News

Lab technologists allege disastrous health policies have led to spread of Omicron here

Published

4 years ago

2022/01/5

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Disastrous policies followed by the Health Ministry during the last few months has led to the spread of Omicron cases in the country, College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) President, Ravi Kumudesh told The Island yesterday. Even though it was obvious that a number of people with Omicron had arrived in Sri Lanka, testing at the airport had not been made more stringent, he said.

“Most passengers entering the country are not tested. We warned that due to the lax testing at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), there was a strong possibility of any new variant of COVID-19 entering the country. We said that even a travel ban would be useless unless testing was ramped up,” Kumudesh said.

PCR tests were not conducted on passengers on arrival and that it was likely that even those not fully vaccinated were entering the country. “Gene sequencing in respect of those infected with COVID inside the country was at a minimal level, and therefore, there is no way we can find out whether a new variant has entered the country and spread until it is too late”, Kumudesh said.

Health officials were detecting Omicron cases in various parts of the country, Kumudesh said. It was an indication that a PCR test, taken a few days before arriving here, or a vaccination card showing that a person had been double jabbed were not a reason for stopping tests at the airport, Kumudesh said.

“There are two state-of-the-art labs at the BIA, but no tests are done there. The government also tried to discourage the University of Sri Jayewardenepura from being involved in gene sequencing. These were done to prevent people from knowing that Omicron was here. Now the cat is out of the bag and soon we will see the consequences of the wrong decisions,” the CMLS President said.

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Cabinet approves the purchase of vehicles to improve the primary health care system across the island

Published

1 second ago

2025/12/11

Priyan

The Government of Sri Lanka has signed a financial agreement with the International Development Association of the World Bank Group to obtain US$ 150 million under the project for improvement of Primary Health Care System.

This project will be implemented covering all the districts in Sri Lanka during the period 2024 to 2028 with the objective of prevention and management of non- communicable diseases,
elderly and palliative care, including strengthening community level services and building resilience to climate related emergencies.

Insufficient transport facilities for the field officers (Public Health Midwives, public health inspectors, primary care nurses, and surveillance teams) has been identified as decisive obstacles relevant to this project.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to procure the below mentioned vehicles necessary to improve the transport capacity for broadening house based care and community relationship coverage, improve the efficiency of field tests and supervisory work, ensure the transport of clinical waste materials safely and proper time.

• 26 clinical waste materials transport lorries
• 26 Double Cabs
• 05 vans with 10 seats
• 02 buses with 42 seats
• 2,891 scooters for Public Health Midwives
• 200 scooters for Public Health Nurses
• 1,350 Motor Bicycles for public health inspectors
• 200 scooters for laboratory Services
• 20 trucks with Refrigerators for the Medical Supply Division
• 08 Fork lifts for the Medical Supply Division
• A crew cab for the Divisional Health Office – Puttalam
• An ambulance fleet for the Jaffna district

News

Cabinet approves the transfer of the constructions and land reserved for the Kiinniya University to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism

Published

9 mins ago

2025/12/11

Priyan

Approval had been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 20-06-2017 to construct on the Upparuwatte land owned by the Land Reformation Commission, with an extent of 12 acres in the Upparu Grama Niladhari Division at the Divisional Secretariat division of Kinniya in the Trincomalee District. Rs. 25.45 million has been spent so far on the construction for this university.

The University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC) has decided that there is no longer a necessity to build a university on that land as planned due to conditions that have arisen later.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal
presented by the Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Professional Education to discontinue the construction of the Kinniya University and to transfer the reserved land and constructions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism for the
implementation of a project in the tourism field as proposed at the Trincomalee District Coordination Committee.

Latest News

No change in death toll, stands at 639 as at 0600AM today [11th]

Published

6 hours ago

2025/12/11

Priyan

The Situation Report issued by the Disaster Management Center at 0600 AM today [11th December 2025] confirms that there has been no addition to the death toll in the past 24 hours and remains at 639. The number of missing persons has reduced by ten [10] and stands at 193.

There is a slight reduction in the number of persons who are at safety centers and, stands at 85,351 down from 86,040 yesterday. Five safety centers have also closed down in the past 24 hours and 873 safety centers are still being maintained.