News
Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital overflowing with Covid-19 cases
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The dedicated COVID-19 wards and the ICU at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children were almost full, hospital Director, Dr. G. Wijesuriya said yesterday.
Children were admitted at the rate of 5-6 a day and on some days the number increased to 12, Dr. Wijesuriya said, adding the youngest COVID-19 patient was 21 days old. So far 500 children and 350 mothers had been treated by the hospital during the third wave of the pandemic, he said.
“We have two dedicated wards and an ICU and these are now almost full. The ICU has six beds and five beds are already occupied. The two wards are full, too. We need new wards and we need them fast. If cases are reported at this rate, we will be in trouble,” Dr. Wijesuriya said, noting that they had been compelled to transfer some COVID-19 infected children to the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital and infected mothers to the Mulleriyawa Hospital.
“From the first week of August we will have a new hospital for COVID-19 affected children in Hambantota. We are also looking for a hospital around Colombo that can be dedicated to treating children.
Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist, Dr. Surantha Perera said parents should pay more attention to the safety of their children and should adhere to health guidelines religiously.
“Children are not vaccinated and parents who are vaccinated have lowered their guard. They have to realise that we are not out of danger and they must maintain physical distance, wash hands, wear masks and avoid unnecessary travel.”
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
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