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.”
NPP Parliamentarian Asoka Ranwala who was appointed the 22nd Speaker of Sri Lanka’s Parliament, on 21st November has resigned from his position today [13], in the wake of the controversy surrounding his educational qualifications.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has officially appointed members to the Port City Economic Commission.
Accordingly Harsha Amarasekera, President’s Counsel, has been appointed as the Chairman while Damien Amal Cabraal, Mohan Ray Abeywardena, Sanjaya Kulatunga, and Dr. Harsha Subasinghe were appointed as members of the Port City Economic Commission
The official letters of appointment were handed over to the members by the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (13).
“We will not allow the trust the people have placed in us to be undermined in any way,” stated President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a meeting with the heads of state media today (13).
He further emphasised, “Regardless of their status in government, if mistakes are made, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action.”
The President further explained:
“For more than seven decades, the people of this nation have built and dismantled various governments. For the first time, we stand with a profound understanding of the historic mandate entrusted to us and the National People’s Power on two occasions.
The people placed their faith in the National People’s Power (NPP) government, hoping for a standardised and stable country. We will not tarnish that extraordinary trust, even by the slightest misconduct.
Simply put, our government is not here to shield anyone who errs, for any reason. Be it within the broader framework of the country or within our administration, anyone found guilty of wrongdoing will face consequences. We will not hesitate to act decisively and at the right time. In essence, our government will not shield anyone who makes a mistake, regardless of the reason. Whether the mistake occurs within the country or at any level within our government, we will not hesitate to take decisive action. Every necessary step will be taken at the appropriate time without delay.”
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment to upholding the trust placed in them by the people, who have endured decades of deception. He pledged to work tirelessly to build a better nation.
The Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, Director-General of Government Information, Harsha Bandara, and the heads of state media were present at the meeting.
Macron names centrist Bayrou as French PM in bid to end political instability
Bloody siege ends Myanmar army control of western border
Speaker of Parliament Asoka Ranwala resigns
-
News5 days agoSri Lanka’s first seven-star hotel ready for opening in 2025
-
Business4 days agoLaunching in Kandy of SL’s first seven-star hotel, valued at Rs. 9 billion
-
News7 days agoLocally produced superphosphate to be introduced next year to save foreign exchange
-
Opinion3 days agoFuture of SriLankan
-
Business7 days ago‘Hotel sector investment in tourism industry exceeding USD 15 billion despite facing stiff challenges’
-
Business4 days agoSri Lankan appointed Vice President, Global Rural Tourism Council
-
Business6 days agoHigh powered Japanese business team visits Hambantota Port
-
News4 days agoCourt to be moved against Ranil over loss of state funds