News
‘World will lose faith in all Lankan data’
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The discrepancies in Sri Lankan COVID numbers will soon create doubt on all data that comes from Sri Lanka, former governor, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said. In recent weeks there had been many verified reports of the discrepancies, however the manipulation of numbers began in mid 2021, he said.
“I had brought some discrepancies to light in May 2021. However, at that time the discrepancies were not that great, but the numbers that are coming out now is unbelievable,” he said.
The epidemiology unit and the health ministry had under -reported 42% of COVID-19 numbers in Badulla District, Tennakoon said. Tennakoon said that according to the regional health authorities, there had been 14, 373 cases from march 2020 to 17 August 2021. However, according to the epidemiology unit the number is 8,313, he said.
“Thus there is a discrepancy of 6,060 patients. This is not a phenomena limited to Badulla, we have seen this across the country. Soon the WHO won’t accept our figures and we will be embarrassed in front of the whole world. This is a pandemic and WHO needs accurate data from all countries and when we start hedging the numbers, this will affect all the data we provide,” Tennakoon said.
The former governor said that 398 COVID cases were reported from Badulla District. However according to the epidemiology unit, the number was 10.
“This is insane. Only one in 40 patients have been reported. Only one in nine cases from Moneragala have been reorded by the epidemiology unit. All hospitals in Baduula are crowded. Badulla, Bandarawela, Diyathalawa, Bindunuwewa, Kahagolla and Hindagala COVID treatment centres are on the verge of collapse. The government must take the real numbers into account and plan for the needs of the health sector,” he said.
Tennakoon added that according to the regional health authorities, there had been 23, 598 cases reported in Kandy from March 2020 to 18 August 2021. However, according to the epidemiology unit the number is 16,006 he said.
“In Matale, regional health authorities report 11,573 but epidemiology unit puts the number at 2665,” he said.
Commenting on the discrepencies, Deputy Director-General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said that they are looking into these reports. “We have no intention of making up numbers because at the end of the day health officials are those who will be in trouble,” he said.
The Royal Navy of Oman Ship ‘AL SEEB’ concluded a logistics replenishment visit to Sri Lanka and departed the Port of Colombo on 24 Jan 26.
In accordance with naval tradition, the Sri Lanka Navy extended a customary farewell to the departing ship.
The price of gold has risen above $5,000 (£3,659) an ounce for the first time, extending a historic rally that saw the precious metal jump by more than 60% in 2025.
It comes as tensions between the US and NATO over Greenland have added to growing concerns about financial and geopolitical uncertainty.
US President Donald Trump’s trade policies have also worried markets. On Saturday he threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Canada if it strikes a trade deal with China.
Gold and other precious metals are seen as a so-called safe-haven assets that investors buy in times of uncertainty.
Demand for gold has also been driven by a range of other factors including higher-than-usual inflation, the weak US dollar, buying by central banks around the world and as the US Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates again this year.
Wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Washington seizing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, have also helped push up the price of gold.
On Friday, silver topped $100 an ounce for the first time, building on its almost 150% rise last year.
[BBC]
SJB Working Committee member and ex-SLPP lawmaker Charitha Herath says that all eyes are on the newly constituted Constitutional Council (CC) as to how it will handle the dispute between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and the previous CC, over the appointment of Auditor General (AG).
The former parliamentarian said so in response to The Island query yesterday (25). In terms of the Constitution, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa last week agreed on the appointment of former civil servant Austin Fernando, Professor Wasantha Seneviratne and Ranjith Ariyaratne as non-MP members of the CC.
They replaced former Ministry Secretary Dr. Prathap Ramanujam, former Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Medical Association Dr. Dilkushi Anula Wijesundere and Dr. Dinesha Samararatne of the University of Colombo. Pointing out that they rejected the President’s nominees for the AG’s post on several occasions, Herath emphasised the pivotal importance of the appointment of a person with impeccable credentials.
The other CC members are the Prime Minister, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne (Chairman), the Opposition Leader, the President’s nominee Bimal Rathnayake and five persons appointed by the President, upon being nominated as follows: one MP nominated by agreement of the majority of the MPs representing the Government (Aboobucker Athambawa, MP), one MP nominated by agreement of the majority of the Members of Parliament of the political party, or independent group, to which the Leader of the Opposition belongs (Ajith P. Perera, MP), and one MP nominated by agreement of the Members of Parliament other than those representing the Government and those belonging to the political party or independent group to which the Leader of the Opposition belongs, and appointed by the President ( Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP.)
The present CC was established on October 31, 2022 in terms of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. The Attorney General heads the National Audit Office (NAO). One-time COPE Chief said that it would be the responsibility of the government to ensure the integrity of the NAO.
Chulantha Wickramaratne, who served as AG for a period of six years, retired in April 2025. Following his retirement, President Dissanayake nominated H.T.P. Chandana, an audit officer at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation as the AG. The CC rejected that nomination. Subsequently, President Dissanayake appointed the next senior-most official at the NAO Dharmapala Gammanpila as Acting Auditor General for a period of six months. Then, the President nominated Senior Deputy Auditor General L.S.I. Jayarathne to serve in an acting capacity, but her nomination, too, was also rejected. Many an eyebrow was raised when the President nominated O.R. Rajasinghe, the Internal Audit Director of the Sri Lanka Army for the top post. That nomination too was rejected. As a result, the vital position remains vacant since 07 December, 2025.
Herath said that the government was in a bind over the Auditor General’s appointment and the disgraceful campaign launched against Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, Jr, PC.
The ex-lawmaker said that JVP/NPP loyalists masquerading as journalists and civil activists had launched the protest against the Attorney General. Herath said that the decision to send Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, on compulsory leave, too, was a matter of serious concern.
Herath said: “This is the same government that campaigned strongly on non-interference, institutional independence, and respect for the rule of law—principles they used to criticise every previous administration. Now, they appear to be doing exactly what they once opposed, only more openly. If this pattern continues, these undemocratic actions will eventually lead to their own downfall.”
BASL in late December, 2025 urged President Dissanayake and others, including the Opposition Leader, to consult civil society and professional bodies, including them, before the appointment of civil society representatives.
Herath said that the newly constituted CC would face its first acid test when it addressed the Auditor General issue.
by Shamindra Ferdinando
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