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Don’t be overconfident after receiving jab, SLMA tells public

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The public must not think vaccination ensures their safety one hundred percent, Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) President, Dr Padma Gunaratne says.

Dr. Gunaratne said so addressing the media on Tuesday. She said the National Hospital, Colombo, treated about 200 new cases a day and about 100 of those needed oxygen support, and the current situation was similar to that before the imposition of travel restrictions.

Dr. Gunaratne said that the silver lining was the rapid pace of the vaccination drive. Sri Lanka was getting the best vaccines used in the world and the vaccination was done at a very rapid pace. However, Sri Lankans should not fully depend on the vaccine alone and should not think that they could lead normal lives after inoculation.

On the flipside, Sri Lanka was now dealing with the Delta variant, which was more contagious, the SLMA President said.

“30% of the cases detected in Colombo have delta, which is highly contagious and soon this percentage could rise to 50. Soon Delta will become the most dominant variant in the country. The question is how long will this take? Prof. Neelika Malawige’s lab doesn’t have the capacity to conduct countrywise studies. They can sequence 200 samples a month in selected areas. So, we can’t say how many Delta cases are there in SL but when we look at the world we know how fast Delta spreads,” Dr. Gunaratne said.

“Some people think that the country will be safe within eight weeks because of the pace of the vaccination. This too is a myth, she said. The vaccines will give some protection, and is our long term solution”, Dr. Gunaratne said.

For full protection of a vaccine, one needed to take both jabs and in Sri Lanka only 8% of people had got both jabs. Therefore most were not secure. 25% of people had got at least one jab but it was not enough, she said.

“One needs to get a second jab and then it will take two more weeks for antibodies to form. However even if we get both jabs, we can get the disease and then spread. There will always be new variants as well. However, we are very pleased with government fast tracking vaccination,” she said.

Given that the fourth wave would be dominated by the Delta variant elderly and people with chronic diseases should be especially vigilant, Dr. Gunaratne said. All elderly persons and those with chronic diseases should get vaccinated.

“However, even if they get both jabs they are still in high risk categories. We urge them to be safe. Don’t get caught in the fourth wave,” she warned.

Dr. Gunaratne said that the number of actual daily cases should be around 10,000 because on an average 50 people were dying. Sri Lanka needed to focus on selected restrictions, vaccination and implementing health guidelines to ensure lives were protected while the economy was kept humming.

“People are against heavy restrictions, they want to work. But when we open up and try to hit a balance, numbers will go up. We have to tell people this. The people must know the government has opened up sectors not because there is 100% safety but because the government knows the importance of livelihood. People should know that weddings, religious places, cinemas can lead to clusters. They must be careful when they are in crowds,” Dr. Gunaratne said.

Given that the number of cases will rise, the government must strengthen the initiatives to treat asymptotic cases at home. If asymptomatic cases can be treated at home, there will be enough room for moderate and serious cases in hospitals. Also, the COVID-19 cases with chronic diseases must be hospitalised, she said.

“Some people tell us that most developed countries are opening up and ask us why we aren’t opening up. They say that Singapore is open. We are not like Singapore that can do as many PCR tests as they want, they can trace contacts easily and fast through apps and they have other ways of managing the virus. We don’t have that here. So we have to be more careful,” Dr. Gunaratne said.



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Wijepala claims Pillayan had prior knowledge of Easter Sunday attacks

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Minister Wijepala

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala informed Parliament yesterday that Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pillayan, had prior knowledge of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks while he was in custody at the Batticaloa Prison.

“We have evidence to prove that he had prior knowledge of the attacks,” the Minister said.

The ministerial statement was made during an adjournment debate, as the Minister updated Parliament on the progress of investigations into the Easter Sunday bombings.

Wijepala also highlighted a related incident that occurred on 30 November, 2018, in which two police officers were killed in a shooting and stabbing attack. During the investigation into that incident, a former LTTE member, named Ajantha, was arrested after allegedly confessing to the crime.

However, Minister Wijepala said that findings of a CID probe had revealed Ajantha had been falsely implicated. A riding jacket, belonging to him, had been used to frame him, misleading CID officers into believing that the attack had been carried out by a former LTTE member.

Wijepala confirmed that an intelligence officer had been arrested in connection with the case. Further arrests are expected as investigations continue.

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Sri Lanka back to its high poverty levels

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From L to R: Yvette Fernando (Former Senior Deputy Governor at CBSL), Dr. Ganeshana Wignaraja (Convener of the Independent Growth Study Group), Dr. Sirimal Abeyratne (Executive Director CEPA), Dr. Dirk Willem te Velde (Director, ODI Global International Economic Development Group)

Sri Lanka’s estimated poverty (share of the population living on less than $3.65 a day) remains stubbornly high, affecting as much as a quarter of the population in 2024, and twice as high as in 2021. The reversal in poverty reduction gains during the crisis has taken Sri Lanka back to its high poverty levels of the early 2000s, finds a new study by the Centre for Poverty Analysis(CEPA).

