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Medical specialists urge govt to sound WHO on anti-Covid-19 vaccine

While some seek approval for ‘Dhammika Peniya’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
A group of medical specialists has requested Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Pandemic Control Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle to apprise the World Health Organization (WHO) of Sri Lanka’s readiness to use an anti-Covid-19 vaccine approved by it.
The discussion took place close on the heels of Dr Razia Pendse, WHO Representative in Sri Lanka meeting Dr. Fernandopulle. The ministry spokesperson said that they discussed how to provide the vaccine once a decision was made in that regard.
The WHO is yet to issue licence to any of the vaccines produced by various countries.
The group of specialists has emphasized the pivotal importance of reaching a consensus with the WHO in this regard when Dr. Fernandopulle sought opinion as regards acquisition of foreign vaccines touted as Covic-19 cure.
Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Harsha Amal de Silva, Senior Professor of Medicine at the University of Kelaniya Janaka de Silva, Prof. Anuja P. Premawardena also of Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Prof. Arjuna de Silva of Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Prof. Sarath Lekamwasam, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Dr. Ananda Wjewickrema of National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Pradeep Kumarasinghe of the National Hospital and Dr. Bodhika Samarasekera of Gampaha Hospital had participated in the discussion held on Wednesday (23) at the Health Ministry.
At the onset of the meeting, State Minister Fernandopulle emphasized that counter measures in respect of Covid-19 should be taken on a scientific basis. The State Minister said that the Covid-19 should be appropriately tackled as a pandemic. The minister said so at the meeting called to discuss ways and means of tightening control over Covid-19. Dr. Fernandopulle stressed that the ongoing epidemic control project should be based on technical decisions and implemented with the support of the media.
The State Minister called the meeting with specialists in the wake of the high profile government efforts to subject untested, homemade herbal brew ‘ Dhammika Paniya’ for what co-cabinet spokesperson Dr. Ramesh Pathirana called placebo control randomized double-blind clinical trial.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently created a special ministry for Dr. Fernandopulle to step up government efforts against the rampaging virus against the backdrop of the second Covid-19 wave threatening to overwhelm the badly overstretched health sector.
According to the Ministry spokesperson, the discussion covered problems encountered in tackling the disease, direction in the ongoing operations, co-operation between the ministry and medical specialists and ways and means to improve health facilities provided to those living in rural areas and the needy.
The specialists sounded the State Minister on the need to continue with medical education, nursing and laboratory services in spite of the continuing difficulties.
The specialists asserted that the economy could be revived by taking proper measures, including a vaccination project. They appreciated resumption of tourism and the State Minister taking a sensible stand in respect of various proposals. In an obvious reference to Dr. Fernandopulle’s public stand that local remedies should be subjected to proper scrutiny, the specialists commended the minister.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi yesterday (24) directed managers of 16 Economic Centres (EC) to follow specific guidelines in operation of their centres as their failure to do so would cause a catastrophe. Addressing EC managers, Minister Wanniarachchi warned unless strict procedures were followed Covid-19 could spread to the entire country through ECs. The Health Ministry issued a series of specific instructions on running their operations.
Authoritative sources told The Island that immediate were needed to be carried out as regards implementation of a proper vaccination programme once the WHO issued license/licenses taking into consideration a range of factors, particularly the suitability of the selected vaccine. Sources acknowledged that the government hadn’t allocated funds whatsoever through Budget 2021 for covid-19 vaccine.
News
UNHRC Chief due here: Chagie asks NPP govt. to set the record straight

