News

Disruption to tobacco prevention project: PHIs demand inquiry against DDG

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/16

By Ifham Nizam

The Public Health Inspectors’ Union of Sri Lanka has demanded an inquiry against Deputy Director General (Public Health Services) Dr. S. M. Arnold with regard to intentional disruption of tobacco cessation and prevention activities conducted by the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA).

Public Health Inspectors’ Union President Upul Rohana, writing to the Secretary to the Ministry of Health on 06 June 2022, with the letter reference number PHIU/GEN/PRE/2022/34, asked for the inquiry allegedly on the grounds that Deputy Director General (Public Health Services) had not permitted Public Health Inspector T. G. S. L. Prakash, to contribute his expertise to a project conducted by the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol to establish 362 smoke free zones in Sri Lanka with the support of the World Health Organization.

Prakash is working as a Public Health Inspector at the Principal Public Health Inspectors’ Unit, under the supervision of Deputy Director General (Public Health Services) at the Ministry of Health and doubles as a resource person for National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohols’ projects on tobacco cessation in Sri Lanka since 2015.

The PHIs Union claims that Mr. Prakash has done several studies on establishing smoke free zones in Sri Lanka and innovated a 10-step process for establishing smoke free zones here. The WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) promotes smoke-free cities as an effective tobacco control strategy to ensure protection of the public from secondhand smoking.

From 2015 to November 2019, there were 253 smoke free zones established in 102 Medical Officer of Health divisions in 20 districts of the nine provinces. The pandemic took its toll on the project.

Therefore, NATA attempted to re-establish smoke free zones in the country. However, the Public Health Inspectors’ union of Sri Lanka claimed that Dr. Arnold, Deputy Director General (Public Health Services) intentionally disrupted these tobacco cessation and prevention activities; therefore, need an inquiry and preventive measures.

Dr. Arnold was not immediately available for comment.

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INS NIREEKSHAK makes port call in Colombo

Published

3 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

The Indian Navy Ship (INS) NIREEKSHAK arrived in Sri Lanka for Operational Turnaround (OTR) and a training visit on 21 Apr 26.

The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship at the port of Colombo in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions.

Commanded by, Commander Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, this Diving Support Vessel is set to conduct a training programme with the diving professionals of the Sri Lanka Navy.

The crew is also scheduled to participate in several activities organized by the Sri Lanka Navy and visit some tourist attractions within the country.

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts

Published

5 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 12.00 noon 21 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 21 April 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, Northcentral, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:

The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities

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Six Foreign Envoys Present Credentials to President Dissanayake

Published

7 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Two High Commissioners, three Ambassadors and an Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See presented their credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (20).

The ceremony, held at 10.00 a.m., followed the formal order of precedence, with the envoys representing Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Luxembourg, the Holy See, Pakistan and Kuwait.

Accordingly, diplomats who presented their credentials were:

01. Vincent Sumale, High Commissioner-designate of Papua New Guinea (Based in New Delhi)

02. Abdullahi Mohammed Odowa, Ambassador-designate of Somalia (Based in New Delhi)

03. Christian Biever, Ambassador-designate of Luxembourg (Based in New Delhi)

04. Monsignor Andrzej Józwowicz, Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See

05. Major General (Retd) Nayyar Naseer, High Commissioner-designate of Pakistan

06. Saleh Mubarak Al-Sarawi, Ambassador-designate of Kuwait

Following the presentation of credentials, the President engaged in a cordial discussion with them. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, and the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, were also in attendance.