News

Mithuruwela’s Latest Initiative: Establishing Molecular Testing for Breast Cancer at Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/17

Some of those behind the Mithuruwela effort: (Left to Right) Surangani Ratwatte, Treasurer,Mithuruwela, Dr V Sahabandu, Dr Nuradh Joseph, Mala Thalayasingam, Chairperson, Mithuruwela, Shaorna Naizer, Secretary, Naresh Ratwatte, Committee Member.

In June 2022, Mithuruwela the Cancer Support Network moved away from its customary activities which included awareness- raising and caregiver support, a news release from the organzation said.

“Inspired by an appeal from Dr Nuradh Joseph, Oncologist, the organization helped to support the establishment of molecular testing at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital. This initiative marks the first time molecular testing for breast cancer has been instituted in a state hospital and Mithuruwela is proud to be part of this endeavor,” it said.

Breast Cancer and Molecular Testing Of all the cancers affecting females in Sri Lanka, Breast Cancer is the commonest. Records of cancer in the island are maintained annually and according to data from the National Cancer Registry nearly 4,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

The diagnosis of breast cancer is a complex process which includes findings from clinical examination and imaging such as ultrasound and CT scanning. If cancer is suspected, oncologists then seek confirmation. This confirmation requires a biopsy whereby a core of tissue from a suspicious lump is analysed in the laboratory by histopathologists.

Explaining the process of diagnosis and treatment, Dr Joseph comments that if the diagnosis of cancer is confirmed, histopathologists then perform additional tests called immunohistochemistry which look to see if the cancer cells express certain proteins (called receptors) that may influence treatment.

Routinely immunohistochemistry is performed for hormone receptors (Oestrogen and Progesterone) as well as another protein called HER2/neu. If the hormone receptors are expressed oncologists will offer anti-oestrogen hormonal treatment while if the HER2/neu protein is over-expressed, patients will be treated with novel agents which specially target cancer cells. These drugs reduce the risk of cancer recurrence by 50% in tumours over-expressing the HER2/neu protein.

However, in some instances (approximately 10%) it is not possible to confirm whether the HER2/neu protein is abnormally expressed or not based on immunohistochemistry alone. When this happens the histopathologist reports it as an “equivocal” expression of the HER2/neu protein. It is uncertain if these patients will benefit from the novel targeted drugs mentioned previously and further molecular testing is needed for confirmation.

For these patients, one needs to check if the HER2/neu gene is present in abnormal amounts in the cancer cells. This is known as gene amplification. Testing for gene amplification is done by special techniques called in situ hybridization (ISH). About 50% of patients with equivocal expression of HER2/neu on immunohistochemistry will have gene amplification confirmed by molecular testing thus making them suitable for treatment with the novel targeted drugs.

Currently these molecular tests are available at a few private hospitals but not in the histopathology laboratories of government hospitals. As many patients cannot afford funding for these tests in the private sector, they miss out on potentially life- saving treatment.Molecular testing for HER2/Neu at the Teaching Hospital , Anuradhapura In recent times, molecular testing for HER2/neu gene amplification using available equipment has been established in certain government sector hospitals in the country.

The histopathology department of the Teaching Hospital of Anuradhapura is one such department which has the equipment and also staff that has been trained to perform the required tests. The problem however is the cost of the consumables that are required. According to Dr Joseph, to commence testing at Anuradhapura, the hospital would require a sum of US dollars 5,839 just to purchase the minimum quantities of reagents needed. It was this consideration that led Dr Joseph to reach out to Mithuruwela to request help in getting these funds.

In spite of the current challenging climate, Mithuruwela together with Dr Joseph and his contacts were able to collect the required funds, thanks to the generosity of donors such as the Tissa De Silva Trust, the Students Association of Edith Cowan University in Australia, well-wishers in Australia and New Zealand and a number of generous individuals in Sri Lanka. JL Morisons, the agents for the reagents also supported the cause by ensuring that the reagents reached Anuradhapura safely under refrigerated conditions.

The Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital is now in a position to commence molecular testing for HER2/neu. The tests will be carried out by Dr Jayanjana Ashanthi and Dr Sanjeewanie Jayawardena, Consultants to the histopathology laboratory at the Anuradhapura hospital.

Establishing testing for HER2/neu gene amplification at the Teaching Hospital of Anuradhapura will not only benefit patients with breast cancer, but will blaze a new trail for cancer diagnostics in Sri Lanka as it would be the first time ever that any form of molecular testing is performed in a laboratory attached to the Ministry of Health. Mithuruwela expressed its gratitude to all those who made this initiative a reality.

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News

New Chairperson and Members appointed to the Finance Commission

Published

11 hours ago

2026/07/22

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Ms N. R. Anees as the new Chairperson and a member of the Finance Commission.

J. M. C. J. Wijetunga and K. Karunaharan have been appointed as the other members of the Commission.

The letters of appointment were presented to the appointees by the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, at the Presidential Secretariat ton Monday (20) afternoon

The appointments were made to fill the vacancies createdy following the expiry of the terms of office of the previous members of the Finance Commission.

(PMD)

News

True leadership is not about titles or power, but about acting responsibly for the well-being of others – Prime Minister

Published

12 hours ago

2026/07/22

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that true leadership is not about titles or power, but about acting responsibly, with compassion, and working for the well being of the others.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the President’s Guide Award and Prime Minister’s Award Ceremony, organized by the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association, one of the country’s leading voluntary organizations dedicated to empowering girls and young women. The ceremony was held on Sunday (19th July )at Temple Trees in Colombo.

