by Saman Indrajith

A regulation under the Medical Ordinance to make it compulsory for obtaining two credit passes (C) and one ordinary pass (S) in G.C.E Advanced Level Biology stream to be registered with the Medical Council of Sri Lanka was passed on Tuesday (3) in Parliament.

Another regulation under the Act was passed on the same day amidst the objections of JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who suggested that the resolution should be added to the Ordinance allowing it to be subjected to amendments yearly. Therefore, he further suggested that the matter should be referred and discussed at the Consultative Committee and made open to amendments prior to the passing of the second Resolution.

However, Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena pointed out in Parliament that the government did not see eye to eye with Dissanayake and that the resolution should be passed in Parliament as agreed at the Committee on Parliamentary Business.

The two resolutions were passed in Parliament and objections raised by the JVP leader were recorded.

Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, in her reply, said that passing the two resolutions was a contemporary requirement. She pointed out that medical education met the stipulated standards.

Responding to a question raised by Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, the Health Minister said that the appointment of the Director General of Health was done properly. She said it was approved by the Cabinet.

The Minister said the Medical Council ban on degrees offered by three Russian universities would be investigated as soon as possible in response to the question raised by the Chief Opposition Whip. She emphasised that measures had been adopted to lift the ban temporarily.

She said that thus far 25 labs had been established to conduct PCR tests following the COVID-19 virus eruption in the country. More than 8,000 PCR tests were now being conducted daily, she added.

Minister Wanniarachchi explained to the House that the delay in adding amendments to the Quarantine Act had been due to the need to conduct a comprehensive study thereon. The amendments added to the Act provided the police with the authority to arrest those who violated health guidelines. She said she expected maximum public support to beat the virus.

Minister Wanniarachchi said that the World Bank had provided USD 128 million until 2023 and out of that about USD 35 million had already been spent on health care, and another USD 22 million would be spent.

 The Quarantine Act applied to the entire country, the Health Minister said. The public places as mentioned in the recently issued Gazette notification referred to open public places in particular, she said.

 The Minister said that the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Sri Lanka had been significantly controlled and the participation of all MPs without division to control the situation was necessary. She said why 60 per cent of COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka were asymptomatic was not known. The situation in the Gampaha District was under control, she said, adding that she hoped that the situation in the entire country would be brought under control soon.