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WHO, Health Ministry pay tribute to Lankan health workers with new stamp

World Health Organization-Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Ministry of Health on Thursday issued a postage stamp and a special first-day cover to pay tribute THE Sri Lankan health workers leading the country’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister of Health Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Mass Media Dullas Alahapperuma, World Health Organization Representative to Sri Lanka Dr. Alaka Singh and senior officials of the Ministry of Health presided at the ceremonial release of the commemorative stamp at the auditorium of the Ministry of Health on 30 December 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the health care delivery system and its workforce and there is an urgent need to increase investment and protection for health and care workers. The World Health Organization has designated the year 2021 as the International Year of Health and Care Workers in appreciation and gratitude for their invaluable service in responding to COVID-19 pandemic.
In Sri Lanka, nearly 140 000 health and care workers are employed in the state allopathic sector both in the line ministry and provincial ministry institutions and contributed immensely to the COVID-19 response in diverse capacities at different levels. Health personnel in armed forces, private health sector, traditional and ayurvedic sector, and in community-based organisations also played a significant role in controlling the COVID-19 situation in the country.
The release of special first-day cover and the postage stamp is the inaugural event of a series of provincial level felicitation of health and care workers to be conducted jointly by the WHO Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Health. The primary aim of the felicitation events is to recognize and pay gratitude to health and care workers for their sacrificial service, especially in fighting against COVID-19 and to harness their support to the country’s efforts to build back better beyond COVID-19. The campaign also aims to make all of us aware and recognize the service extended by the health and care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond in reaching universal health coverage. Further, the campaign will be instrumental in advocating the policymakers to invest in and improve the health workforce to achieve the universal health coverage objectives while ensuring fair and decent working environment. In 2021, WHO launched a year-long global campaign under the theme of Protect Invest.
Together with the prime objective of mobilising commitments from member states, international financing institutions, bilateral and philanthropic partners to protect and invest in health and care workers to ensure safe and decent working conditions and to protect their health including mental health. The investment will pay off generously with certainty in terms of health, employment, and economic and social opportunities and will accelerate the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and COVID-19 recovery.
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Kerala cannabis with a street value of over Rs.132 million held by Navy in Negombo

A special search operation conducted by the Navy in the Mankuliya Lagoon of Negombo today (21st September 2023) led to the apprehension of a dinghy loaded with over 400kg of Kerala cannabis with an estimated street value of over Rs. 132 million
The seized consignment of Kerala cannabis and the dinghy were handed over to the Negombo Excise Station for onward legal action
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IMF MD and President Wickremesinghe focus on Financial Reforms and Debt Restructuring initiatives

In a crucial meeting held during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, met with President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, to discuss vital economic matters.
During the meeting, Ms. Georgieva and President Wickremesinghe delved into the ongoing financial sector reforms and the substantial progress made in debt restructuring initiatives. The IMF Managing Director commended the Sri Lankan government for its effective measures in curbing inflation and nurturing a conducive environment for business growth, as well as the flourishing tourism industry. She expressed her satisfaction with the government’s commitment to enhancing the overall economic landscape.
(PMD)
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President invites Iranian President to ceremonially open Uma Oya Hydropower Station

President Ranil Wickremesinghe invited President Ebrahim Raisi of the Islamic Republic of Iran to visit Sri Lanka and ceremonially open the Uma Oya Hydropower Station when they met on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York on Wednesday (20).
President Raisi accepted the invitation and also extended an invitation to President Wickremesinghe to visit Iran. Both leaders agreed that these high level visits would give impetus to further consolidate bilateral ties.
The two leaders recognized that as countries belonging to the same region there is potential for regional cooperation in a range of areas of mutual interest including as members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). The prospects for cooperation in the agriculture sector, particularly introducing modern technology in which area Iran has considerable expertise, was also discussed.
(PMD)
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