News
PCR testing: Kumudesh alleges govt. labs given step motherly treatment
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The state sector laboratories have the capacity to increase PCR testing by 300%, President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS), Ravi Kumudesh says.
Kumudesh said yesterday his Association had presented proposals on how to accomplish this to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi and senior Health Ministry officials, but there had been no response.
“Instead, the Health Ministry has reduced the number of samples sent to our labs. More samples are sent to private sector labs and there is an attempt to misplead the people into believing that the state sector labs are inefficient, and the private sector can do this better.”
Kumudesh said that there were 28 analysers that had broken down in government labs and a shortage of reagents for testing. The government could easily make the laboratory service a 24-hour service and address the supply chain issues.
“In late March and early April, the number of samples sent for testing at government labs was reduced, and a decrease in the number of infections was declared. This gave people the false belief that there was nothing to be afraid of. Then they lower their guard.
Kumudesh said some government ministers had recently said that the number of cases would drop during the next two weeks and about 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines would be imported.
‘Where does this two-week number come from? On what basis are they saying that numbers will drop? What countries will give us AstraZeneca jabs? I think it is better if the government tells the people the truth about the AstraZeneca vaccine. If we cannot get them, we should look for alternatives. There are 600,000 people who have had the first AstraZeneca jab. If we cannot get them a second dose, at least tell them that they need to be given a different vaccine.”
A discussion with the Catholic Council was held on Thursday (21) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Science and Technology, Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Discussions focused on administrative issues relating to Catholic schools taken over by the Government, the formulation of a structured teacher cadre system for Catholic religious education, the need to recruit Catholic nuns and priests into the teaching profession and the establishment of a mechanism to obtain the support of the Ministry of Education for the administration of Government-acquired Catholic schools.
It was also decided that discussions with the Catholic Council would be held three times annually, while Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage would serve as Secretary to the forum.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the Catholic Council, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government for facilitating the discussion.
His Eminence further stated that the expectation was to ensure every student, without discrimination, is given the opportunity to learn his or her own religion and stressed the importance of resolving the prevailing issues within the education sector.
Also present at the occasion were Most Rev. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Most Rev. Bishop Christy Noel Emmanuel, Most Rev. Bishop Anton Ranjith, Most Rev. Bishop Wimal Siri Jayasuriya, other clergy representing the Catholic Council, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa and senior officials of the Ministry of Education.
(PMD)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to broaden the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, which was launched last year. Unlike the inaugural edition held in November 2025 that featured eight Associate teams, the second edition will comprise 10 teams, including five Test-playing nations. The tournament is scheduled to be held in November this year.
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE, which arrived in Colombo (21 May 2026) on a replenishment visit, departed the island today (22 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship in compliance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.
During her brief stay in Colombo, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Commander Antonio BUFIS called on the Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
Catholic Council reconvenes after nine years
ICC to widen Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE departs following replenishment visit
PM meets Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations
Tennessee execution called off after failed lethal injection
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
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