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Expect newer variants with rapid spread of COVID-19 in many parts of South Asia, medical experts say

Published

5 years ago

2021/08/14

Army personnel visiting a Colombo suburb to vaccinate those unable to visit vaccination centres (pic by Nishan S Priyantha)

The uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in many parts of South Asia implies that newer variants will continue to emerge, a research paper titled ‘Stronger together: a new pandemic agenda for South Asia’ by top South Asian medical experts state.

Among the medical experts is Prof. Neelika Malavige of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

The paper said that it is estimated that by 1 September 2021, approximately 1.4 million in South Asians will die due to COVID-19 alone. They also said the total number of excess deaths will be much higher—including non-COVID causes, as health systems are on the brink of collapse. With 33.4% of South Asians being extremely poor and the large-scale loss of livelihood being reported, the region faces a potentially catastrophic future for the ongoing decade.

“However, countries in South Asia continue to remain divisive. This differs from other geographic ‘blocs’ that frequently cooperate on mutual interest issues. Tensions in South Asia are shaped by complex domestic, bilateral, intra-regional and international geopolitical factors, despite the region’s obvious geographic, economic and cultural interdependence,” they claim.

A key lesson from the current pandemic is that countries need to share lessons and actively coordinate, complement, and supplement each other’s public health responses, especially between neighbours. The experts then presented a pragmatic ‘Stronger Together’ agenda on critical areas of concern for political, social, medical, and public health leaders in South Asia to consider and build on.

Given below the suggested action plan

“Cross-national surveillance for the
SARS-CoV-2 variants

“The uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in many parts of South Asia implies that newer variants will continue to emerge. Some variants will inherently display increased transmissibility, infectivity and vaccine/antigenic escape capability, making it difficult for us to track and intelligently act on them. Rapidly scaling up capacity for genomics and rolling out countrywide surveillance systems require increased time and resources. Regional collaborative efforts within existing facilities and building a regional network similar to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genome Sequencing Consortia are feasible. The network can also build capacity within each country in the long run making countries self-sufficient to collect data and strengthen regional surveillance. Linking genomic data with clinical and public health data as well as enabling environmental surveillance will provide a more comprehensive picture of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. This is an investment, not only for the ongoing pandemic but also for other endemic pathogens and emerging infectious diseases.

“Interconnected and resilient health systems

“Health system capacity and human resources for health remain a major regional challenge. Healthcare worker density in the region is well below the suggested threshold of 44.5 healthcare workers per 10 000 population to achieve universal health coverage. National averages hide the disparities that exist across various geographic, demographic and socioeconomic population groups. The possibility of interconnected and collaborative health systems holds enormous potential, specifically for border areas. Setting up mechanisms for cross-border patient management (relaxed barriers or visa requirements on sharing medical documentation) and regional medical missions is essential from a humanitarian standpoint. Facilitating cross-border teleconsultation by designing more flexible mutually agreed upon regulations will also further boost capacity. At the minimum, peer support groups and tele-mentoring should be put into place. For this, mutual recognition of medical licenses and healthcare qualifications is essential. While close collaborations will be needed for the pandemic response, forming functional mechanisms of public health networking between countries under a long-term regional strategy will be required for developing a shared resilience and preparedness plan.

“Addressing COVID-19 supplies shortage

“There is a dependency on aid from the diaspora and from bilateral, multinational and humanitarian aid agencies to secure COVID-19 supplies during the current surge. This is neither sustainable, nor secure, nor without consequences. South Asian countries need to jointly invest in the augmentation of dedicated production capacities of essential medicines and other supplies. Much has been said about India’s tremendous capacity as the ‘pharmacy of the world’, not recognising manufacturing capacity in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and other countries in the region. Nationalistic policies and hoarding of active pharmaceutical ingredients by high-income countries (HICs) impede access and scale-up. However, such power imbalances can be mitigated to an extent if South Asia acts as a ‘bloc’. Production augmentation alone would not be sufficient—there is a need to agree on shared technology ownership/transfer and an equity-based regional distribution model based on priority groups defined based on assessment of risks and vulnerability.

“COVID-19 vaccines specifically remain a crucial challenge for South Asia. In the short term, South Asian countries must act as a bloc to request excess vaccines from HICs, using a collective needs assessment and a diplomatic approach. In the long term, there is a need to re-invent global health mechanisms such as COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX). Equity—the defining purpose of COVAX—has been subverted by HICs who had brought vaccines directly from manufacturers and built stockpiles. The South Asian bloc, together with others, needs to shift COVAX from a neo-colonial purchase-donate model to a model with regional manufacturing hubs. Access to vaccines or essential medicines, a vital component of the right to health, should not be dependent on charitable inclinations, economic or political interests of HICs, or private corporations—a regional effort is required to change the status quo.

