News
AMS takes govt to task for allowing virtual blind entry of tourists into the country
The Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) yesterday criticised the decision taken by the government to allow foreigners to enter Sri Lanka without being subjected to PCR testing at the airport.
AMS President, Dr. Lakkumar Fernando, writing to the Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, said that the government had recently established a rapid PCR laboratory at the BIA with a view to attracting more tourists to Sri Lanka. “The whole idea of spending so much money for this facility is to encourage tourist arrivals with the least amount of hassle whilst keeping the country safe and free from possible new deadly variants. For everyone’s surprise and for “reasons best known to originator of the new decision, the government has now issued new guidelines enabling tourist arrival without the on arrival PCR test, purely relying on Vaccine card for 2 dose vaccination and PCR report obtained Within 72 hours prior to the arrival.
“We, as a professional association, strongly feel that this is a dangerous decision as there is no foolproof method of ascertaining the reliability and the authenticity of such reports done outside Sri Lanka which can easily lead to spread of dangerous variants of Covid-19 from BIA. There were many reports of fake vaccination certificates, false PCR reports not only in Sri Lanka but also in the developed countries. In such a scenario there is no scientific rationale for skipping the mandatory PCR testing at BIA, especially a recently purpose built facility available at the airport for PCR testing.
“Further, this will allow dangerous variants to reach our country, totally destroying the hard earned control we have achieved so far with major sacrifices from all the sections of our society.
“Therefore, we humbly appeal to you to revisit this dangerous situation with the participation of relevant experts and take appropriate decisions whilst keeping the safety of our nation as the utmost priority.”
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) on Friday said the largest groundwater source discovered in Sri Lanka so far had been identified during tube-well drilling near the Pitabeddara Police Station.
Indrajith Gamage, geologist in charge of the Southern Province, said the source recorded a continuous flow of about 10,000 litres (10 cubic metres) per minute, marking the first instance in the country where a groundwater source of that magnitude had been found.
He noted that the previous largest groundwater source was discovered in the Madhu area, which recorded a flow of about 7,000 litres per minute.
According to the NWSDB, the tube well was drilled following geological studies of rock layers and the identification of underground water through fractures in rock strata using specialised technical instruments.
The Board said steps would be taken to distribute water from the newly discovered source to residents facing shortages in Pitabeddara, Morawaka and surrounding areas.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has formally handed over its historical records to the National Archives Department, entrusting over a century of the nation’s commercial history to the country’s official custodians of heritage.
The archive, spanning from the CCC’s founding in 1839 to 1973, includes correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, ledgers, and publications that chronicle the development of trade, enterprise, and industry in Sri Lanka. Together, the records provide a rare and detailed account of the island’s economic evolution and the role of its business community in shaping national progress.
The Ministry of Defence said on Friday (13) that arrangements had been made to repatriate to Iran the bodies of 84 sailors who died aboard the IRIS Dena, which sank in the southern seas off Sri Lanka.
A special aircraft carrying the bodies departed from Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport on Friday, the Ministry said, adding that the repatriation was carried out in coordination with the Embassy of Iran in Sri Lanka.
The remains had been kept in two mobile cold-storage units at the Galle National Hospital before being transported to Mattala by lorry following a court order. Forty-five bodies were moved in the morning, while the remaining 39 were transported later in the day.
Earlier this month, the Iranian naval vessel suffered an incident about 40 nautical miles off Port of Galle while carrying around 180 personnel. Thirty-five rescued sailors were admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, while 84 bodies were subsequently recovered.
Following the incident, Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Iranian vessel had been sunk in international waters by a torpedo fired from a submarine of the United States Navy.
Showers will occur at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western and Uva provinces and in Galle, Matara, Mannar and Anuradhapura districts after 2.00 pm.
Lanka discovers largest groundwater source
Lanka’s commercial legacy preserved in National Archives
Bodies of 84 Iranian sailors flown home
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