Colombo (LNW): State Minister for Higher Education Dr. Suren Raghavan has revealed ambitious plans for comprehensive reforms within the Humanities Faculty of Sri Lankan universities, aimed at revitalising the education sector.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is spearheading the establishment of a National Higher Education Authority, tasked with conducting thorough research on ongoing education reforms regionally and globally.

Substantial financial allocations have been designated for the education and higher education sectors to implement reforms in the Humanities Faculty, with a specialised discussion session planned for the coming month.

The National Higher Education Authority aims to align education with 21st-century standards and centralise university administration. To enhance administrative efficiency, Deputy Vice-chancellors will be appointed alongside existing Vice-Chancellors.

Efforts are being made to repatriate lecturers and professors who have pursued opportunities abroad, encouraging them to contribute to teaching and research in local universities.

Initiatives to curb university violence include a plan to enrol 41,000 students in the upcoming academic year.

These students must participate in a four-month social service activity aligned with their chosen subjects as a prerequisite for university admission. The programme aims to create a conducive atmosphere for quality education.

Colombo (LNW): Plans are underway to confiscate illegally acquired property and wealth from drug smubbling and underworld operations within the next months, announced acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakkon.

Speaking at an event in Ambalangoda, Tennakkon highlighted the prevalence of underworld activities, particularly in the Western and Southern Provinces, constituting 7 per cent of the total.

He identified 1,091 individuals involved in such activities, with information on 790 gathered.

To curb escape attempts, CCTV cameras have been installed at airport exit terminals, he went on, adding concern that about 70,000 individuals with open warrants whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Colombo (LNW): To meet festive season demand, Sri Lanka expects a shipment of 15 million imported eggs arriving on December 17, the Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation confirmed.

The corporation plans to distribute 10 million quality-assured eggs to Sathosa outlets on December 18.

Chairman Asiri Walisundara asserted that the consignment will arrive tomorrow and will undergo testing before release.

Trade Minister Nalin Fernando granted permission for the State Trading Corporation to import eggs until April 2024 to curb rising prices.

Local producers recently stated eggs cannot be sold below Rs. 55 until Christmas.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Showers will occur at times in Northern, North-central, Eastern and Uva provincesand in Hambantota district, with showers or thundershowers being expected at several places in other areas of the island after 1.00 p.m, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (17).

Fairly heavy showers about 75 mm are likely at some places in Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces, the statement continued.

The public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Marine Weather:

Air Chief Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana (Retd), Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Ambassador to Nepal, formally presented his credentials to President Ramchandra Paudel at “Sheetal Niwas” in Kathmandu on December 14, 2023.

In their meeting, Ambassador Pathirana conveyed warm regards from the Sri Lankan President, emphasizing the robust cultural bonds shared between Sri Lanka and Nepal. He stressed the imperative of bolstering economic relations between the two nations as a key agenda during his tenure. Additionally, he explored avenues for collaboration in education, healthcare, and technology to fortify the bilateral relationship.

President Paudel, while congratulating Ambassador Pathirana on his new role, underscored the enduring Buddhist and cultural connections between Sri Lanka and Nepal. He highlighted the historical friendship between the two countries and advocated for the initiation of direct air connectivity linking Colombo and Lumbini to benefit pilgrims.

Ambassador Pathirana boasts an illustrious career, commencing in the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) as an officer cadet in 1985. His educational journey includes a Master’s Degree in Operational Art and Science from Air University, Alabama, a second Master’s Degree in Defence Studies and Management from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, and additional qualifications from institutions in Bangladesh, India, and the USA. Notably, he served as the 18th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force until his retirement in 2023, having held various significant positions during his tenure.

Accompanying the Ambassador to the credentials ceremony were Minister Counsellor Nilusha Dilmini and Attaché Madusha Gunasekara from the Sri Lanka Embassy in Nepal.

Dr. Thilani Rathnayake, Consultant Venerologist at Anuradhapura Hospital, shed light on Sri Lanka’s HIV landscape, revealing an estimated 3,600 to 4,000 individuals living with HIV in the country. Notably, 607 new cases of HIV infections were reported recently, underscoring the ongoing concern surrounding sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Dr. Rathnayake emphasized that more than 6,000 individuals seek treatment annually at 41 sexual health clinics across general hospitals for various STDs. Among these, genital herpes registers the highest number of cases, while Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, and genital warts remain common STDs.

Reflecting on the situation in the Anuradhapura district, Dr. Rathnayake disclosed that last year, 113 HIV cases were reported. In the sexual health clinics, 727 patients sought assistance, with 375 female and 352 male patients. Among them, 21 cases of Gonorrhoea, 13 cases of Syphilis, 94 cases of genital herpes, and 75 cases of genital warts were detected.

Highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, Dr. Rathnayake stressed that prompt intervention plays a pivotal role in HIV prevention, as well-controlled patients have a notably low risk of transmitting the virus. She mentioned two effective vaccines—Hepatitis-B and HPV—that serve as preventive measures against STDs.

Hepatitis-B vaccination is recommended for individuals with acute hepatitis-B infection, drug users, and HIV-positive individuals to curb new infections. Additionally, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, eligible for girls aged 9-12, is proven to prevent 90% of cervical cancer cases and the occurrence of genital warts, offering a significant shield against HIV-related complications.

Lady Ridgeway Hospital’s Consultant Paediatrician, Dr. Deepal Perera, highlighted a concerning uptick in childhood asthma, attributing it to prolonged rainfall spanning three to four months. He emphasized a surge in children grappling with viral fevers, directly associated with the persistent rain.

Dr. Perera underscored the importance of vigilance: urging parents to refrain from sending children displaying symptoms like cough, cold, or fever to school or day care centers. Explaining that these viral ailments predominantly affect the upper respiratory system, he also flagged an alarming rise in dengue cases among children.

In addition to respiratory conditions, Dr. Perera cautioned about the spread of eye diseases, urging parents to adopt stringent health measures to safeguard children from these escalating viral infections.