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The country will face a ‘health crisis of unprecedented proportions’ warn WHO experts

Published

5 years ago

2021/08/15

by Randima Attygalle

Sri Lanka could soon face a health crisis of unprecedented proportions, showing a rapid increase in daily reported number of cases and deaths, point out WHO experts. At the Independent Expert Group Meeting convened by WHO Sri Lanka last Tuesday (10th) the experts observed with great concern that the current surge in COVID-19 is nearly overwhelming the capacity of the health systems to provide the required adequate care for people.

According to the projections made by the Monash University, Australia in collaboration with WHO SEAR and Sri Lanka Country Office, based on the MoH Epidemiology Unit data, with current levels of mobility restrictions, the number of cases would increase up to mid-September at 6,000 cases a day. By early October it is projected that around 220 deaths would occur per day. The joint study also projects that ICU admission will peak around 275 by early October with around 30,000 cumulative deaths by January, 2022. The WHO report by Independent Expert Group Meeting however notes that since the vaccine coverage assumed in the model is not yet achieved, the projections are an underestimate.

Reiterating the need to ‘ACT NOW’ the experts underline that the urgent priority is to save lives. ‘Sri Lanka will avert about 18,000 deaths by January, 2022 ‘if the level of stringency is immediately increased similar to May 2021 for four weeks,’ the report recommends. This time frame will enable accelerated vaccination and achieve a level of protection following the second dose, the WHO experts recommend. Moreover, it will also give time for the health system to recover from the overwhelming case load, they note.

With the decrease of the stringency from 84% (from May21 to June 21) to 29% by August and 32% from August 6, the cases and deaths have demonstrated a significant rise from around 1,500 in early July to nearly 3000 as of August 9, reveals the report. It also goes on to note that ‘with relaxations of stringency the mobility patterns have also shifted to pre-COVID levels.’

Calling for immediate actions which are ‘crucial and critical’, the experts also recommend strict movement restrictions including inter-district travel (except for essential services), cancellation of all public events for three weeks, providing care and protecting the health workers and augmenting the staff in hospitals to minimize disruption of essential health services and developing and implementing an effective communication plan to engage the public and updating them on the control measures.

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High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings

Published

3 hours ago

2026/09/22

Priyan

Security personnel stand guard outside Colombo High Court after escorting the accused involved in Sri Lanka's Easter Sunday attacks of 2019, during the verdict in the trial in Colombo on September 22, 2026 [Aljazeera]

The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.

The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.

The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.

Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.

[Aljazeera]

News

Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/22

Sahan Weerasooriya

Anura / Harini

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.

Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.

Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.

Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.

Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.

News

Justice Corea appointed Acting President of the Court of Appeal

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/22

Sahan Weerasooriya

Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea receives his letter of appointment

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.

The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.

Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).

Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.