News

Govt. appeals to people not to fall prey to any false propaganda against vaccination drive

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/31

Senior Presidential Advisor Lalith Weeratunga explains measures taken by the government to sustain the ongoing inoculation drive against the raging Covid-19 epidemic, at a media briefing at the Presidential Media Centre (pic courtesy PMD)

Take the vaccine without fail

By Ifham Nizam

All Lankans, over the age of 30, would be vaccinated against Covid-19 by September 15, Head of the Presidential Task Force for National Deployment and Vaccination Plan, Lalith Weeratunga said on Thursday.

Weeratunga said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was very keen on tackling virus hotspots and the intelligence services were rendering yeoman service.

President Rajapaksa had urged all Sri Lankans not to be deceived by false propaganda against the vaccination drive and to get the COVID-19 vaccine without fail and, thereby, assist the government in overcoming the socio-economic challenges posed by the pandemic, Weeratunga said.

Fielding questions after opening the President’s Media Centre in Colombo, Weeratunga said that they would have those between 18 and 30 years vaccinated next.

The veteran civil servant said the government was confident of achieving the vaccination target by the end of December with the help of the WHO. The government had spent between USD 60 and 65 million on Covid-19 vaccines.

Weeratunga also stressed that there was no decision to purchase the Sinovac vaccine.

He said more than 8.2 million Sri Lankans had so far received at least one vaccine dose. More than 1.8 million people had received both shots.

President’s Director General (MEDIA) Sudewa Hettiarachcchi and President’s Media Spokesman, Kingsly Rathnayake said by July 28, some 84% of the people over the age of 30 years in the Colombo District had received the first dose. In the Gampaha District, more than 93% had received the first dose. In the Kalutara District the percentage exceeded 85%.

More than 99% of the people over the age of 30 years in the Matale District have received their first dose.

At present, a mobile vaccination service for those who are unable to leave their homes was already in operation on the instructions of the President Rajapaksa.

Weeratunga also said the government aimed to vaccinate 11.5 million people over the age of 30 by August 31, 2021 and another four million would be vaccinated thereafter.

Plans were also underway to inoculate all Sri Lankans between the ages of 12 and 30 next.

At the current rate of inoculation some 15 million people in Sri Lanka would be vaccinated by December 31, 2021, he added.

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MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/2

Priyan

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.

The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.

A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.

The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.

Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.

[President’s Media Division]

Latest News

Grade 5 scholarship exam results released

Published

12 hours ago

2026/09/2

Priyan

The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk

News

Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan

Published

19 hours ago

2026/09/2

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.

During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”

The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.