News
PHIs’ union tells govt. to reconsider decision to allow GNs to release those who die at home
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The PHIs Union yesterday urged the Ministry of Health to reconsider a decision to authorise Grama Niladharis to release the bodies of those who die at home without PCR testing if the deceased were believed to be free from coronavirus infection.
Head of the PHIs Union, Upul Rohana said that 80% of the people with COVID were asymptomatic but carried the virus.
Given that testing had decreased during recent weeks, most of the asymptomatic cases had gone undetected, he said. “So, the practice was to conduct PCR tests on all those who died at home. This helped detect COVID sub clusters. If we let Grama Niladharis make a call on this, there is a possibility of some people who have died of COVID too being released,” he said.
Rohana said that usually, if one person in the family contracted COVID-19, all its members too were infected, and therefore funerals would cause the spread of the disease. “There is a delay in conducting PCRs on corpses. The answer to that is to increase PCR testing and enhance the efficiency of the process. We know for a fact that we can increase PCR tests,” he said.
Meanwhile, the College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) President, Ravi Kumudesh said that they had already proposed a solution to the delays in testing corpses.
The best option was to expand rapid PCR tests, Kumudesh said. “This can be easily done by increasing rapid PCRs at regional hospitals. Sixteen Sri Lankan hospitals already do rapid PCRs. The Medical Laboratory Technologists’ union leader said that all 16 machines had been received by the country as donations and the Health Ministry officials had continuously undermined President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had instructed the Ministry to buy 30 rapid PCR machines.
The CMLS President said that the President had issued the order after they had written to him on eight separate occasions.
“However, the Health Ministry officials reduced the number by half, and although the tenders were called in June, nothing came of it. We wrote to philanthropists and they responded. For example, the rapid PCR machine at the Embilipitiya Hospital was donated by Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera, the machine at Lady Ridgeway Hospital was donated by Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardane,” he said. Kumudesh said that if the Health Ministry went ahead with the tender and imported rapid PCR machines, all those who arrived in the country could be checked within 90 minutes.
News
Law will be enforced against all those who acquire assets illegally- State Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe
State Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, while addressing a public gathering held at the Raffles Hotel in Kotte on Tuesday [April 22] said that the law will be enforced against all those who acquire assets illegally.
He said that , if someone joins a municipal council receiving a modest salary and, within two to three years, builds a luxury house and acquires a vehicle, we will question how such wealth was amassed. If a satisfactory explanation cannot be provided, the law will be enforced and the measures will be taken to confiscate any illegally acquired assets.
The opposition frequently levels accusations against us, but we have not engaged in any wrongdoing. We have not misappropriated public funds, used undue influence to secure school admissions for our children, or interfered with law enforcement. We are dedicated to serving the people by upholding an ethical and responsible political culture.
If you wish to develop your community, I respectfully urge you to elect individuals of integrity who will not misuse public funds.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
It has been reported that prison officials and the police have brought the unrest among the 500 plus inmates of the Matara prison which commenced on Tuesday [22] under control by this morning (23)
It has been reported that the inmates had broken out of their wards after which the officials were compelled to fire in the air and use tear gas to bring the situation under control.
The inmates are being temporarily transferred to the Angunkolapelessa prison in groups to enable authorities to repair the the damage caused to the wards and cells within the premises.
The prison officials who were injured during the conflict are receiving treatment at the Matara hospital. 
Latest News
Local government authorities and Municipal Councils are the nursery of corrupt politics. – Prime Minister
The Prime Minister stated that the President has challenged all ministers to transparently and efficiently spend the funds allocated to each ministry through the national budget for the benefit of the people, and that the local governments and municipal councils have historically been the nursery grounds of corrupt politics.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a public gathering held at the Raffles Hotel in Kotte on Tuesday [April 22].
The Prime Minister further stated:
“All 159 of us in Parliament today did not enter through family or financial influence. We are ordinary citizens just like you and individuals who stand among you. Unlike in the past, our members do not behave disruptively in Parliament. When school children visit, there is no need for the Speaker to request their removal that our parliamentary members conduct themselves with dignity, adherence to the law, and political maturity.
This is the kind of Parliament we have always aspired to have. Today, it is you who has made this transformation possible. For a long time, we have not experienced the advantages of an efficient and properly functioning local government. You now have the opportunity to elect representatives who are truly committed to serving you and improving your local institutions.
The event was attended by Arosh Athapaththu, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Municipal Council candidate representing the National People’s Power, along with several other candidates and a large number of local residents.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
-
Business5 days agoDIMO pioneers major fleet expansion with Tata SIGNA Prime Movers for ILM
-
News4 days agoFamily discovers rare species thought to be extinct for over a century in home garden
-
Features7 days agoNipping the two leaves and the bud
-
Features6 days agoProf. Lal Tennekoon: An illustrious but utterly unpretentious and much -loved academic
-
Features7 days agoAvurudu celebrations … galore
-
Foreign News5 days agoChina races robots against humans in Beijing half marathon
-
News7 days agoCounsel for Pilleyan alleges govt. bid to force confession
-
Editorial5 days agoSelective use of PTA