News
Ravi: No facilities available at MRI to test vaccines
By Rathindra Kuruwita
It was ridiculous that some government officials were saying they would take full responsibility for the COVID-19 vaccines, but not even vaccine producers have given such an assurance”, President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science, Ravi Kumudesh told The Island yesterday.
The government couldn’t take the full responsibly because vaccines were not 100% safe and the person who took the jab did so knowing that there were risks, he said.
“This is a new vaccine and a small number of people might experience side-effects. This is normal and it is not a reason for people to lose faith in vaccines.”
On the other hand, the government should have contingency plans to handle a possible situation where a number of hospital or ward staff could experience side effects after being inoculated.
Given the fact that there were some risks people should be properly educated and their consent obtained prior to vaccination.
Kumudesh urged the people to continue good health practices such as physical distancing, washing hands regularly, wearing masks, etc.
“We need to distribute these vaccines around the country. We need to store them and deploy trained professionals to vaccinate people. We need to test the antibodies created after injecting people and be ready to deal with side effects. We can’t do this overnight. There is also no need to create a crisis by trying to vaccinate people in a hurry.”
Kumudesh also said that the COVID-19 pandemic could not be controlled by vaccinating 300,000 people and that it might take at least two years to complete the vaccination process. He added that although the government said that the vaccines would be tested at the Medical Research Institute (MRI), no scientific study took place at the institution in that regard. MRI officials only checked the documents sent by the donor or manufacturer, he said.
“A little-talked-about fact is that the MRI doesn’t have facilities to test vaccines. This is sad because in the 1980s, MRI even produced vaccines,” Kumudesh added.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
SL to receive 10 helicopters from US
Foreign couple held over alleged biopiracy at Horton Plains
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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