News
Kumudesh calls on NMRA to come up with protocol to validate rapid antigen test kits
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) should come up with a protocol on validating rapid antigen test kits, President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science, Ravi Kumudesh said yesterday.
Kumudesh told The Island, “The sample to validate these kits must be chosen randomly. Given that these antigen tests only detect those with a high viral load, someone can do the tests among people they suspect to have high viral loads to come up with a favourable result.”
Kumudesh said that there were close to 200 companies that produced rapid antigen test kits. Contrary to some claims, the World Health Organization (WHO) had not given approval for two companies cited here, Kumudesh said.
“WHO approved these considering the situation in the US. In the US presidential election was drawing near and COVID19 cases were exploding. That’s why these two US-based kits were mentioned, but the WHO never said other kits were bad. Therefore, we have no reason to ignore kits from China, India and Germany”.
Replacing PCR tests with rapid antigen testing would create a large number of false data and wrong mapping of the COVID hotspots, Kumudesh said.
He said that given the current health crisis, they were not opposed to the use of rapid antigen test kits.
“In the broader context rapid antigen testing is like a straw given to a desperate drowning man but we are in a position where even this straw might come in handy. We believe that the sensitivity of the test, based on peer reviewed research conducted by other countries, to be around 50-60%. The Health Ministry must create an algorithm, identify areas where PCR testing can’t be done and use the rapid tests there. It would be good even if we can get some results in an area where PCR testing is impossible but it will be a mess if we try to substitute rapid antigen testing for PCR testing.”
News
“Sri Lanka’s Economic Revival – Reflection on the Journey from Crisis to Recovery” by Mahinda Siriwardana presented to the President
The book “Sri Lanka’s Economic Revival – Reflection on the Journey from Crisis to Recovery” ,authored by Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Mahinda Siriwardana, was officially launched this morning (08) at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, with the participation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
The first copy of the publication was formally presented to President Disanayake by Mr. Siriwardana during the event.
It has been reported that former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias ‘Pilleyan’ has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
A meeting between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and senior officials of SriLankan Airlines was held this afternoon (April 8) at the Presidential Secretariat.
The discussions mainly focused on proposals to transform SriLankan Airlines into a more profitable state-owned enterprise. Special attention was also given to possible short-term and long-term solutions for the airline’s debt management.
The talks further explored new investment opportunities for the airline. The President instructed the officials to take all necessary steps to transform SriLankan Airlines into a profit-making entity.
Although the airline has recorded operational profits, due to past mismanagement and poor decision-making, it remains one of the leading loss-making state enterprises. The current government has decided to reverse the previous administration’s decision to privatize the airline. Instead, it plans to continue operating it as the national carrier while introducing a new management structure to ensure its profitability moving forward.
Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, President’s Senior Advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines Sarath Ganegoda along with several senior officials of SriLankan Airlines, were present at the meeting.
“Sri Lanka’s Economic Revival – Reflection on the Journey from Crisis to Recovery” by Mahinda Siriwardana presented to the President
Former state minister arrested by CID
President meets with senior officials of SriLankan Airlines
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