During the event, the Prime Minister presented medals and certificates to the award recipients.

A total of 350 awards were presented at this year’s ceremony, comprising 338 President’s Guide Awards and 12 Prime Minister’s Awards, in recognition of the recipients’ discipline, resilience, integrity, and commitment to serving others.

Addressing the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that one of the greatest strengths of the Girl Guides association is its commitment to providing equal opportunities to every child, regardless of their background or abilities. The Prime Minister also emphasized that true leadership is not defined by titles or power, but by acting responsibly, listening with compassion, and working for the well-being of others.

The Prime Minister further noted that while women had limited opportunities in the past, today increasing opportunities are being created for girls and women across all sectors, and young women are making remarkable progress in every field. The Prime Minister further stressed that every girl and young woman deserves equal opportunities to improve themselves, noting that the country needs young women leaders who are ready to step forward to build a better future for Sri Lanka.

The Prime Minister also highlighted that, particularly at a time when Sri Lanka is undertaking significant economic and democratic reforms, achieving sustainable national progress requires not only economic growth but also the development of citizens who uphold strong ethical values and social responsibility. In this regard, she commended the invaluable contribution made by the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association.

Guided by its motto, “Be Prepared,” the Girl Guiding Movement in Sri Lanka was first established on 21 March 1917 at Kandy High School by Miss Jenny Calverley Green. Today, the movement operates through seven branches; Butterflies, the Little Friends, the Guides, the Rangers, the Youth, the Differently Abled Guides, and the Community Guiding Units, catering to different age groups and abilities. The President’s Guide Award is the highest honour that can be achieved by a Girl Guide and is awarded only to those who successfully complete the required challenges, written and oral examinations, and the BP Challenge. The Prime Minister’s Award is presented as the highest recognition within the Ranger Guide section.

The event was attended by at the President of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association Swarnika Pitigala, Chief Commissioner Dr. Kushantha Herath, President’s Guide Commissioner Pushpa Perera, Prime Minister’s Guide Commissioner Aruni Karunaratne, other senior officials of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association, President’s Guides and Prime Minister’s Guides, as well as a large number of their parents.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

Customs asked to resume probe or face legal action

Published

21 hours ago

2026/07/22

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rs. 16 bn BMW revenue fraud:

Public interest litigation activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has said he will initiate appropriate proceedings against Director General of Customs, Wimal S.K. Liyanagama, in terms of the Anti-Corruption Act No 9 of 2023, unless the Customs carries out a revenue fraud inquiry to recover approximately Rs 16 bn in lost government revenue.

General Secretary of Vinivida Foundation, and former Customs officer, Kodituwakku said that though the Department, in response to his request for a meeting to discuss the issue, in writing, assured them that the investigation was underway, they found that the actual situation was not so.

Kodituwakku alleged that the Customs Chief had neglected what he called statutory duties under the Customs Ordinance, by disregarding his request for a meeting.

Kodituwakku said the investigation into the importation of 1,728 brand new BMW vehicles, under the concessionary duty permits issued by the government for the public servants, between 2011 and 2014, had been stalled.

The civil society activist said that investigations had revealed the vehicles hadn’t been imported by the permit holders themselves but others. It also transpired that the value of the imported vehicles, mentioned in the commercial invoices, proforma invoices and the CusDecs, tendered to Customs in the names of the permit holders, were not the actual values for the vehicles in question.

The high-profile case has been handled by the Central Investigation Directorate, at that time headed by Murugesu Thayabaran, a batchmate of Kodituwakku.

The ex-Customs officer said that he had appeared as counsel for Thayabaran in Court of Appeal and was determined to bring the case to a successful conclusion. According to him, the importer, over the years, had been represented by nine President’s Counsel as the case dragged on from the time of P.S.M. Charles, Director General, Customs.

Kodituwakku made available letters he wrote to the Customs and other parties on this issue, to The Island. Pointing out that the Court of Appeal on 7 May, 2024, dismissed the importer’s final appeal regarding the case pertaining to the revenue loss of Rs. 16 bn, Kodituwakku said that although the court had cleared the way for the Customs probe, no action had been taken.

However, the Court of Appeal ruling was given before Liyanagama succeeded Seevali Arukgoda as DG Customs on 6 May, 2026. Liyanagama served as Director General of the Department of Management Services at the Treasury before the new appointment.

Kodituwakku said that he had also brought the Customs case to the attention of the Commission to Investigate Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Emphasising the failure on the part of the Opposition to raise this issue, both in and outside Parliament, Kodituwakku said that since the exposure of the BMW scam, during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency, there had been four presidents, namely Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe and incumbent Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Unfortunately, successive administrations had allowed the interested parties to drag the case. The lack of interest shown by political parties revealed that they not only protected those responsible but encouraged corrupt practices of allowing third parties to import vehicles in terms of permits issued to legitimate recipients of such permits.

Having campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, during the presidential and parliamentary polls in 2024, the NPP couldn’t, under any circumstances, turn a blind eye to this situation, Kodituwakku said, adding that even the IMF should be concerned of the failure on the part of successive governments to recover the money.

By Shamindra Ferdinando