News
Increasing heart attacks need urgent scientific probing: medical collective
By Chaminda Silva
A combination of both indigenous and western medical practitioners demands that government immediately investigates reports quoting doctors that there has been a sudden upsurge in heart attacks in recent weeks.
The National Organizer of the Indigenous and Western Medical Professionals’ Collective, Dr Udara Sampath, told a Colombo news conference that doctors at the National Hospital have warned that the number of heart attack cases had increased between 20 to 30 per cent.
“This increasing trend has been observed during recent weeks. This is not a matter to be overlooked. Fortunately not all who suffered heart attacks died. But this is a trend needing immediate serious study,” he said.
“We also have similar reports from hospitals in all provinces. This must be studied scientifically and the public kept informed.”
Admitting that the shortage of medicines due to the forex crisis may be one reason, he said nevertheless the trend needed serious study.
Director of the International and Research Department of the Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC), Dr Nanda Gunawardena, said that some have expressed the view that after effects of the anti-covid vaccines may be a cause.
They say that while countries such as the US and Canada administered a single type of vaccine and booster, this was not so in Sri Lanka where different types of vaccines and boosters had been used. Such doubts should be cleared through a proper scientific study by an appropriate state agency.
“While the number of covid deaths were reduced by vaccination, the after effects of using a cocktail of doses has not yet been studied even internationally,” Dr Gunawardena said.
Covid Death Prevention Coalition Convener Dr Chandana Jayalath and Ayurvedic Doctor Sumudu Liyanarachchi also addressed the press.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
The Situation Report released by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) at 6:00 AM today (13th December 2025) confirms that 640 persons have died and another 211 persons are missing due to flooding and landslides that took place in Sri Lanka within the past two weeks.
A meeting between representatives of UNICEF and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya was held on the 10th of December at the Prime Minister’s Office.
During the discussion, an initial review of the new digitalization policy draft was conducted, and it was emphasized that the new digital policy must be formulated to align with the ongoing education reforms.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the digital policy should be developed in a way that supports all five core pillars of the current education reforms, including curriculum reform, infrastructure development, and administrative restructuring.
It was further noted that the current draft is primarily focused on curriculum-related matters, and the digital policy should be structured to influence the overall education reform process.
Extensive discussions were also held on the importance of digital literacy, NEMIS, the provision of digital infrastructure, and minimizing the existing digital divide.
Attention was also drawn to the gaps in the current teacher training mechanisms , and the Prime Minister stressed the need to reduce paper usage.
The meeting was attended by the UNICEF representatives Dr. Emma Brigham and Deborah Wyburn, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary A.B.M. Ashraff, and several other officials.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Pregnant Mothers to receive Rs 5000 Nutrition Allowance in December
640 deaths, 211 missing as at 6:00AM today (13)
New Digitalization Policy draft reviewed
The government is taking steps to streamline trade facilitation, customs processes, investment approvals, and improving export facilities – Prime Minister
Showers will occur in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva, Central and North-Western provinces.
Big fossil fuel companies are responsible for climate crisis but poor countries like Sri Lanka are battered by it – Greenpeace South Asia
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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