The report, launched on Tuesday in Colombo, says: The economy has stabilised remarkably well since weathering its worst economic crisis since Independence, but there are substantial risks of a relapse. The country now needs to continue with macroeconomic stabilisation and implement a range of growth policies, with a new focus on state capacity.

The report, titled ‘Sustaining Transformative Growth in Sri Lanka 2025–2030’, offers a bold roadmap for Sri Lanka to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth over the coming five years. Authored by an Independent Growth Study Group, under the auspices of ODI Global and the CEPA, the report provides critical policy recommendations for navigating the country’s complex economic landscape as it emerges from its worst economic crisis since independence.

Developed by a team of nine leading experts, with extensive experience across public, private, and international sectors, the report highlights the significant progress made in stabilising the Sri Lankan economy, including renewed growth and reduced inflation. However, it stresses that the persistent challenge of high poverty levels requires a focus on economic transformation with structural reforms and targeted sectoral policies to mitigate future risks and unlock the nation’s vast potential.

Dr Ganeshan Wignaraja, Visiting Senior Fellow at ODI Global and Convenor of the Independent Growth Study Group, said: “Sri Lanka has shown remarkable resilience in overcoming recent economic hardship, but the journey towards prosperity requires more than resilience – it demands bold action. This report provides a crucial framework, not just for consolidating the hard-won gains of stabilisation, but for igniting truly transformative growth that uplifts all Sri Lankans. The opportunity is here, and we must act decisively to create a more inclusive and resilient economy.”

The study identifies six key policy areas as crucial for achieving sustainable growth: maintaining macroeconomic stability, integrating into global supply chains, improving factor markets, implementing targeted sectoral policies, reducing poverty and building political consensus. It also highlights key sectors poised for growth, including tourism, the digital economy, niche manufacturing and agriculture, driving the economic transformation of Sri Lanka in the future.

Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne, Executive Director of CEPA and a co-author of the report, emphasised the critical role of trade in this transformation: “Sri Lanka’s historical under-performance in exports is directly linked to a persistent anti-export bias and cumbersome business regulations. Our findings underscore that strategically opening up to global trade and rigorously streamlining business procedures are not just options, but essential accelerators to boost exports, stimulate investment and unleash the full potential of Sri Lankan businesses on the international stage.”

Prof. Dirk Willem te Velde, Director of the International Economic Development Group at ODI Global, said: “In today’s volatile global economy, Sri Lanka’s experience serves as a powerful lesson for recovery from deep economic crisis, setting an example for other emerging economies facing similar challenges. Our study argues how targeted policies for trade and production, innovation and digital economy, and governance can transform the country’s economic landscape and avoid further macro-economic crises. This report is a call to action for all stakeholders – government, business, civil society and citizens alike – to work together towards a shared vision of a prosperous and transformed Sri Lanka.”

The report urges a concerted effort to leverage Sri Lanka’s strategic location and build on existing production capabilities to drive growth and reduce poverty. It emphasises the importance of strategic engagement with global and regional supply chains and the digital economy to boost exports and attract foreign investment.

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Speaker to convert his official residence into knowledge centre for all elected representatives

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Dr. Jonathan Murphy, Head of the Inter Pares Global project implemented by the European Union, and Ingrid Walker, Programme Manager of Inter Pares, with Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, at the meeting

Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne has stated that the official residence of the Speaker would be transformed into a knowledge centre providing information to all Members, representing all layers of governance in the country, the Parliament Media Division said yesterday.

He said that this centre was intended to impart essential knowledge to Members of Local Authorities, Provincial Councils, and Parliament on subjects such as international relations, fiscal policy, and governance. The Speaker also revealed that it is proposed to develop this centre into a national and international-level research institution that supports both qualitative and quantitative research.

The Speaker said so during a recent meeting held on Monday (07) at Parliament with a delegation from the European Union, including Dr. Jonathan Murphy, Head of the Inter Pares Global project, implemented by the European Union, and Ingrid Walker, Programme Manager of Inter Pares.

The Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, and Assistant Secretary General Hansa Abeyratne also attended this meeting.

The delegation of the Inter Pares Global project of the European Union, which focuses on strengthening parliamentary capacity, met with the Speaker on 7th July 2025, the opening day of a four-day programme organised at the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

The delegation stated that the primary objectives of the programme are to provide the necessary knowledge to enhance legislative activity, oversight, financial, and administrative functions of the Sri Lankan Parliament and to facilitate experience sharing.

During the meeting, discussions were also held on various other areas of focus. Commenting on parliamentary committees, the Speaker briefed the delegation on the activities carried out by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA). He further explained that, in addition to the current technical assistance, measures have been taken to obtain legal support for these committees.

The Speaker further emphasised that Parliament aimed to take accurate decisions to accelerate the country’s development process while taking strict action against corruption.

Accordingly, the delegation is scheduled to meet with heads of various departments and divisions of Parliament from 7th to 11th July, to engage in the exchange of ideas.

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