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Appeal to delay pregnancy: Not official stand says Dr. Sudarshini
‘Decision in the hands of Expert Committee chaired by DGHS’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and Covid Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle says that the Expert Committee on Covid-19 will have to decide on making an official request for women not to get pregnant for about a year.
Dr. Fernandopulle said so when The Island sought her opinion on Dr. Harsha Atapattu’s appeal to the newly married and others to delay getting pregnant in view of the increased threat posed by the raging Covid-19 epidemic.
Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) heads the Expert Committee. Dr. Gunawardena didn’t answer his phone.
Dr. Atapattu made an unprecedented appeal at the regular media briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau on Wednesday (8). Dr. Atapattu addressed the media along with Health Ministry spokesperson Dr. Hemantha Herath. He urged family planning during the interim period as the epidemic posed a severe threat to both mother and child. Dr. Herath too didn’t answer his phone.
The appeal was made in the wake of authorities placing the number of pregnant women infected by Covid-19 at 5,500 and the number of fatalities from the virus in that group at 41.
Asked to explain her stand as the State Minister in charge of Covid, who was also a medical specialist, the Gampaha District lawmaker said Dr. Atapattu’s appeal should be examined against the backdrop of the pregnant being at a high risk of contracting Covid-19, especially the Delta variant.
“Maternal death rate has gone up due to Covid-19 as immunity is weak during pregnancy,” Dr. Fernandopulle said.
Responding to another query, Dr. Fernandopulle emphasized that she shouldn’t be misconstrued as being supportive of the appeal.
The State Minister said that she made her assessment on scientific facts to save the life of the mother and baby. Questioned whether she believed the crisis could be overcome by family planning methods, the State Minister said that the issue at hand was whether things would improve in a year.
Dr. Fernandopulle said that she was not aware whether the issue had been discussed at the ministry level before Wednesday’s announcement was made at the Health Promotion Bureau.
So far, Covid-19 has caused nearly 11,000 deaths.
Acknowledging the merits in the appeal, Dr. Fernandopulle emphasized that it would be far more important to control the virus and its rapid spread. Asserting that it was an individual doctor’s opinion, Dr. Fernandopulle said that the opinion of the Sri Lanka Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ body too was important in that regard.
The Island sought views of several persons in the health sector regarding Dr. Atapattu’s appeal. They asserted that though Covid-19 posed quite a threat and a challenge, it wouldn’t be realistic to advise families or couples not to have babies.
WHO says there is no evidence to suggest that pregnant women are at a higher risk than the general population, of getting severely ill from the virus.
According to WHO, because a woman’s immune system undergoes changes during pregnancy, it is crucial that she takes good preventative measures to protect herself from illness, including COVID-19.
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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Galle and Matara districts
Advisory for Severe Lightning Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 12.30 noon 12 March 2026 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 12 March 2026
Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 p.m.
There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
A Van Allen Probe spacecraft weighing more than 1,300lb (600kg) is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere almost 14 years after its launch, Nasa says.
The spacecraft is projected to re-enter around 19:45 EDT (23:45 GMT) on Tuesday the US Space Force predicted, according to Nasa, though there is a 24-hour margin of “uncertainty” in the timing.
The Van Allen Probe A, which launched in 2012, is expected mostly to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, though some components may survive.
The space agency said there is a one in 4,200 chance of being harmed by a piece of the probe, which it characterised as “low” risk.
The spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, were on a mission to gather unprecedented data on Earth’s two permanent radiation belts.
It was not immediately clear where in Earth’s atmosphere the satellite is projected to re-enter. The BBC has contacted Nasa for further detail.
Nasa and the US Space Force have said they will monitor the re-entry and update any predictions.
The mission, which was originally designed to last two years, went on for almost seven. It ended after the spacecrafts ran out of fuel and were no longer able to orient themselves toward the Sun.
The probes flew through rings of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field from 2012 to 2019, in order to study how particles were gained and lost, per Nasa.
Those rings, called the Van Allen belts, shield Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms and streaming solar wind, which are harmful to humans and can damage technology.
The mission made significant discoveries, including the first data that show the existence of a transient third radiation belt, which can form during times of intense solar activity, Nasa said.
Van Allen Probe B is not expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere before 2030.
[BBC]
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, on 11 March 2026, and held bilateral discussions with Yvonne Pinto, Director General of IRRI, focusing on strengthening cooperation in the field of rice research and sustainable agricultural development.
During the meeting, discussions centered on rice cultivation in Sri Lanka, including the key challenges faced by Sri Lankan paddy farmers. The Prime Minister highlighted issues affecting the sector such as productivity constraints, climate-related impacts, and the need to support farmers through improved agricultural practices and technological innovations.
Both sides also discussed the importance of introducing modern techniques and research-driven approaches to rice cultivation in order to enhance productivity and ensure long-term food security. In this regard, IRRI shared insights on ongoing global research initiatives aimed at improving rice varieties, strengthening climate resilience, and promoting sustainable farming practices.
The discussion further focused on the potential for expanded collaboration between Sri Lanka and IRRI, particularly in areas such as research partnerships, knowledge sharing, and capacity building for Sri Lankan agricultural institutions and farmers. The Prime Minister emphasized Sri Lanka’s interest in strengthening cooperation with IRRI to support the development of the country’s rice sector and to improve the livelihoods of paddy farmers.
The visit reaffirmed the importance of science-based agricultural innovation and international collaboration in addressing food security challenges and enhancing sustainable rice production in Sri Lanka.
(Prime Minister’s Media Division)
Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Galle and Matara districts
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