Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka experiences approximately one million hospital admissions and 12,000 deaths annually due to various accidents, Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana disclosed.

This substantial figure underscores the critical nature and urgency of the issue, as emphasised by the Minister, addressing the International Conference on Injury Prevention at the Waters Edge.

The Minister the alarming statistics, noting that the accidents lead to an average of 1,000 deaths per month or nearly 35 deaths daily. Traffic accidents alone contribute to around 3,000 annual fatalities, while suffocation, drowning, falls, poisoning, electrocution, burns, and animal attacks collectively result in thousands more deaths, he noted.

Individuals aged between 15-44 are particularly vulnerable to these accidents, with accidents ranking among the leading causes of fatalities, Pathirana emphasised.

Recognising the gravity of this trend, the Health Minister pointed out that immediate attention should be paid and action taken, focusing on addressing the social impacts.

Thereby, preventive measures should be implemented and remedial actions should be taken, with a focus on enhancing the collaboration of various sectors involved in managing these issues, Dr. Pathirana stressed.

The Minister expressed his full commitment to implementing effective policy actions to address this crisis.

Colombo (LNW): Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (CoPE) Prof. Ranjith Bandara engaged in a contentious exchange in Parliament, trading fresh allegations against each other.

Premadasa accused Prof. Bandara of impropriety, asserting that the Colombo Business School, owned by the professor, prepared corporate plans for state enterprises summoned before CoPE, charging them a fee. Specifically, he cited the Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority as an example.

This allegation was in response to Bandara’s claim that CoPE would investigate fraud in the Central Cultural Fund and a land deal involving a prominent opposition MP.

Bandara asserted that funds from the Central Cultural Fund were spent without the approval of former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during the ‘Good Governance’ government.

The Opposition Leader expressed apprehensions about Bandara overseeing a CoPE meeting regarding Sri Lanka Cricket, citing a potential conflict of interest.

Highlighting Bandara’s leadership role in a private campus that had provided services to SLC, Premadasa questioned the legality of individuals with such affiliations heading Parliamentary committees. He called for a transparent report detailing the transactions between SLC and Bandara.

In response to the allegations, Bandara stated he would resign if proven true.

The Ruling Party lawmaker also said that he denies sexual harassment allegations made by Opposition MP Hesha Withanage, declaring the accusation false and thereby requesting the Speaker to refer the matter to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee for discussion.

He pledged to resign if found guilty but insisted on consequences for Withanage if the allegation is proven to be untrue.

Colombo (LNW): Four senior officials from the Medical Supply Division have been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) a short while ago, in connection with the procurement of substandard immunoglobulin injection vials.

The individuals apprehended include Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake, Director of the Medical Supply Division, Assistant Director Devasantha Solomon, Accountant (Supply) Neran Dhananjaya, and Stock Controller Sujith Kumara, confirmed the Police Media Spokesman.

Colombo (LNW): The number of recorded dengue cases in 2023 has exceeded 73,000, the Epidemiology Unit disclosed.

As of November 19, the total reported cases stand at 73,032, with the Colombo district contributing the highest number at 15,509.

The Western Province has the highest provincial count at 34,700, and the month of November alone has witnessed 4,539 new Dengue cases.

Health officials anticipate a further increase in dengue cases due to the ongoing rainy conditions.

In light of this, the public is strongly advised to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings and eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites to prevent the spread of dengue.

Colombo (LNW): Dr. Palitha Mahipala, former Director General of Health Services, officially took on the role of Secretary to the Ministry of Health today (20).

He succeeds Janaka Sri Chandragupta, who retired from state service yesterday.

Dr. Mahipala previously served as the Additional Secretary of Health and Deputy Director of General Public Health Services.

He is qualified in the field of public health, health sector management, business administration and economic development, and is recognised as a prominent figure in the medical sector.

Dr. Mahipala is well known amongst the Sri Lankan LGBTQIA+ community for his groundbreaking intervention in 2016 for the introduction of the Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), which is the key component allowing people of transgender identities to legally change their gender in Sri Lanka.