News
Dr. Ariyaratne insists reform of health system must be thorough
“… work with honest doctors and administrators and take action against corrupt elements”
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Sri Lankan leaders were insensitive to the deterioration of the country’s healthcare system, Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) President Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne said.
The entire healthcare system was in crisis, he added. A person who goes to a state hospital knows that there are no drugs, there are issues with the quality of drugs and that there are shortages of medical staff, he mentioned.
“If they cared, the changes made at the helm should have been made a few months ago. However, at least the President has appointed a new Health Minister. We hope that the new Minister and the government take immediate steps to address the pressing concerns of the sector.”
Dr. Ariyaratne said the state healthcare sector has not collapsed totally due to the dedication and resourcefulness of the medical staff.
“But individual commitment is not enough. The government must step in,” he added.
The procurement and regulatory mechanisms in the health sector have broken down. The reform processes with regards to drugs and food must be thorough, the SLMA President said.
“In the last few years, these mechanisms have broken down. If you have the right connections, you could bring any drug and insert it into the system without any problem. Political interference also played a big role.”
Dr. Ariyaratne said that for over a year the director board at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) did not have the prescribed number of medical specialists. It was the SLMA that played a leading role in filling these vacancies.
“The NMRA act specifies that certain subject experts should be represented in the NMRA. This is to ensure that the drugs are safe. By not appointing the specialists, those in power had deliberately crippled the regulatory mechanism for drugs.”
The SLMA head said that some doctors are leaving the country because of the instability. There was a research on this by the University of Kelaniya which found most of the doctors that immigrated did so because they do not trust the leadership of the country.
“Even now most doctors are working under adverse circumstances. In 2022, the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government encouraged state sector employees to go abroad and that was a disastrous decision. This triggered the best people to leave,” he said.Dr. Ariyaratne urged the new Health Minister to work with honest doctors and administrators and take action against the corrupt elements of the medical sector.
Latest News
Cabinet approves implementation of National Strategic Action tion Plan to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings – 2026- 2030
Sri Lanka has signed and ratified the United Nations Convention against Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Combat Trafficking in Persons, especially against Women and Children, which is a treaty for the enforcement of its provisions.
Accordingly, the National Task Force on Trafficking in Persons was established in 2010 for the coordination of institutions that are interested and actively involved in the prevention of
trafficking in persons. The aforementioned task force has been operating in terms of the action plan prepared for a definite period, and the period of the final national strategic action plan for the period 2021-2025 has ended on 31-12-2025.
Therefore, having reviewed the progress of the aforementioned action plan. The national strategic action plan for the period 2026-2030 has been prepared with the consensus and knowledge of all relevant parties, consisting of four approaches:
protection, litigation (complaints), and partnership.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister
of Defense, to implement the aforementioned national strategic action plan.
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management 1000hrs today [06th January 2026] confirms that 21,514 persons belonging to 6,592 family units who were displaced due to the floods and landslides are still at 225 safety centers.
Z total of 6,037 houses were destroyed while 108,476 houses were partially damaged due to floods and landslides.
Latest News
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale, Monaragala and Nuwara Eliya
The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale, Monaragala and Nuwara Eliya in force from 1200hrs on 06th January to 1200hrs on 07th January 2026.
Accordingly,
Level III RED landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Udadumbara in the Kandy district, and Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya district.
Level II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kandaketiya in the Badulla district, Wilgamuwa in the Matale district, and Hanguranketha and Mathurata in the Nuwara Eliya district.
Level I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Hali_Ela, Badulla, Passara, Lunugala, Welimada and * Meegahakiwula in the Badulla district, Doluwa in the Kandy district, Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district, and Bibila in the Monaragala district.
Cabinet approves implementation of National Strategic Action tion Plan to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings – 2026- 2030
21,514 persons remain at 225 safety centers as at 10AM today [06]
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale, Monaragala and Nuwara Eliya
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