Former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of fighting Divisions Maj. Gen. Chagie Gallage has said that the government should take tangible measures to thwart interested parties from exploiting forthcoming visit by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to propagate unsubstantiated war crimes accusations.
The Gajaba Regiment veteran said that the National People’s Power (NPP) government could use the top UN official’s visit to make a comprehensive presentation to him.
UN Resident Coordinator in Colombo Marc-André Franche recently announced the top human rights official’s visit. A delegation from Geneva is expected early next week.
Gallage pointed out that various interested parties, both here and abroad, issued statements ahead of the visit. Responding to The Island questions, the outspoken officer pointed out UK born Labour MP Uma Kumaran, a new entrant to UK parliament of Sri Lankan Tamil origin taking up what a section of the media called Sri Lanka’s new mass grave at Chemmani, Jaffna.
Having mentioned the Chemmani mass graves, the parliamentarian has written an open letter to Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy, MP, Kumaran has emphasized the responsibility on the part of the UK government to refer perpetrators of alleged war crimes to the International Criminal Court. “We must remind both lawmakers Lammy and Kumaran that the LTTE maintained its International Secretariat in London even at the time most probably a child suicide cadre blew up former Indian Congress Party leader Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991,” Gallage said.
The British Tamil Forum (BTF), too, has taken it up in an obvious bid to heap pressure on the government ahead of the UN Human Rights chief’s visit. The retired officer laughed at efforts to find fault with Sri Lanka for eradicating terrorism 17 years ago while massive death and destruction was taking place in Gaza, Iran and Israel.
Alleging that successive governments since the end of the war in May 2009 pathetically failed to counter unsubstantiated war crimes allegations, Gallage stressed the NPP’s responsibility to set the record straight.
Commenting on various parties comparing Sri Lanka’s successful war against LTTE terrorists and the Israeli offensives following Hamas raids in southern Israel in early Oct 2023, the former GOC said that they couldn’t be equated under any circumstances. “Ours was an internal conventional military threat that had been created by India in the 80s. We had no option but to neutralize that threat when it threatened to overwhelm the democratically elected government,” the retired officer said. “In other words what we really did was self-defense. That is the truth the likes of MP Kumaran flagrantly exploited to their advantage,” Maj. Gen. Gallage said, challenging the parliamentarian to disclose why and when her parents fled Sri Lanka.
The global community must appreciate the eradication of the LTTE for once and for all as terrorism shouldn’t be allowed to succeed anywhere in the world under any circumstances. The madman who massacred 77 people in Norway, mostly teenagers in two attacks on the same day in 2011 had been influenced by the forcible eviction of the Muslim community from the Northern Province in 1990, Maj. Gen. Gallage said. Those who carried out the suicide attack on guided missile destroyer USS Cole in the port of Aden, Yemen in Oct 2000 declared they were inspired by Sea Tiger attacks on Sri Lanka Navy.
Instead of protesting the UN Human Rights chief’s visit, Sri Lanka should use the opportunity to highlight how the LTTE’s eradication benefited the country. Ending the despicable practice of forcible conscription of children was one of the significant achievements, the retired infantry officer said. Whatever those who couldn’t stomach Sri Lanka’s victory over the LTTE say in a bid to belittle the war winning armed forces, the truth is the LTTE regarded children as cannon fodder.
“How many lives were saved as a result of our triumph over terrorism 17 years ago,” Gallage asked, urging the Tamil Diaspora and other interested parties to come to terms with the reality. The LTTE couldn’t be resurrected by peddling lies, Maj. Gen. Gallage said, reminding how mega lie about Mannar mass graves and killing captured/surrendered LTTE cadres by lethal injections during the yahapalana rule exploded in their face.
Responding to another question, the ex-field commander said that the combined armed forces could have finished off the LTTE much earlier if they didn’t take the civilian factor into consideration. Referring to Wikileaks revelations, Gallegae said that no less an organization than the ICRC soon after the end of the war admitted that they could have done so but chose to proceed with care and in the process suffered more losses.During 2009 (Jan 1 to May 19) the army lost about 2,400 officers and men.
By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️
News
NPP vows action against Mahinda, Maithri, Ranil, Basil, others over dairy cows

NPP MP Nihal Galappatthi told Parliament yesterday that several top political figures, including three former Presidents and a number of former Ministers, had been implicated in a USD 110 million cattle import scam.
Galappatthi named former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, and Ranil Wickremesinghe, along with former Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, P. Harrison, Wijith Wijithamuni de Zoysa, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, and Lakshman Wasantha Perera, as being involved in the large-scale fraud.
Galappaththi declared that none of those responsible would be shown leniency.
The MP said the scam involved the importation of aged, non-productive cattle on the pretext of importing dairy cows. The project, which was presented as a means to boost local dairy production, had become a vehicle for massive financial irregularities, Galappatthi said.
by Saman Indrajith ✍️
News
As dengue rages in 16 districts authorities to hold National Mosquito Control Week

The National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) yesterday announced that the health authorities would launch a nationwide mosquito control week from 30 June to 05 July across 16 high-risk districts.
The campaign had been in response to a surge in mosquito density driven by ongoing southwest monsoon rains, said Dr. Priscilla Samaraweera, Community Specialist at the NDCU, speaking at a press briefing in Colombo.
“This programme will target 111 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions. Our teams will carry out inspections in vulnerable areas to detect and destroy mosquito breeding sites,” Dr. Samaraweera said. “Red notices will be issued to premises found to be maintaining breeding grounds, and legal action will follow where necessary.”
The move comes amid a concerning rise in dengue cases, with 26,775 infections and 14 related deaths reported so far this year. The Western Province accounts for nearly 45% of the total cases, while high numbers have also been recorded in the Eastern, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern provinces.Dr. Samaraweera confirmed the current year’s first dengue-related child fatality and urged the public to cooperate with disease control efforts to prevent further loss of life.
By Chaminda Silva ✍️
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