News
Health Ministry officials, politicians blamed for underhand deal
State-owned facility prevented from collecting samples
Private lab has monopoly over PCR tests at BIA
by Rathindra Kuruwita
President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science Ravi Kumudesh told The Island yesterday that a single private lab had been entrusted with the task of conducting PCR tests on all tourists arriving in Sri Lanka.
Kumudesh added that a state-run lab has been set up at the Bandaranaike International Airport but it had not received a single sample.
“We exposed this through the media. We have even written to the President but nothing has happened. We will be compelled to reveal the names of the Health Ministry officials and politicians responsible for this underhand deal, which has allowed the private lab concerned to make huge profits.”
Kumudesh said, “Now that the state-owned lab has been prevented from collecting sample, the Health Ministry has allowed businessmen to take over the process of conducting tests. Worse, some self-proclaimed experts are manipulating data.”
Kumudesh said that when they called for establishing a PCR lab at the BIA, there was a lot of resistance from certain officials of the Health Ministry and doctors who worked at private labs.
“However, the Health Secretary gave us his blessings and we established a lab within 10 days. This is a lab that can give a PCR test report within one and a half hours. It can test 4,500 people a day. I don’t think that more than 1,500 people will arrive in the country in the coming months,” he said.
Kumudesh added that the government had taken a risk by opening up the airports, given the importance of tourism sector. They were ready to assist the government by ensuring those with COVID19 would not leave the airport, he added.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri which arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on 04 Apr 25, departed the island today (07 Apr). The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of INS Sahyadri took part in several programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation. In addition, they also explored some tourist attractions in the country. Further, personnel of Sri Lanka Navy had the opportunity to visit INS Sahyadri, gaining insights into her operational capabilities.
Latest News
Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an Advisory for Severe Lightning for the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district.
The advisory issued at 02.00 p.m. today [07 April 2025] is valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 07 April 2025
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
INS Sahyadri sets sail from Colombo
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
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