News
Kumudesh flays specialists over poor quality face masks
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Health worker’s request for high quality face masks had been ignored for over three months, College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) President Ravi Kumudesh said yesterday, adding that the priority of specialists heading procurement committees was to enrich themselves, and the wellbeing of health staff was of no concern to them.
Kumudesh also said that the government should hold an inquiry into allegations made by GMOA President, Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya that a traitor was hindering the COVID-19 eradication process.
“Soon after this comment was made chief epidemiologist Sudath Samaraweera was transferred to the Dengue Prevention Unit. Now, people have suspicions about him. If this allegation is true, people will harbour serious doubts about Health Ministry initiatives. Only an impartial investigation into the matter can set things right.”
The CMLS President also said that the Health Ministry couldn’t deny the possibility that the Indian variant of COVID-19 was not limited to Dematagoda. Most decisions on COVID-19 were based on assumptions and guess work, because the government had reduced PCR testing and only the University of Sri Jayewardenepura was engaged in gene sequencing, he said.
“According to the WHO at least 1% of positive cases must be gene sequenced. That means at least 600 such tests but Sri Jayewardenepura can only do 200. The government must provide necessary facilities to government labs to expand the process or Sri Lanka will keep on making erroneous decisions.”
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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