News
Lab technologists, PHIs stand their ground against govt. attempt to gag them
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The best way to address misinformation about SARS-CoV-2 is by being transparent, Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) head Upul Rohana said yesterday commenting on the Health Ministry’s attempts to deter health professionals from commenting on COVID-19 related matters.
Rohana said that the WHO insisted that public communication played an important role in addressing the challenge of public health emergencies and their effective management.
“Proactive communication allows the public to adopt protective behaviours, facilitates heightened disease surveillance, reduces confusion and allows for a better use of resources, all of which are necessary for an effective response,” he said.
The PHIU head said that in recent years social media had emerged as the most powerful medium of information dissemination. However, health officials hardly used social media to disseminate information.
“We need to at least use traditional media and clearly tell the people what’s going on. PHIs are the people who see the situation at the grassroots level first and we have always tried to communicate that clearly to the people. We want people to know the truth so that they can act accordingly. If people feel that the authorities are hiding the truth from them, then they will seek information from various sources on social media,” he said.
Meanwhile, President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS), Ravi Kumudesh said that hiding the truth from the people would not help the COVID-19 eradication programmes.
“The Secretary to the Ministry of Health Dr. H.S Munasinghe has issued a circular to shut people up. He seems to think that he could hide the issues in their anti- SARS-CoV-2 campaign by infringing on the freedom of expression of health professionals. There are many issues faced by health staff at the grassroots. The secretary has done nothing about these. He has not even met them. People are angry,” he said.
Kumudesh said that not a single health sector union has resorted to union action despite all the issues they faced and the neglect of senior health administrators. The administration however should not think that the patience of the health staff is infinite, Kumudesh warned.
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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