News
Health Minister accused of hoodwinking people
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on Monday (15) falsely had declared that the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) had begun the manufacture of new medicines, omperozole 20mg, levothyroxine 50mg, President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS), Ravi Kumudesh said yesterday.
“The Minister made this statement at an event purportedly to launch those medicines. It is important to start producing medicines locally. However, I would like to point out that the SPC has in fact been manufacturing and distributing them for sometime. The SPC already distributes these drugs through the medical supplies division. The Minister of Health you have tried to, knowingly or unknowingly, hoodwink the people,” he said.
Kumudesh said that the Chairman of the SPC had done nothing to encourage the manufacture of drugs during his tenure. Instead of taking steps to promote the local manufacture of drugs, the health officials continued to ignore the current health crisis, he said.
“The SPC has been manufacturing Omperozole 20mg, which decreases stomach acid, and levothyroxine
50mg that replaces a hormone normally produced by the thyroid gland to regulate the body’s energy and metabolism. The SPC has been producing Omperozole since February 2020. The then Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi was the chief guest at an event to launch the drug. Levothyroxine has been produced since April 2020. Then state minister of health Channa Jayasumana was the chief guest at an event to launch the drug,” he said.
Kumudesh added that the two drugs were now used in almost all hospitals. The current shortage of medicines had to be addressed in the long term and health officials must come up with a plan to increase manufacturing of drugs locally. He alleged, “The manufacture of drugs locally was discouraged during the tenure of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. No new company was allowed to start production here. Officials can make money when drugs are imported and about 30 companies which were ready to invest in Sri Lanka were discouraged during the past three years.”
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
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Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
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