News
Docs ask govt. to have enough oxygen stocks
By Sirimantha Ratnasekera
The powerful doctors’ union, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), yesterday urged the government to take immediate action to replenish oxygen stocks if it wanted to avoid a serious calamity similar to that in India, where hundreds of thousands of families and patients are pleading for oxygen outside hospitals and victims are dying unable to breathe without it.
GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr Naveen de Zoysa, in answer to a question, said that the latest variant of COVID virus was spreading fast at an alarming speed and the government authorities should take immediate action to ensure that there would be no catastrophic situation here similar to that in neighbouring India, where the world’s worst coronavirus surge has left hospitals unable to cope with the pandemic situation due to shortages of beds, medicines and oxygen.
“Now, the need of the hour is to make sure that our readiness will help mitigate the calamity and for that purpose the government must take action to ensure that there would be sufficient stocks of oxygen,” Dr De Zoysa told The Island.
The GMOA official said that in addition to ensuring sufficient oxygen stocks, the bed capacity of intensive care units should be increased immediately. “We have appointed a GMOA central committee member to liaise with Medical Supplies Division to ensure that these supplies are in place to face the imminent crisis situation,” the GMOA assistant Secretary said.
He said that if people adhered to the guidelines and authorities responded to their warnings in a timely manner the threat of health calamity by a third wave of the pandemic could be averted to some extent. “This is a threat to all of us. No one will be safe if we do not stick to guidelines and fail to isolate the areas vulnerable, ban all public and private functions, restrict movements and expedite vaccination processes.”
The GMOA Assistant Secretary said that both the government and the people should act responsibly to ensure that the country would be safe.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported yesterday that 211 people had gone missing following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
The disaster has left 639 individuals dead, and 84,674 people from 26,563 families are sheltered in 866 safety centres across the country.
The DMC also confirmed extensive damage to houses. It said about 5,588 had been destroyed and 102,246 others damaged.
Authorities continue to coordinate relief efforts as they assess the full scale of the destruction and work to provide shelter and aid to thousands of displaced persons.
by Chaminda Silva
The government has decided to convene Parliament on 18 December to secure legislative approval for emergency funding for disaster relief.
The special session has been called to allocate funds for relief efforts for those affected by Cyclone Ditwah and for repairs to infrastructure and property damaged by the severe weather.
Officials said the government would submit a supplementary estimate seeking parliamentary approval for the required funds.
A debate will be conducted before the estimate is endorsed by the House.
Parliament adjourned until 06 January, 2026, following the passage of Budget 2026.
by Akitha Perera
The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has urged the public to avoid non-essential travel this weekend. It has done so in response to numerous phone inquiries from people planning leisure trips.
Red alerts remain in effect for 33 Divisional Secretariat areas across four districts due to landslides, following heavy rainfall exceeding 75 mm in recent days in the Badulla and Kandy districts.
“Landslides were reported on Thursday (11) in Meegahakivula and Demodara,” said Dr. Vasantha Senadeera, Senior Geologist at NBRO.
“The public should remain vigilant, monitor weather forecasts closely, and follow Stage 2 warnings carefully.”
Stage 1 alerts remain active for 17 divisions across three districts, while Level 3 warnings and red alerts cover Kandy, Kurunegala, and Matale districts. Level 2 warnings apply to Badulla, Kegalle, Kurunegala (Polgahawela and Alawwa), Nuwara Eliya, and Ratnapura, while Level 1 warnings and yellow alerts advise caution in certain areas of Gampaha, Kurunegala, and Ratnapura.
Dr. Senadeera emphasized that, given the ongoing disaster situation, people should reconsider weekend trips and stay indoors wherever possible. “We have received several calls asking whether it is safe to travel,” he said. “The answer is to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary movement in high-risk areas.”
by Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon and Sujeewa Thathsara
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Why Sri Lanka Still Has No Doppler Radar – and Who Should Be Held Accountable
Public urged to avoid non-essential travel in disaster-prone areas
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