News
Large crowds gather defying health guidelines to obtain ‘Dhammika Peniya’
Hundreds of people gathered yesterday outside the Kegalle residence of Dhammika Bandara, the producer of Dhammika peniya which is being touted as a cure for COVID-19, to obtain the syrup.
The crowds gathered despite warnings by health authorities to reduce travel and not to gather in large numbers.
A few days earlier co-cabinet spokesperson Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said that the Pharmacology Section of the Ayurvedic Department had approved the untested, homemade herbal brew widely called ‘Dhammika peniya’, which is yet to receive clearance from ‘Ethical Committee’ of the Ayurvedic Department without being subjected to a proper scientific study.
Twenty two ‘cures’ for COVID-19 had so far been introduced by practitioners of alternative medicine in Sri Lanka since the beginning of the pandemic and they were promoted by both the media and the Ministry of Health, President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science, Ravi Kumudesh told The Island yesterday. “These practitioners of alternative medicine pop up periodically and they have been given unnecessary publicity. The Health Ministry has encouraged these people and this has confused people.”
Kumudesh said: “A number of ministers have been appointed to deal with various parts of the health sector and these ministers express contradictory opinions. “One says indigenous medicine are best while another says that western medicine is best. We need the people to have a proper mindset to control COVID-19 and this is what China and other East Asian nations did so well. We have confused people and they are now clutching at straws.”
State Minister of Promotion of Indigenous Medicine, Development of Rural Ayurvedic Hospitals and Community Health Sisira Jayakody promoted the syrup while State Health Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle repeatedly declared that it was not acceptable till it received proper approval following required tests.
A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.
Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.
Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.
It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.
Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.
Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions
• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981
News
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted
Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
Court vacancy row throws Parliament into turmoil; sittings disrupted
Climate, pollution, forest loss now hitting economy: BASL chief
GSP+ in jeopardy: GL
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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