The National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS), Kalutara, the premier national training institution for public health in Sri Lanka, on Wednesday (01) officially inaugurated its historic Centenary Congress, commemorating 100 years of dedicated service to the nation (1926–2026).

The grand celebration, held at the NIHS Auditorium in Kalutara, marked a century of pioneering achievements that have contributed significantly to strengthening Sri Lanka’s public health system.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister described the Institute’s centenary as a landmark moment in Sri Lanka’s public health journey, recognizing a century of service in developing the country’s public health workforce and advancing preventive healthcare.

Highlighting Sri Lanka’s achievements in maternal and child health, immunization, disease prevention, and equitable healthcare, the Prime Minister noted that these successes have been built upon strong public health institutions and the dedication of healthcare professionals.

She emphasized that as the health sector faces emerging challenges, including an ageing population, non-communicable diseases, climate-related health risks, and technological transformation, greater focus must be placed on education, research, innovation, and the development of a skilled and adaptable health workforce.

Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to building a resilient and people-centred health system, the Prime Minister stated that investments in modern health infrastructure, primary healthcare, digital technologies, and continuous professional development will remain national priorities.

The Prime Minister congratulated the National Institute of Health Sciences on reaching its centenary milestone and expressed confidence that the Congress would contribute valuable insights towards the future advancement of Sri Lanka’s public health sector.

The Centenary Congress programme included addresses by the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, the Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media,the Director General of Health Services,and the Director of the National Institute of Health Sciences.

A keynote address on the theme “NIHS, Past, Present and Future” was delivered by Dr. Thushara Fernando. Highlighting the global significance of the Institute, the event also featured a special address by the WHO Regional Representative and a formal message delivered on behalf of the Director-General of the World Health Organization, acknowledging the Institute’s long-standing international collaboration and its contribution to sharing Sri Lanka’s globally recognized health achievements with the world.

The programme also featured the launch of the “NIHS – 100 Years” commemorative coffee table book and the unveiling of a commemorative postage stamp.

The event was attended by the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Anil Jasinghe,Member of Parliament Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe,the Director of the National Institute of Health Sciences, representatives of the World Health Organization and partner organizations, academics,health professionals, alumni, and invited guests.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the Government aims to increase Sri Lanka’s economic growth from its current level of around 5 per cent to 7–8 per cent over the coming years, emphasising that the information technology, electrical and electronics sectors will play a pivotal role in achieving this target.

The President made these remarks while addressing a discussion with leading investors and industrialists from the information technology, electrical and electronics sectors, held on Wednesday (1 July) morning  at the Presidential Secretariat.

Highlighting that Sri Lanka’s future can only be secured by strengthening domestic industries, the President invited entrepreneurs to work in partnership with the Government to unlock the country’s true economic potential. The President also requested that they submit, at the earliest opportunity, proposals for developing their respective sectors together with a report outlining the key challenges currently facing the industries.

The President further stated that the Government intends to allocate Rs. 2 trillion for capital expenditure next year to accelerate economic growth. He noted that the Government expects the export sector to make the maximum possible contribution towards meeting the country’s growing demand for foreign exchange resulting from this investment.

The discussion focused extensively on the significant contribution that the information technology, electrical and electronics sectors could make towards increasing Sri Lanka’s export earnings and foreign currency inflows.

It was highlighted that the information technology sector, currently Sri Lanka’s third-largest export revenue earner, has the potential to generate US$5 billion in annual export earnings. Likewise, the electrical and electronics sector, which currently generates approximately US$500 million in export revenue, has the potential to increase this figure to US$2 billion annually.

Participants also discussed Sri Lanka’s potential to establish itself as a global brand in the information technology, electrical and electronics sectors. Attention was drawn to the country’s highly skilled workforce in both industries and the need to further improve facilities and infrastructure to support their continued growth.

Representatives of the business community briefed the President on a number of challenges affecting the sectors, including the complexities involved in importing electronic components, obstacles faced by companies operating in the Colombo Port City when conducting transactions through the banking system and difficulties encountered in promoting locally manufactured products within the domestic market. The discussion also focused on removing these barriers and introducing the necessary legislative and regulatory reforms.

Attention was also paid to establishing a special unit representing relevant parties to directly receive the issues and suggestions of industrialists and provide prompt solutions to them.

Business representatives were also briefed on a range of Government initiatives already planned to expand support and infrastructure for these sectors.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne outlined plans to establish a Virtual Special Economic Zone and a data centre, introduce a Green Channel mechanism to remove Customs-related obstacles to the import of electronic equipment required for research and development (R&D) and address banking and credit card limitations affecting overseas payments for essential services such as cloud computing and Software as a Service (SaaS). He also noted that the Government is considering alternative incentive schemes to help retain skilled professionals and reduce the migration of talent overseas.

Among those present were Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Anil Jayantha Fernando; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Dr..Harshana Suriyapperuma, Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage; Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Thilaka Jayasundara; Chairman of the Export Development Board Mangala Wijesinghe; Shehani Seneviratne and other representatives of the Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM); Chairman of the Sri Lanka Electronic Manufacturers and Exporters Association (SLEMEA) Gamini Ranasinghe; former Chairman Dr Ajith Pasqual; Managing Director of VARIOSYSTEMS (Pvt) Ltd Thevan Satheeswaran; Managing Director of GPV Lanka Chandana Dissanayake; together with a large number of leading entrepreneurs and representatives from the information technology, electrical and electronics industries.

[PMD]

More than 1000 cases detected in 24 hrs

Sri Lanka’s dengue caseload has surpassed 55,000 this year after more than 1,000 new infections were reported in the 24 hours ending at 6 am yesterday, accordingt to health authorities..The National Dengue Control Unit has said a total of 55,406 cases have been recorded so far in 2026, while the death toll has risen to 32.

Acting Director of the National Dengue Control Unit, Dr. Kapila Kannangara, said 1,024 new cases were confirmed during the latest 24-hour reporting period, reflecting a continuing increase in infections across the country.

In response to the escalating outbreak, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media has established a Dengue Operations Centre to strengthen the reporting of dengue-related information and complaints.

The Ministry has also launched a dedicated public hotline (0117 966366) to provide information on dengue prevention and control, receive complaints and facilitate the reporting of mosquito breeding sites and other dengue-related concerns.

Health authorities have urged the public to support dengue control efforts by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds and promptly reporting potential risk areas, stressing that community participation remains vital in curbing the spread of the disease.

Sri Lanka has experienced repeated dengue outbreaks, with the most severe epidemics recorded in 2017 and 2019. The 2017 outbreak was the worst in the country’s history at that time, with over 186,000 reported cases and more than 400 deaths. A second major surge in 2019 recorded over 105,000 cases. These outbreaks placed significant strain on hospitals, particularly in the Western Province, including Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara districts, which consistently report the highest case numbers due to dense population and urbanisation.

Transmission is influenced by seasonal rainfall patterns, temperature, and urban environmental conditions such as improper waste disposal and construction sites that collect water. All four dengue virus serotypes circulate in Sri Lanka, which increases the risk of repeated infections and severe disease manifestations.

In recent years, periodic resurgences have continued, with health authorities warning that case numbers can rise rapidly when environmental conditions favour mosquito breeding. The National Dengue Control Unit has therefore maintained continuous surveillance, public awareness campaigns, and mosquito control programmes to reduce transmission.

Despite these efforts, dengue remains a persistent public health concern, requiring coordinated action between health services, local authorities, and the public to reduce breeding sites and prevent outbreaks.

by Chaminda Silva ✍️