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IHP again insists on expanded testing and adhering to full protocols for at least six weeks
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government should expand testing capacity significantly to make the best out of the lockdown and to control the spread of COVID-19 in the months to come, Executive Director of the Institute for Health Policy (IHP), Dr. Ravi Rannan-Eliya said yesterday.
Dr. Eliya told The Island that ten days of lock down wasn’t adequate and without a significant expansion of testing any benefit accruing from it would not be sustained. “I worry a lot because this lockdown comes after considerable political and religious pressure. I don’t think the government has accepted that taking action is less damaging to the economy than non-action. So, there will be pressure to lift it as soon as possible,” he said.
What hindered the increase of testing was not only any lack of political will, but health sector decision makers had shown little interest in it, the IHP Executive Director said.
“In the meantime, like in the last lockdown, I greatly fear that health authorities will do nothing to address the abysmal testing capacity we now have. Our health experts continue to sing the same song that it is adequate or it is too late to do anything, so why bother,” he said.
Dr. Eliya added that the Delta variant could not be controlled by lockdowns alone, and that health officials should strictly make use of all tools available for at least six weeks.
“Putting all our eggs in a lockdown and vaccine basket will not work,” he said.
Chief of Staff to the President and National Security Advisor (NSA) Sagala Ratnayaka led the Sri Lanka delegation to the 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier Security Summit held in Singapore from 2 – 4 June 2023.
The highly anticipated summit commenced on 2 June with a powerful Keynote address delivered by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Throughout the event, a series of plenary sessions delved into various crucial geo-political issues, encompassing the establishment of a stable and balanced Asia Pacific, the resolution of regional tensions, the evolution of maritime security in Asia, US leadership in the Indo-Pacific, and China’s latest security initiatives, among other topics.
During the Special Session focusing on ‘Defence Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region,’ Ratnayaka delivered an impactful statement, participating alongside representatives from India, Oman, France, and the United States. He emphasized the significance of keeping big power rivalries and external conflicts out of the Indian Ocean, highlighting Sri Lanka’s efforts in the United Nations to declare the region as a zone of peace. Furthermore, he underscored the country’s contributions to preserving freedom of navigation and over flight, stressing the crucial need for constructive dialogue among all stakeholders in the Indian Ocean region to pursue shared interests.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal raised by the Minister of Health to reduce the maximum retail price of 60 medicines by 16% with effect from 15.06.2023 and review the price of medicines every three months
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Sagala Ratnayaka leads Sri Lanka delegation to 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue
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