, A new COVID vaccine is due out next month, following a new Covid variant, called Eris spreading across Europe, Asia and North America, raising alarms about a potential surge in infections keeping health authorities in Sri Lanka also on alert,
Recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveals that Eris is responsible for one in seven Covid cases in the country, propelling it to the second most common strain, trailing closely behind Arcturus.
Some public health experts hope that Americans will welcome the new shot as they would a flu jab. But demand for the vaccine has dropped sharply since 2021 when it first became available and more than 240 million people in the U.S., or 73% of the population, received at least one shot.
In the fall of 2022, by which time most people had either had the COVID virus or the vaccine, fewer than 50 million people got the shots.
Healthcare providers and pharmacies such as CVS Health (CVS.N) will start next month to offer the shot, updated to fight the Omicron version of the virus that has been dominant since last year.
They will be fighting declining concern about the virus, as well as fatigue and skepticism about the merits of this vaccine, Kaiser Family Foundation Director of Survey Methodology Ashley Kirzinger said.
“Public health officials, if they want to see a majority of adults get these annual vaccines, they’re going to have to make the case to the American public that COVID isn’t over and it still poses a risk to them,” Kirzinger said.
Sri Lankan Health authorities said they keep a close eye on the new developments of the virus and are on alert.
A descendant of Omicron, Eris, or EG.5.1, was first flagged as a variant in the UK on 31 July, but now accounts for one in 10 Covid cases.
It is now the second most prevalent variant in the UK, after Arcturus which makes up almost half of all infection cases at 39.4 percent, according to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Sri Lanka COVID-19 Coordinator Dr. Anwar Hamdani said the Ministry has always been on alert on any new disease spreading in a foreign country as it could pose a threat to Sri Lanka.
“As far as the virus spreading in the UK is concerned, we are vigilant and monitoring the situation,” said Dr Hamdani.
As per the latest report by the UKHSA on August 3, COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the UK.
The five most common symptoms of Eris, a strain of Omicron, are runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and sore throat, as per health experts.
Sri Lankan State Minister of Trade and Food Security Sathasivam Viyalendiran appealed to the Indian doctors to open their facilities in Sri Lanka offering full-fledged support to give all permissions and licenses to launch good hospitals.
He was addressing a meeting at Vijayawada in Andra Pradesh on Sunday after inaugurating the Golden Hour project by Varun Cardio and Neuro Sciences (VCS), the Sri Lankan minister said that Sri Lanka will cooperate to grant all permissions and if the facility was set up in any city other than Colombo, land would also be allotted.
Expressing satisfaction over the medical facilities available in various private and government hospitals across the state, the Sri Lankan minister said that similar facilities should be made available to the Sri Lankan citizens.
Earlier, Andhra Pradesh’s principal secretary of Medial and Health MT Krishna Babu elaborated on the facilities the State government was providing for the people in the government hospitals.
Underlining the importance of Golden Hour, the immediate treatment in the brain stroke or heart attack would give good results. Otherwise, the patient would be burdensome to the family and society.
A senior Health Department officer told the World Socialist Web Site that 1,000 of Sri Lanka’s 3,700 medical specialists had recently left the country. Applications to leave were increasing on a daily basis.
In a move to slash jobs and reduce government expenditure, the Wickremesinghe government has lowered the retirement age of state employees, including doctors, from 65 years to 60. Sri Lankan doctors currently receiving overseas training are fearful of returning home because of the country’s worsening economic crisis.
To address the lack of medical personnel, it has increased the number of medical students it typically admits to its programmes, and it has installed some economic recovery initiatives with an emphasis on supporting lower-income families, Dr. Manoj Fernando, a doctor and senior lecturer in health promotion at Rajarata University said. .
NGOs such as Save the Children and the Red Cross, as well as UN agencies, have also been stepping up their programming, providing various forms of assistance.
“Sri Lanka’s children will bear the burden of the polycrisis as the ripple effects will impact their futures.”
To tackle the medicine shortages, the Ministry of Health is engaged in a Sri Lanka Red Cross platform called Elixir, which coordinates the needs of various hospitals to then coordinate potential bulk price discounts from suppliers.
The WHO says $8 million is required to help the country purchase raw materials to locally produce essential medicines through the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation.
In light of the prevailing peaceful environment in the country, authorities have decided to minimise the security procedures at the Departure Terminal at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake to enhance passenger convenience.
The scanning machines initially introduced during times of heightened terrorist threats have ben removed to ease increased congestion and lengthy lines within the terminal.
