News
17% jump in COVID deaths since beginning of 2022
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The number of COVID related deaths had increased by 17% since the beginning of the year, Medical Technical Services Director Dr. Anver Hamdani told the media yesterday.
The number of COVID patients who needed oxygen support in ICUs had significantly increased, Dr. Hamdani said.
The number of such patients had risen by 12% compared to the beginning of the year, and the ICU admissions had increased by 3%, he said.
Dr. Hamdani said that around 30 people were now dying of Covid-19 daily and most of them had not taken the booster shot.
The senior health official urged people to restrict their movements if the country was to avert an explosive spread of Covid-19 again.
Dr. Hamdani said the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases was an indication that the Omicron variant was spreading fast.
Dr. Hamdani said that people should get the booster shot as soon as possible and follow health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID. Despite the best efforts of health officials only about six million people had so far taken the booster shot, he said.
“People are not taking the booster due to various myths and rumours. They should get the booster as soon as possible and adhere to health guidelines. COVID may have many variants but the way all variants spread is the same,” he said.
Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath told The Island that despite vaccination, those with underlying conditions and those who were weak could get severe forms of COVID and some of them would even die. Thus, it was the responsibility of the healthy and the active citizens to ensure that the weak and the sick were not exposed to the virus.
(Ms.) Nina P. Cainglet, Ambassador of the Philippines to Sri Lanka based in Dhaka, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Prime Minister’s Office on May 16, 2025.
The Prime Minister welcomed Ambassador Cainglet and extended her congratulations on the new appointment. The discussion focused on expanding cooperation in trade and tourism, with both sides expressing their commitment to exploring new opportunities in these key sectors. The meeting also addressed consular matters relating to the Filipino community in Sri Lanka. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured continued dialogue and necessary support on relevant issues.
The meeting was attended by Ms. Judienne Capiz, Vice Consul of the Embassy of the Philippines in Dhaka, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Minister; Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister; Ms. S.S. Premawardhane, Additional Secretary, Bilateral Political Affairs (East); and M.R. Keegel, Deputy Director, Southeast Asia & Central Asia Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division].
The Bribery Commission on Friday filed a corruption case against former Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and ex-BOI Director General Jayantha Edirisinghe, accusing them of misusing public cash for a lavish newspaper ad campaign back in 2014.
They stand accused of siphoning Rs. 1.7 million in state funds to publish 11 newspaper supplements marking the second inauguration anniversary of then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 19, 2014.
According to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the move amounted to a clear breach of anti-graft laws, with five formal charges now filed before the Colombo High Court.
The case, centred around alleged misuse of Board of Investment (BOI) funds, is backed by 21 pieces of documentary evidence and testimony from 15 witnesses.
The Bribery Commission maintains that the ad blitz had no official sanction and led to a direct loss of Rs. 1,748,877.76 to the state.
Inspector General of Police T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon is set to face formal questioning tomorrow (May 19) over serious allegations of misconduct and abuse of power, parliamentary sources said on Friday.
A special committee appointed to investigate the claims will commence formal proceedings next week, following several rounds of preliminary discussions held within the parliamentary complex in recent weeks.
The IGP has been officially notified to appear before the committee and is expected to face the inquiry for the first time at 2:00 PM in Committee Room No. 8.
The committee, which met again on Thursday (15) to finalise arrangements, is investigating allegations that Tennakoon misused his official powers in a manner deemed severe and improper.
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