News
Prof. Jayasumana warns consequences can be quite grave
Pathetic public response to Pfizer booster roll-out
By Shamindra Ferdinando
In spite of the promotional campaign for the Pfizer-BioNTech booster jab, the public response for just concluded vaccination week (Jan 11-17) had been low, State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana told The Island.
Lawmaker Prof. Jayasumana warned the public of dire consequences unless they rushed to the nearest vaccination centre and obtained the jab.
The public shouldn’t be lulled into a false sense of security by the gradual drop in the number of Covid-19 deaths over the past few weeks, the Anuradhapura District MP said, reiterating the need for the public to receive the booster as quickly as possible.
The minister said that 46,866 persons received the booster on January 11. They were followed by 74,382 (Jan. 12), 66,952 (Jan. 13), 44,553 (Jan.14) 49,798 (Jan. 15), 39,163 (Jan. 16) and 23,717 (Jan. 17).
Responding to another query, Prof. Jayasumana acknowledged that those who had been working overtime to undermine the vaccination drive appeared to have succeeded in influencing the public, especially through social media and by word of mouth.
Prof. Jayasumana pointed out that Sri Lanka was able to handle the Covid-19 threat much better thanks to a well-organised vaccination drive involving both civilian and the military. “Now, our challenge is to convince the people to receive the booster,” Prof. Jayasumana said.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday (18) told Parliament that they were able to resume normal community life having vaccinated more than 85% of the targeted population. At the moment, the administering of the booster vaccination targeting the entire population was continuing, the President said in his policy speech, third since the last presidential election.
The first and second doses administered were the Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.
Recalling the difficulties experienced due to an unexpected Covid-19 eruption in India in early 2020 that disrupted promised supplies of AstraZeneca, Prof. Jayasumana said the government was able to somehow procure vaccines. “We have achieved protection to a certain degree with two doses but the booster dose is of critical importance,” Prof. Jayasumana said.
Appreciating the support provided by various countries as well as international organisations to sustain a costly vaccination roll-out at a time the country was experiencing grave difficulties, the State Minister urged the public not to miss this opportunity. Another eruption due to public indifference could deliver a debilitating setback to our recovery efforts, the State Minister warned, asserting that the epidemic still posed quite a threat. “The vaccination is the only available remedy. Therefore, regardless of scare stories propagated by interested parties and some seeking legal interventions meant to hinder the vaccination process.
Asked when the 16-19 age category would be given the second dose, Prof. Jayasumana said that the roll-out was scheduled to commence after January 20. The State Minister pointed out that as the inoculation of the 16-19 age group began on Oct 20, the second dose could be given after a lapse of three months. Pfizer-BioNTech is used to inoculate this particular age group.
Latest News
Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology
at 3.30 p.m. on 25 March 2026, valid for 26 March 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in
Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Colombo declared that the United States and Sri Lanka maintain a long-standing defence partnership, grounded in transparency, mutual respect, and shared interests.
The official said so in response to The Island query regarding President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent bombshell disclosure, in Parliament, that his government declined to allow the US Air Force to use the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, following the eruption of the latest West Asia war.
We sought views of the US on President Dissanayake’s claim against the backdrop of Sri Lanka being a party to the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) since 2007. Sri Lanka extended the ACSA in 2017, for another 10-year period, and its extension comes up next year.
The President revealed that the US had requested permission to use Mattala, between 04 and 08 March.
Claiming that the request had been made on 26 February, two days before the war began, President Dissanayake said that the US had sought to land two aircraft, carrying eight anti-ship missiles, but that the request had been turned down to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality. The President revealed that the aircraft were to come from a US base in Djibouti.
The US embassy pokesperson explained that questions related to operational movements, including ‘Operation Epic Fury’, should be directed to the Department of War (DOW) in Washington.
Camp Lemonnier is the primary base of operations for US Africa Command in the Horn of Africa. China, too, has its only overseas military base in Djibouti in the vicinity.
Military sources said whatever various interested parties said about US-Sri Lanka relations, the former provided significant intelligence support during last phase of the conflict that enabled the Navy to hunt down floating LTTE arsenals in international waters. Of the eight LTTE vessels sunk, the US backed four hits with specific intelligence, sources said.
News
No decrease in remittances from workers due to Gulf conflict, but significant drop in tourist arrivals – CB Governor
Sri Lanka’s worker remittances had not seen a decrease despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Central Bank (CBSL) Governor, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday.
“Based on currently available data, they have not seen a decline in remittances. In fact, according to that we have observed, is a slight increase in remittances in the past few days, ” the Governor said at a media conference held at the Central Bank head office in Colombo.
Governor Weerasinghe also mentioned that he had not seen any reports about Sri Lankans returning to the country from the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict.
The Central Bank Governor, however, acknowledged that there had been a decrease in tourist arrivals. He confirmed that tourist arrivals had decreased by around 17 percent due to the current volatile situation in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at the current level of 7.75%, following its latest Monetary Policy Board meeting.
By Hiran H Senewiratne
Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts
US dodges question on AKD’s claim SL denied permission for military aircraft to land
No decrease in remittances from workers due to Gulf conflict, but significant drop in tourist arrivals – CB Governor
Lal Kantha provides contact details for public grievances
Mannar’s silent skies: Migratory Flamingos fall victim to power lines amid Wind Farm dispute
Deterioration of public security: Sajith, Ranil, Namal in joint appeal to international organisations
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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