Passengers had to undergo scanner checks at multiple points, causing significant delays and inconvenience. Thus, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) took the initiative to address this issue and enhance passenger experience
This strategic approach aims to streamline security processes without compromising safety measures, ensuring a smoother experience for travellers. These changes are anticipated to have a positive impact on overall passenger satisfaction as the current footfall at the terminal exceeds 15,000.
Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd., Chief Manager H.S. Hettiarachi said the primary objective of the move is to ensure maximum security whilst taking every possible action in facilitating optimal conveniences for departing and arriving passengers at the airport.
The significant move comes following authorities re-evaluating security protocols without compromising their safety. From 8 August, the scanning machines were removed from their previous locations, reducing the number of checkpoints to two before passengers board their flights.
Meanwhile President’s Secretary Mr. Saman Ekanayake has instructed the Director General of Customs to take the necessary steps to install high-tech scanning machines at the VIP passenger terminal of Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake.
The President’s Secretary has taken this step as per the instructions of President Ranil Wickramasinghe.
According to the Sri Lanka Customs officials, although there are high-tech scanners in the general passenger terminal of Katunayake airport to check the handbags brought by air passengers, there is no such facility in the elite passenger terminal.
Therefore, the officials say that the hand luggage of VIPs coming through the special passenger terminal will not be checked.
They point out that in many foreign countries, high-tech scanners are installed in VIP passenger terminals as well as in special passenger terminals. Customs officials say that this will prevent passengers from carrying illegal goods in hand luggage and taking them out of the airport without paying duty.
As directed by the President to prevent illegal goods from being brought through the VIP terminal, the President’s Secretary has informed the Sri Lanka Customs to install these scanning devices at the departure terminal as well for special passengers and VIPs.
The President’s Secretary has informed the Director General of Customs to provide a report on the progress of the measure.
The Secretary has given these instructions after the Customs arrested a Member of Parliament when he brought three kilos of gold and a stock of smart phones worth Rs. 78 million through the VIP terminal.
Cuba and Sri Lanka examined bilateral ties, mainly at the legislative level, during a meeting between Tissa Vitarana, president of the Parliamentary Friendship Group, and the Cuban Ambassador Andrés Marcelo González.
At the meeting, which took place at the headquarters of the Sri Lankan Parliament, the Cuban diplomat residing in Sri Lanka and concurrent in the Maldives conveyed a greeting from Deputy Raydel Montesino, coordinator of the recently created counterpart group on the Caribbean island.
It is corresponding to the Tenth Legislature of the National Assembly of People’s Power. González also explained about the composition of the Cuban Legislature and the results of its last session.
Both discussed the willingness to continue developing the existing friendship ties between the two countries and legislative bodies.
The newly formed counterpart group in Cuba. This group, established during the Tenth Legislature of the National Assembly of People’s Power, signifies Cuba’s growing interest in fostering international legislative connections.
During their discussion, González took the opportunity to shed light on the composition of the Cuban Legislature and elaborated on the notable outcomes from its recent session. Such insights aim to bridge any gaps in understanding and pave the way for shared legislative experiences and best practices between the two nations.
Both Vitarana and González expressed a mutual eagerness to cultivate and expand the existing bonds of friendship between Cuba and Sri Lanka, especially between their parliamentary bodies. Their conversation hinted at future collaborative efforts, workshops, and exchange programs that could benefit both nations
In previous days, the representative of Cuba to Colombo held a meeting with G. Weerasinghe, general secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka (PCSL) and Wilfred Jayasinghe, member of the Central Committee of the PCSL and in charge of International Relations. During the meeting, topics of mutual interest were discussed, including solidarity with Cuba
Currently, a Cuban medical brigade is providing its solidarity services in several places of Sri Lanka, among them the most distant atolls, within the framework of a cooperation agreement signed between the Ministries of Health of both countries.
The two island nations are united by feelings of brotherhood arising from the visit of the legendary guerrilla commander Ernesto Che Guevara in 1959 to the then Ceylon, after which friendly ties were forged that continue to this day.
A hundred Sri Lankan students graduated in Cuba and are currently health professionals, teachers, coaches and athletes back in Sri Lanka.
Havana acknowledges Colombo’s support in various international forums such as the Non-Aligned Movement and the UN, denouncing the unjust and genocidal economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba more than six decades ago.
Also, there is a community of ideas of the two islands around the defense of peace and sovereignty of the peoples.
