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GMOA wants Health Ministry officials to get cracking with 2023 budget allocation to end severe drug shortage
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Health Ministry officials must take steps to use Rs 321 billion allocated for health by the 2023 budget to solve the severe drug shortage, Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge told The Island yesterday.The GMOA Secretary said that there were many weaknesses in the procurement of medical supplies and these need to be addressed immediately.
“The process is also too complicated and there is a great deal of corruption in the sector,” said Dr. Aluthge.
There had been an attempt to expand the post graduate training opportunities for doctors with the 2023 budget, Dr. Aluthge said. “Postgraduate training is now available at the Colombo University. The budget proposes such programmes in Peradeniya, Ruhuna and Jaffna universities. This is a positive development as this will update the knowledge of doctors and develop their skills,” he said.
Dr. Aluthge said that the government was planning to establish another institution to determine the quality of degrees. A similar proposal was brought in when President Wickremesinghe was the Prime Minister of the Yahapalanaya government, he said.
“A lot of people, including the GMOA opposed this because this would have an adverse effect on the work done by the University Grants Commission and the existing mechanisms that gauge the quality of university degrees. We are keeping a close tab on this proposal and will oppose this proposal if it affects the quality of degrees,” he said.
Dr. Aluthge said that the budget had proposed to establish the paying ward system in government hospitals. “This is a strange proposal given that some hospitals including the Colombo National Hospital, already have this,” he said.
“However, the proposal to establish paying wards at Base Hospitals is suspicious. This might be a step-in privatising healthcare and will affect healthcare provided to the poorest segments of the population,” he said.
The GMOA Secretary said that they had been highlighting the high prevalence of malnutrition. The government has allocated Rs. 500 million to address this problem. “We must now ensure that the money is used properly. We must identify those who are the most in need and ensure that there is no corruption here.”
Dr. Aluthge said that the government was attempting to increase the tax revenue and given the crisis faced by the country, this is a necessity. However, some of the proposals to boost tax income are arbitrary and counter-productive.
“This has caused anger and fear among many professionals. This might also lead to more professionals leaving the country. We have already called for amending what, we think, are unfair revisions to tax policy. We believe that taxes must be collected and funds raised therefrom spent in a transparent manner.
Dr. Aluthge said that over the years a number of positive proposals had been made in budgets, but they had not been implemented.
“There are some welcome proposals. There are some bad ones as well. We fear that while the worst proposals are implemented, the good ones will be ignored. We will work with all concerned parties to ensure that the quality of the health services is maintained and defeat any attempt to privatise healthcare.”
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Landslide RED warnings continue to be in force for the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
The RED Landslide Early Warnings issued by the Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organization [NBRO] to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya have been extended until 1600hrs today [06th December 2025]. Landslide Early warnings have also been issued to the districts of Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, Monaragala and Ratnapura,
Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Gangawata Korale, Deltota, Doluwa, Thumpane, Medadumbara, Minipe, Pathahewaheta, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Akurana, Udunuwara, Panvila, Pathadumbara, Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Poojapitiya, Harispattuwa and Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Mawanella, Rambukkana, Dehiowita, Warakapola, Deraniyagala, Bulathkohupitiya, Ruwanwella, Yatiyanthota and Aranayaka in the Kegalle district, Narammala, Mawathagama, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Rideegama and Polgahawela in the Kurunegala district, Rattota, Wilgamuwa, Ukuwela, Pallepola, Matale, Laggala Pallegama, Yatawatta, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district, and Nildandahinna, Walapane, Hanguranketha and Mathurata in the Nuwara Eliya district.
LEVEL II AMBER warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Passara and Haldummulla in the Badulla district, Nuwara Eliya, Ambagamuwa Korale, Thalawakele, Norwood, Kothmale West and Kothmale East in the Nuwara Eliya district, and Kahawaththa, Godakawela and Kolonna in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka and Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Elpitiya and Yakkalamulla in the Galle district, Mirigama, Attanagalla and Divulapitiya in the Gampaha district, Bulathsinhala, Ingiriya and Horana in the Kalutara district, Athuraliya and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Bibile and Medagama in the Monaragala district, and Kiriella, Nivithigala, Eheliyagoda, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Pelmadulla, Elapatha, Balangoda, Openayake, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Ratnapura and Kaltota in the Ratnapura district.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), on Thursday, signalled strong solidarity with Sri Lanka in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, confirming that it is actively exploring options to provide further support for recovery and resilience beyond the existing Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
Julie Kozack, Director of the IMF’s Communications Department, opened her remarks with heartfelt condolences:
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the people of Sri Lanka for the effects of the devastating cyclone. Our hearts mourn the loss of life that has taken place,” she said, extending condolences to other Asian nations also grappling with severe flooding, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
On Sri Lanka, Kozack emphasised that the IMF is closely engaging with authorities, development partners, and counterparts to assess the humanitarian, social, and economic toll of the disaster.
“Large parts of Sri Lanka have been affected by floods, and we expect economic activity to be adversely impacted, in addition to the significant human toll,” she noted.
The IMF is awaiting the completion of a rapid post-disaster damage assessment, led by Sri Lankan authorities, in collaboration with international partners, to better gauge the economic impact.
“We are continuing to support Sri Lanka’s recovery, reform, and resilience under the EFF arrangement. Our staff is looking into options to further support Sri Lanka in the recovery process,” Kozack confirmed.
She reiterated that the Board meeting, scheduled for 15 December, remains on track, following the staff-level agreement on the fifth review reached in October—prior to the cyclone.
“We will provide additional details as the assessment of economic needs and damages moves forward, and as we have more information to inform our thinking around the options,” she added.
Naina Thambi Marikkar Mohamed Thahir was sworn in as a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) National List Member of Parliament before Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday (05).
His appointment follows the resignation of SJB Parliamentarian Muhammathu Ismail Muththu Mohamed, who stepped down from his position on 28 November.
The SJB subsequently nominated Thahir to fill the resulting vacancy.
Accordingly, the Election Commission issued a Gazette Extraordinary declaring Naina Thambi Marikkar Mohamed Thahir a Member of Parliament, in terms of Section 64(5) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981, as amended by Section 6 of the Elections (Special Provisions) Act, No. 35 of 1988.
With the issuance of the gazette, and the subsequent swearing-in, Thahir has officially assumed duties as a National List MP, representing the SJB.
Landslide RED warnings continue to be in force for the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
Fakhar Zaman fined 10% of match fee for showing dissent at umpire’s decision
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IMF pledges additional aid to Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah destruction
Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir takes oath as SJB National List MP
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