News
Minister Devananda asks Health Minister to boost ICU capacity at Jaffna Teaching Hospital urgently

With North facing possible Covid-19 crisis
Minister of Fisheries, Douglas Devananda on Wednesday requested the Minister of Health, Pavithra Wanniarachchi to expand the ICU of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital given the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the Jaffna area.
Minister Devananda said that he had held talks with the Jaffna hospital administration recently and been informed that the number of ICU beds there for COVID-19 patients was limited.
The Minister said that an ICU unit which could treat at least 25 people should be established and a liquid oxygen plant installed at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital immediately. All COVID-19 patients who needed advance treatment in the Northern Province were transferred to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, the minister said.
“It is better if we can develop other hospitals in the province as well,” Minister Devananda said.
Tough restrictions would have to be imposed in Jaffna if religious leaders did not help health authorities, Northern Province Director General of Health Services, Dr. A. Kethiswaran said recently. Jaffna was facing a serious risk of having a full blown COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
Dr. Kethiswaran said so during a meeting with religious leaders at his office. He said that a large number of devotees were seen at various places of religious worship during the festive period.
“None of these people follow health guidelines. It is impossible to control the virus because of this. At this rate we will have to impose travel restrictions in the Jaffna District. We need everyone’s support, if we are to avoid this fate.”
News
Employees’ Trust Fund Act No. 46 of 1980 to be amended

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to instruct the legal draftsman to prepare a bill to amend the Employees’ Trust Provident Fund Act No. 46 of 1980 enabling to provide health insurance similar to Agrahara health insurance to private sector employees.
News
Cabinet nod for MOU between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives on Cultural Cooperation

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural affairs to sign a cultural cooperation agreement between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Maldives. (The draft agreement has received the clearance of the Attorney General and the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
News
Outgoing Bulgarian Ambassador calls on the President

Mrs. Eleonora Dimitrova, Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, met President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (06), before departing for her home country upon completing her tenure in Sri Lanka.
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