“Cooperation between scientific, professional organisations and associations

“Clinical providers (e.g., doctors, nurses), scientists and public health professionals in South Asia must recognise that there is much context-specific knowledge to be learnt from one another and that collaboration is valuable. Shared challenges include low value, irrational clinical care, unregulated home-grown medical solutions and medical misinformation. Many South Asian countries do not develop their own clinical practice guidelines or the ones that are developed are not of high-quality. There is an urgent need for medical associations to collaboratively develop contextually relevant clinical practice guidelines at par with global standards. Advocacy for more significant investments in health and health workers is needed. The social conscience needs to realise that pathogens do not understand nationalism, populism or respect borders. There is also an urgent need to fight against irrationality and anti-science in the region. Drawing on the diverse experiences of countries regarding public health responses, vaccine roll-out, diagnosis and treatment capacity would be highly advantageous in designing effective pandemic responses both immediately and for the long term.

“The way forward

“Focusing on a ‘Stronger Together’ future is a necessary step for tackling health security challenges beyond COVID-19, such as the climate crisis. The longer COVID-19 stays uncontrolled, even in a single country in South Asia, all other countries will be in immediate danger from novel variants and other social, economic and political consequences. Beyond the immediate benefits of addressing the pandemic, a collective regional approach, with global knowledge-exchange collaborations, will be vital for re-imagining the global health structure with equity at its centre.”

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Plans to open underutilised state land for new investment opportunities

Published

2 hours ago

2026/06/17

Priyan

A discussion between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Circular Revision Committee appointed to review and update circulars issued under the State Lands Ordinance and the Land Development Ordinance was held on Tuesday (16) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat. The Committee has been mandated to recommend to the Cabinet the cancellation of out-dated circulars, the issuance of new circulars, and the revision of existing circulars to ensure alignment with current requirements.

The Committee is chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, D.P. Wickramasinghe. Its other members include the Senior Additional Secretary to the President (Constitutional and Statutory Affairs Division), Legal Adviser to the Presidential Secretariat, an Additional Solicitor General from the Attorney General’s Department, the Additional Secretary (Lands) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, the Additional Director General of the National Budget Department, the Western Province Land Commissioner, the Divisional Secretary of Nuwaragampalatha East, the Deputy Chief Valuer of the Valuation Department and the Director (Lands) of the Mahaweli Authority.

The Commissioner General of Lands serves as the Convener of the Committee.

The Committee’s responsibilities include establishing a reliable, uniform and regularised system of land taxation within the existing legal framework, ensuring state revenue optimisation without prejudice to lessees. This includes reviewing annual lease rentals charged on long-term leases and grants, aligning related circulars with current requirements, and amending or formulating new provisions and directives where necessary.

During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on the proposals submitted by the expert committee in relation to the revision of these circulars.

The President emphasised that a new, time-appropriate policy should be formulated to address the underutilisation of State lands and to ensure their more efficient use.

Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation Aravinda Senarath, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Legal Adviser to the President, Senior Attorney-at-Law J.M. Wijebandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation D.P. Wickramasinghe, Additional Solicitor General of the Attorney General’s Department, President’s Counsel Ravindra Pathiranage, Commissioner General of Lands Chandana Ranaweraarachchi, Director General (Institutional Affairs), Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development J.G.L.S. Jayawardena, Additional Director General (National Budget Department) D.A. Asantha Gunasekara, and Commissioner of Lands (Leasing Division) P.K.C. Nilani Mahindaganamage, together with members of the Committee, were also present.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation also attended the meeting.

(PMD)

Business

National Export Development Plan (2026–2030) presented to the President

Published

3 hours ago

2026/06/17

Priyan

Marking an important milestone in Sri Lanka’s economic development, the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) for the period 2026–2030 was presented to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday morning (16) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The 2026–2030 National Export Development Plan (NEDP) is a key national programme formulated in line with the Government’s policy direction under the 2025 Budget. It aims to strengthen the country’s export sector and achieve export-led sustainable economic growth.

The strategic plan has been developed under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and the leadership of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), with technical assistance provided through the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Policy-Based Lending (PBL) programme. It is the result of an extensive consultative process carried out in close collaboration with key government institutions, private sector stakeholders, and development partners.

The proposal submitted by the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development to recognise the “Sri Lanka National Export Development Plan 2026–2030” as the official strategic framework for export development and promotion in Sri Lanka was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 4 May 2026. The Plan reflects a broad consensus among government institutions, private sector experts, and international development partners.

