The Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development says that a digital electronic bus fare payment system has been introduced for Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses under a range of new digital solutions being rolled out countrywide, with effect from yesterday (02).

The Ministry said the initiative aims to strengthen public transport services and further ensure transparency among bus conductors.

The project to enable fare payments through electronic cards, for the convenience of passengers, was launched yesterday (02) at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre under the patronage of SLTB Chairman Sajeev Kanakaratne.

The Ministry said no additional charge will be levied on passengers when making payments via electronic cards. Accordingly, passengers will not have to spend extra by paying bus fares through the card system.

It added that the government expects to further develop the card-based payment system based on the strengths and weaknesses identified during its implementation.

By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon ✍️

Police investigations reveal that a knife attack reported in Mawanella on Thursday evening that resulted in the deaths of three persons, had occurred due to a dispute over a plot of land.

According to the Police, an individual had attacked four of his relatives with a knife at Danagama Watte in Kondeniya, Mawanella,.

Three individuals had died in the attack, while an injured woman was admitted to the Mawanella Base Hospital.

The 33-year-old suspect has been arrested, while the Mawanella Police is conducting further investigations.

By Norman Palihawadane ✍️

Influx of substandard drugs is of particular concern

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has warned of renewed and intensified trade union action if the government fails to fulfil its promise to resolve the ongoing crisis in the health sector within the next few days.

GMOA Executive Committee member Dr. Prasad Colombage said his association was hopeful that commitments made by the government, including those formally stated by the Minister of Health in Parliament and recorded in the Hansard, would be implemented.

He called for urgent remedial action in view of the influx of substandard medicines into the country, patient deaths linked to such drugs, difficulties faced by doctors in prescribing medicines, and disruptions to patient care services caused by the continued migration of medical professionals. These factors, he warned, had placed patients’ lives at serious risk.

Dr. Colombage said discussions had already been held with all relevant authorities, including the President and the Minister of Health. He expressed hope that swift solutions would be forthcoming based on agreements reached at discussions. However, he cautioned that the GMOA would not hesitate to resort to strong trade union action if tangible progress was not seen in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Medical and Civil Rights Professional Associations yesterday (01) handed over a special memorandum to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, calling for immediate action to resolve the deepening crisis in the health sector.

Federation President, Consultant Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, said Sri Lanka’s health system was currently facing a severe crisis and had sought an opportunity to hold discussions with the President on the matter.

The memorandum calls for the President’s direct and immediate intervention on several key issues, including the Indo–Sri Lanka health agreement, shortages of essential medicines including cancer drugs, continued allegations surrounding the administration of the Ministry of Health, reported irregularities at the National Hospital, Colombo, and the absence of an internationally accredited quality control laboratory for the National Medicines Regulatory Authority to test medicines. The Federation has also requested a meeting with the President to discuss these concerns in detail.

By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️