News
CMLS flays govt. for procurement of Pfizer vaccine despite growing scepticism
By Rathindra Kuruwita
President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS), Ravi Kumudesh said yesterday that Sri Lanka had imported Pfizer COVID vaccines without a proper estimate and therefore vaccines worth four million dollars would be wasted.
Kumudesh told The Island: “The Ministry decided to import Pfizer vaccines last year and they imported a large quantity without making any estimates. It didn’t have a plan on vaccinating people. It didn’t think of growing vaccine skepticism and did not take steps to address that. Most people didn’t take the third jab.”
Kumudesh said that around 14 million doses of vaccine imported, and their shelf life ended in the second week of July. The Ministry imported Pfizer at 6.75 US dollars a jab and about 600,000 doses past the expiry date were in warehouses.
“Apparently, the Health Ministry officials are trying to change the date of expiry and protect those who decided to import a large quantity of the vaccine without an estimate,” Kumudesh said.
The Ministry had to look at the present need and take steps to import adequate quantities, the CMLs chief said.
“Most people are now skeptical about Pfizer. Therefore, they have skipped the third jab but the Health Ministry is trying to persuade them to take the fourth jab,” he said.
Kumudesh said medicine had to be imported at least 24 months before their the end of their shelf life. That had been the standard practice earlier, he said.
It has been reported that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne has been found dead at his residence in Athurugiriya this morning (17)
it is suspected that he may have taken his own life.
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
Former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne found dead at his residence
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A few showers may occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts
Harmer, Markram and Wolvaardt win top honours at CSA awards
War of words erupts between Minister Chandrasekar and Archchuna in North
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