In line with the national vision of “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life”, the Plan has been formulated to enhance Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness and achieve an export revenue target of USD 36 billion by 2030.

The core vision of the Plan is to transform Sri Lanka into a competitive logistics and knowledge-based export hub serving regional and global markets. The strategy is based on two key interconnected pillars: “horizontals” and “verticals”, which together provide the foundation for strengthening export competitiveness, diversification, and sustainable growth.

The horizontal enablers, which support the growth and expansion of all priority sectors, include logistics and integrated hub operations, trade facilitation, trade finance and reforms in the business and investment environment, trade promotion and market linkages, quality management, standards, environmental, social and governance (ESG) capacity development, as well as entrepreneurship and innovation.

The Plan also identifies eight priority export sectors to enhance export diversification and value addition, and to position Sri Lanka more competitively in global markets. These include automotive components, mineral-based industries, rubber-based industries, maritime industries (including boat and shipbuilding), spices and concentrates, digital products and services, electrical and electronic equipment, and processed food and beverages.

The preparation of the Plan involved contributions from over 300 stakeholders, including government institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations and international development partners. Broad consensus was achieved through consultations held from October to December 2025 and workshops conducted in January 2026.

The Government expects that, with implementation supported by strong governance and monitoring framework, the Plan will elevate local products to international standards and ensure long-term economic stability and growth. It is further anticipated that the National Export Development Plan will serve as a key driver of Sri Lanka’s economic progress in the years ahead.

Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the Ministry of Energy Russell Aponso, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Thilaka Jayasundara, and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board Mangala Wijesinghe were also present at the event.

[PMD]

News

Complaint of custodial deaths and torture submitted to UN

Published

5 hours ago

2026/06/17

Sahan Weerasooriya

Senaka and Aisha

The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) has complained to the UN regarding custodial deaths.

Executive Director of the Committee, Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera told The Island that they had submitted written submissions to the visiting UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) on Monday (15). “We are confident that they’ll take up the issues at hand with the government and take tangible measures to improve the conditions in prisons and detention facilities,” Perera said.

The SPT is here from 15 to 24 June. The visiting delegation consists of Aisha Shujune Muhammad, Head of Delegation (Maldives), Jakub Julian Czepek (Poland), Nika Kvaratskhelia (Georgia), Anica Tomsic (Croatia) and two human rights officers from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Claiming that there had been 184 prison deaths in 2024, the Committee asserted that though there was a drop in the number of cases, the deaths caused by underlying health complications and systemic issues weren’t available at the moment.

According to a copy of the submissions made to the SPT, received by The Island, there had been seven custodial deaths this year alone, reported from various parts of the country.

The Committee took a very critical position, while Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath assured the visiting delegation that the government didn’t tolerate torture at all.

The Ministry statement Monday night quoted Herath as having described the government response as zero tolerance policy.

The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners also dealt with several other contentious issues, including special treatment granted to those with political connections and privileged backgrounds. Perera alleged that in spite of a change of government, in 2024 September, the much anticipated improvements failed to materialise and the continuing custodial deaths highlighted the crisis in the prisons and detention facilities.

According to the Committee, the situation was so bad and further deteriorating in overcrowded prisons, the national overcrowding rate has reached an unsustainable 286.6%, with some facilities, like the Vavuniya Remand Prison, exceeding capacity by 300%.

A significant portion of this population (65.4%) consists of persons not convicted awaiting trial, the Committee said, urging the SPT to look into the pathetic situation.

The Committee also complained of torture and ill-treatment at some detention facilities. There had been cases of lawyers, visiting detention centres at Welisara and Boossa, been subjected to degrading and humiliating searches, including forced removal of clothing.

The Committee also brought to the SPT’s notice how the Supreme Court, on 14 December, 2023, held the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Deshabandu Thennakoon, personally responsible for torture. The failure on the part of prison authorities to grant inmates a fair hearing during internal investigations, too, has been raised by the Committee.

Among the other issues that had been raised were enforced disappearances, health and medical conditions, food, water and sanitation, corporal punishments and the operation of detention facilities within military bases.

Referring to the enforced disappearance of Gonapinuwala Kapila Kumara de Silva on 27 March, 2024, the Committee alleged that the Attorney General failed to take action against the perpetrators, believed to be members of the Special Task Force (STF)

The Committee alleged that in spite of them submitting formal complaints and an urgent letter to the Attorney General demanding prosecution under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances Act, No. 5 of 2018, the AG took no meaningful action.

Consequently, CPRP filed a Writ of Mandamus petition in the Court of Appeal (CA/WRIT/185/26) against the Attorney General and other officials, seeking judicial intervention to compel investigation and prosecution. The case remains pending

by Shamindra Ferdinando