Hemantha Herath, Deputy Director-General of Medical Services.
The Lambda (C.37) variant, initially identified in Peru in December 2020, now accounts for the majority of infections there. In what medical experts described as an “alarming trend”, the highly transmissible Covid-19 strain is on the rise in other South American countries, including Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, and Brazil.
Dr. Herath said that all those coming to Sri Lanka from overseas are placed under 14 days mandatory quarantine, which is generally sufficient to identify positive cases. However, there could be outliers who escape detection.
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) screening doesn’t translate into a 100% ‘all clear’ where the identification of the infection is concerned. That’s why there’s a follow up mandatory quarantine period, he pointed out.
“Under the circumstances, the possibility of the new strain emerging in Sri Lanka is inevitable. Therefore, we should be alert to the situation and be geared to meet any eventuality”, he stressed.
“Our laboratory sequencing has so far not detected the Lambda variant in Sri Lanka”, said Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
He said the newest strain has already affected more than 30 countries in South America.
Asked whether the vaccines now being administered have been found effective against the Lambda variant, he replied, “that’s still not known”.
“The only way the threat of Covid-19 and its variants can be defeated is by collectively adhering to stipulated health safety guidelines”, Dr. Herath underscored.
If people tread cautiously without lowering their guard, the virus will ultimately die down as it cannot survive without human cells to multiply, another medical official said.
“Irresponsible public behavior will only help to aggravate the situation, as seen in April this year, when unrestricted inter-provincial travel, crowd gathering and merry-making during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year led to an explosive situation with infections multiplying”, he warned.
According to reports, scientists and experts see the latest Lambda variant of the virus as a fresh threat to the gains made over the last year or so.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says a variant becomes a “variant of interest” when it is identified as a cause for significant community transmission or multiple COVID-19 clusters, in multiple countries, with increasing relative prevalence alongside the increasing number of cases over time.
Besides, such a variant also shows signs of other apparent “epidemiological impacts” to suggest an emerging risk to global public health, the world health body said.
Meanwhile. the United Kingdom health body, Public Health England (PHE), designated Lambda as a “variant under investigation” on June 23, a day after the country reported a total of six cases.
USS Canberra of the United States Navy departed the island on 14 Jun 26, following a successful replenishment port call. The Sri Lanka Navy extended a traditional naval farewell to the departing vessel at the Port of Colombo.
During the ship’s stay, the Commanding Officer of USS Canberra called on the Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters
News
The use of local organic Agricultural products in the Bakery Industry will strengthen both local farmers and the tourism industry – PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the use of local organic agricultural products in bakery production would provide significant support to both local farmers and the growth of the tourism industry.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the Annual meeting of the All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association, held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, on Friday (12 June).
The Prime Minister stated,
“At a decisive moment when the country is moving towards a new phase of economic transformation, I believe that the bakery industry has the potential to become a key driver of the national economy, rather than remaining limited to flour-based products alone.
The food production must be mainly considered the quality and safety of food. Therefore, instead of focusing solely on taste, we should introduce nutritious and healthy products to the market that are free from artificial flavourings and colourings.
By using ingredients such as rice flour, finger millet, foxtail millet, green gram, and indigenous tubers to create value-added products, the bakery industry has the opportunity to capitalize on the growing global trend towards health-conscious diets.
The use of local organic agricultural products in food prepared for foreign tourists will provide substantial benefits to local farmers while also contributing to the growth of the tourism industry. At the same time, the government remains committed to strengthening local entrepreneurs by reducing challenges related to the importation of raw materials, providing concessionary loans for new technologies, and offering the technical assistance required to meet international standards.
The government has already launched programmes through the Ministry of Industries to provide the necessary training and market linkages to help small and medium-scale bakery owners develop and expand their businesses”.
The occasion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Industries Chathuranga Abeysinghe, President of the All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association N.K. Jayawardana, and a number of members of the Association were also present at the event.
Prime Minister’s Media Division
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with a delegation from the UNICEF on Friday (June 12) at Temple Trees to discuss ongoing efforts to support the recovery of the education sector following the impact of Cyclone Ditwah.
Discussions focused on the implementation of activities outlined in the report titled “Cyclone Ditwah Education Emergency Response Plan: Phase 1 Progress Updates (January–April 2026).” The meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress achieved during the initial phase of the response and to discuss future interventions aimed at supporting children and schools affected by the disaster.
The Prime Minister and the UNICEF delegation also exchanged views on strengthening collaboration to ensure the continuity of education and the well-being of affected children.
The UNICEF delegation included Emma Brigham, UNICEF Representative, Begona Arellano, Deputy Representative, and other UNICEF officials.
(Prime Minister’s Media Division)
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The use of local organic Agricultural products in the Bakery Industry will strengthen both local farmers and the tourism industry – PM
Prime Minister meets with UNICEF delegation
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