News
Covid crisis at Kalubowila hospital exposes inordinate delay in completing new wing
… Audit queries didn’t expedite construction
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The crisis at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital at Kalubowila, where the hospital administration struggled to cope up with rapid inflow of Covid-19 patients has highlighted the inordinate delay in completing a seven-storeyed building at the hospital premises under construction since 2006.
Sources told The Island that work had been seriously hindered by much delayed payments over a period of time and poor supervision on the part of successive Health Ministries. The project launched during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency was to be completed by 2008.
Although the Auditor General’s Department pointed out serious shortcomings and malpractices, successive governments hadn’t taken remedial measures, sources said.
During this period Nimal Siripala de Silva, Maithripala Sirisena, Tissa Attanayake and Dr. Rajitha Senaratne served as health ministers. The incumbent is Pavitra Wanniarachchi.
However, other sources said that State Engineering Corporation (SEC), despite several rounds of talks with Health Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi, hadn’t been able to complete the project.
Responding to another query, sources pointed out that the incumbent Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena had been Director of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital for several years before he succeeded Dr. Anil Jasinghe late last year.
Meanwhile, security authorities expressed concern over the public wearing worn-out masks and the danger posed by the large number of Covid-19 infected persons arriving at the vaccination centres. They stressed the need to take precautions to prevent vaccination facilities becoming centres of new Covid clusters.
State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana over the last weekend visited the Colombo South Teaching Hospital to examine the situation. Acknowledging the daunting task in meeting the growing Covid-19 threat, Prof. Jayasumana explained the vaccination drive was in full swing. The academic said that as the next three weeks would be critical, the government needed the backing of all to bring the situation under control. According to the State Minister, the recent trouble at the Colombo South Hospital had been temporary and measures were being taken to improve the situation.
Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday (9) told a media briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau that some hospitals were being overwhelmed and action would be taken to remedy the situation.
News
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (07) are Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon.
By Norman Palihawadane
The CID recently found that former SLPP Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara, better known as ‘Choka Malli’, had left for Thailand when the Supreme Court imposed an overseas travel ban on him last Friday.
The CID discovered that Jayasekara had left Sri Lanka on August 31, while authorities were taking steps to enforce the travel restriction imposed by the Supreme Court. The Department has subsequently informed the Attorney General’s Department of the development.
The Supreme Court last Friday ordered Jayasekara, and two other men, to appear before court on October 21, and imposed a ban on their overseas travel.
The orders were made as the Supreme Court considered an appeal challenging the acquittal of the three men in connection with the 2015 murder of Shantha Dodangoda, also known as D.G. Sunil Perera.
The appeal was filed by Dodangoda’s wife against a decision of the Court of Appeal to acquit and release Jayasekara and the two other accused, who had previously been convicted and sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court.
Dodangoda was killed in a shooting in Kahawatta town, in the early hours of January 5, 2015, while a group of people were putting up decorations for an election rally in support of then common Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
Two others, Karunadasa Weerasinghe and Mohamed Ilfan, were seriously injured in the shooting.
Following the incident, the Ratnapura High Court convicted Jayasekara, former Chairman of the Kahawatta Pradeshiya Sabha Wajira Darshana de Silva, and former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council member Nilanta Jayakody, sentencing all three to death.
The Court of Appeal subsequently acquitted the three men and ordered their release.
The victim’s wife later challenged the acquittal before the Supreme Court.
The appeal was taken up before a Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Gihan Kulatunga.
During the proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara requested that the court impose overseas travel restrictions on Jayasekara and the other respondents.
The Supreme Court subsequently ordered all three to appear before the court on October 21 and imposed travel bans on them.
President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty, President’s Counsel U.R. de Silva and President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared for the respondents. President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris represented the aggrieved party.
Police sources said that the discovery that Jayasekara had already left for Thailand, on August 31, has raised concerns over the timing and enforcement of the travel ban.
Sources said that the CID had notified the Attorney General’s Department and was taking further action in relation to the development.
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The number of deaths from dengue fever in Sri Lanka has risen to 73 this year, with 96,228 cases reported across the country so far, according to the Dengue Control Unit.
The latest figures indicate that dengue continues to pose a significant public health concern, with 737 new cases recorded during the first four days of September alone.
Dengue infections peaked in July, when 29,964 cases were reported, according to the latest data. June recorded the second-highest monthly total, with 21,533 cases, while 10,155 cases were reported in August.
Earlier in the year, 8,590 cases were recorded in May and 7,866 cases in January.The Western Province remains the worst-affected area, accounting for more than half of all dengue cases reported nationwide. A total of 50,851 cases have been recorded in the province, representing 52.84% of the country’s total.
The Southern Province has recorded 13,950 cases, followed by the Central Province with 8,818 cases and Sabaragamuwa Province with 7,925 cases.
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Uva and Eastern provinces.
Harshitha’s composed knock seals Sri Lanka’s semi-final berth
‘Choka Malli’ slips out of country before travel ban
Dengue death toll rises to 73
Ranil accuses govt. of undermining democracy
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
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