News
DDGH tight-lipped on real situation
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday told the media that he might not be allowed to speak to the media again if he spoke candidly about the trajectory of the pandemic in the coming days.
Dr. Herath made this statement when a journalist asked him to comment candidly on the situation Sri Lankans would face in the coming days.
“There are a lot of new cases. More people come with symptoms and the percentage of those who need oxygen too has increased. I urge the citizens to follow good health practices and not expect the health officials alone to solve this,” Dr. Herath said.
He added that there were 224 COVID treatment centres, with over 35,000 beds. Already 32,317 beds were in use.
Meanwhile, Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, G. Wijesuriya said that they admitted about 25 children with COVID a day.
“If your kids show signs of COVID like fever, coughing, difficulties in breathing, lack of appetite, etc., please seek medical advice. Don’t try to treat it at home. Take them to a government hospital,” he said.
President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS), Ravi Kumudesh told The Island that the Delta variant was worsening the pandemic situation and that neither the government nor the people should let their guard down just because the vaccination process had picked up.
Kumudesh said that they had warned in early July that a new wave would emerge within four weeks, if the Health Ministry had not increased PCR testing and gene sequencing. By July the collection of samples, even at hospitals, had dropped significantly. There was also no attempt to test potential hotspots and preempt any outbreaks, Kumudesh said. Therefore, the data issued by the Ministry did not reflect the ground reality.
“We saw similar developments in late March – early April. But we again end up making the wrong decisions. We said it was highly likely that we would see a new outbreak in about four weeks and here we are. Not only us, but anyone who understands what is going on made the same prediction. The people must get vaccinated and take precautions.”
Latest News
A new Chairman and Members appointed to Official Languages Commission
President Anura Kumara Disanayake has appointed Mr. Nimal R. Ranawaka as the new Chairman of the Official Languages Commission.
The other members of the commission include Professor R.M.W. Rajapaksha, Professor Stanislaus Joseph Yogarajah, and Ms. Lareena Abdul Haq.
The appointment letters were presented today (06) at the Presidential Secretariat by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Latest News
New Chairman and Board Members Appointed to 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed a new Chairman and Board Members to the 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation.
The appointment letters were presented by the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake today (0 6) at the Presidential Secretariat.
Accordingly, Mr. A.M.N. Ratnayake was appointed as the new Chairman of the 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation, while Mr. R.J.M.A.P. Sampath and Mr. Nalin Perera were appointed as Board Members.
News
Govt. will respond depending on outcome of probe: Minister
Rohingya detainees: Mujibur seeks AKD’s intervention
by Shamindra Ferdinando
Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala yesterday (05) said that investigations were underway to ascertain whether a group of Rohingyas rescued off Mullaitivu late last month were genuine asylum seekers. The Rohingya are a Muslim minority in Myanmar.
Minister Wijepala said that 12 members of the crew had been remanded pending investigations while others, numbering 103, had been moved to the Mullaitivu SLAF station, which was recently declared as a detention facility.
Minister Wijepala said so when The Island sought his response to SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman seeking President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s intervention to prevent repatriation of the group to Myanmar.
In a letter dated January 04, 2025, the Colombo District MP urged the government to provide them refuge here till arrangements could be made to send them to another country willing to accept them.
Minister Wijepala said that the government would act depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigations.
“We are also in touch with Myanmar authorities in this regard,” Minister Wijepala said, adding that investigations conducted so far indicated that the group detained here was involved with human smugglers.
Declaring that the government wouldn’t be influenced by various interested parties seeking to take advantage of the developments, Minister Wijepala emphasized the responsibility on their part not to encourage human smuggling.
Human Rights Commissioner (HRC) Nimal G. Punchihewa told The Island that the Commission had received an assurance on 31 Dec., 2024, from representatives of the SLAF and Immigration and Emigration that a comprehensive report on the issue at hand would be handed over tomorrow (07).
Punchihewa said that an explanation was sought after the SLAF declined to allow the HRC team access to the detainees at Mullaitivu SLAF station. According to Punchihewa, once the HRC received the report, senior representatives from their northern offices could visit the detained group. The civil society activist said that the visit could be arranged this week.
During last Tuesday’s meeting, the Immigration and Emigration Department had taken the stand that the group detained here were involved with human smugglers.
Punchihewa said that according to section 11(d) of the HRCSL Act, No. 21 of 1996, the powers and functions of the Commission extend not only to Sri Lankan citizens but to “any person” detained within Sri Lanka. Therefore, the Commission has the statutory authority to access the SLAF Mullaitivu station and monitor the detention conditions of all asylum seekers, including the children.
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