News

Jayasumana explains how AZ use can be maximised

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/3

By Shamindra Ferdinando

State Minister of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation Prof. Channa Jayasumana says those tasked with the inoculation drive managed to immunise a higher number of persons than expected by withdrawing and administering accurate vaccine doses in the multi-dose phials.

The WHO says that in multi-dose phials, there can be a difference between the number of doses stated on their labels and the actual number of doses that can be withdrawn. “The true number of doses available from a multi-dose phial will depend on several factors such as syringe dead space, phial overfill volume, and technique and accuracy of doses withdrawn and delivered.”

Prof. Jaysumana said so in response to The Island query how the health administration inoculated 1,301,026 by June 29, 8.30 pm having received 1,264,000 AstraZeneca (Covishield) doses. We raised the issue at hand on the basis of figures pertaining to the ongoing vaccination drive made available by the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry on June 29.

Prof. Jayasumana said that AstraZeneca vaccine was received in bottles – each prescribed to inoculate 10 persons (ml .5 each) though 12 could be immunized due to the availability of an additional 1ml in each bottle.

“We instructed inoculation of 11 persons though initially one phial was used for 10 persons. Some pointed out the waste and instructions were issued immediately to remedy the situation,” Prof. Jayasumana said, adding that an experienced person can comfortably use one bottle to vaccinate 12 persons.

Sri Lanka received the first consignment of 500,000 Covishield doses from Serum Institute, Pune on January 28 courtesy the government of India. The second batch also comprising 500,000 doses was received on Feb 25 in terms of an agreement between the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) of Sri Lanka and the Serum Institute of India.

Pointing out that inoculation drive commenced on January 29, the day after Sri Lanka received the first consignment, Prof. Jayasumana said that the third consignment consisting 264,000 doses was received on March 7 through the COVAX facility. Altogether, Sri Lanka received 1,264,000 Covishield doses, Prof. Jayasumana said, adding that if not for the unfortunate breakdown of supply line due to sudden eruption of Covid-19 pandemic in India, there would have been a steady supply of AstraZeneca.

According to WHO statement issued on March 7, Sri Lanka was to receive 1,440,000 doses by end of May. The WHO is on record as having said that additional doses to cover 20% of Sri Lanka’s population were to be delivered in the second half of 2021. COVAX doses are donor-funded and provided at no cost to Sri Lanka. In terms of COVAX’s commitment, Sri Lanka was to receive 8.4 million vaccine doses to cover 20% of the population, according to the WHO.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, 925,242 persons received AstraZeneca in January (59,426), February (406,924), March (453,403) and April (5,489). They received the second dose beginning April and by June 29 altogether 375,784 got the second jab. Prof. Jayasumana said that 37,026 had been given the second dose by saving on available Covishield.

The Epidemiology Unit stated that as at June 29, Sinopharm first and the second doses had been given to 1,657,741 and 605,116 persons, respectively whereas 114,795 and 14,425 received Sputnik first and second jabs.

Asked whether Sinopharm and Sputnik now used here in the inoculation drive could provide extra doses, Prof Jayasumana explained Sinopharm phial could be used for two vaccines and the Russian product for one person.

Prof. Jayasumana acknowledged that the vaccination drive had been marred by several incidents, such as the Galle incident where over 400 persons from Colombo received the jab on two days in violation of specific guidelines laid down in that regard. The matter was now before courts, Prof. Jayasumana said, adding that jumping the vaccination queue couldn’t be accepted under any circumstances.

Once Sri Lanka received the first consignment of Pfizer, probably on July 5 and Moderna much later, altogether five Covid-19 vaccines would be in use in Sri Lanka, in addition to Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, too, scheduled to have a share in the vaccine market, Prof. Jayasumana said.

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

11 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

11 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

11 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.