As Sri Lanka focuses on economic recovery, transforming the digital payment landscape for businesses will be a strategic area to consolidate growth, says Avanthi Colombage, Country Manager for Visa in Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, believes that unlocking the potential that digitizing payments can offer to the SME (Small and Midsize Enterprise) or small business sector in Sri Lanka has the ability to accelerate the economy and drive growth.
While Sri Lanka’s digital payments ecosystem is estimated to reach $7 billion in 2023 , this is a small portion of all consumer spends, otherwise called digital PCE (personal consumption expenditure). While cards have grown to 21.2 million (May ’23), there lies a tremendous opportunity for digital payments to grow and empower communities with their inherent ease of use and transaction safety, says Avanthi.
In the past few years, Visa has enhanced the seamless, cashless transaction experience for consumers everywhere with innovative digital technology like contactless payments and tap to phone.
“Now, empowering the SME sector with the right tools and infrastructure to make and receive digital payments would uplift businesses and help drive the economy in the right direction. At Visa, we continually engage with SMEs, empowering them through our ecosystem partners such as banks and fintech solution providers. For the SME sector in Sri Lanka, enabling comprehensive digital payment acceptance would mean less operational cost, greater efficiency, and a positive customer experience, all improving the potential of business tremendously.” She adds.
Today digital payment acceptance is not restricted to only the entrenched POS and mPOS devices, where one can tap or dip a credit or debit card to pay. In addition to these highly proliferated forms, many emerging payment forms can give small businesses a stimulus towards greater acceptance and engagement with consumers, both domestic and tourists.
Of these, QR code-based payments are a great, asset-light way for merchants (retailers and service providers alike) to take the first step into the digital payments ambit. “Without investing heavily in devices or infrastructure, merchants can use QR codes to accept payments from customers who save their Visa card credentials securely on their smartphones,” said Avanthi. When the QR code is shown to a consumer, they can scan it and use their digitally stored Visa details to pay without any hassle. A few banks in Sri Lanka already offer this facility to their Visa cardholders and this also allows for tourists to use their devices to pay for goods or services.
Tap to phone is another innovative yet simple method that promotes digital inclusivity and reduces the use and need of paper receipts. This allows the merchant to use their own smartphone to accept payments from consumers, enabled by contactless technology. Here, the shopper can pay a merchant by tapping their contactless Visa card on the merchant’s smartphone. There are significant benefits for small businesses with these totally contactless transactions – saving time as there are no cash and change hassles, reducing queues in stores and doing away with printing transaction receipts as the cardholder is intimated through SMS.
As more merchants see the value in ecommerce, they will benefit greatly from giving consumers an array of digital payment options to choose from. Avanthi says that with Sri Lankan consumers increasingly shopping online, some of the top ecommerce categories witnessing growth are telecom/utility bill payments, government and educational services, retail stores, insurance, quick service restaurants, airlines and restaurants. Lodging and professional service providers, ride-hailing services and food delivery are some of the other categories witnessing growth of digital payments across Sri Lankan cardholders and tourists visiting Sri Lanka.
Avanthi also says Visa is working with various partners, both financial institutions and large merchants as well as new age players like fintechs, to harness digital payment opportunities for SMEs. Visa is also making it easy for small businesses and merchants to receive payments through simple integrations like SMS based payment links. Merchants can use this to generate digital invoices and get paid by the customer online and remotely, making for efficient payment collection and reconciliation.
With tourist arrivals increasing in Sri Lanka and the economy looking up, it is only apt that merchants start providing payment options that international travelers are already familiar with, be it tapping a card or phone, scanning a QR code or paying online. With its wide network of partners and clients, Visa is helping uplift businesses through and reinforcing the potential of the SME sector. Visa believes that empowering people and businesses with technology and digital payments can drive the digital economy and create opportunities for the SME sector to grow within and outside Sri Lanka.
In response to prevailing challenging climatic conditions, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has sanctioned the expedited acquisition of electricity on an emergency basis. The move aims to address the urgent energy needs of the nation.
As part of this initiative, the government is set to collaborate with two private power plants for the supply of electricity. Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera, confirmed this development during a press briefing held in Colombo on Tuesday, August 15.
Minister Wijesekera emphasized that among the four private power plant options considered for emergency power procurement, the proposals from ACE Embilipitiya and ACE Matara have been selected and granted approval by the Cabinet.
Elaborating on the rationale behind this decision, Minister Wijesekera explained, “In light of the prevailing arid weather conditions and the controlled release of water from reservoirs, the need for emergency electricity procurement has arisen. This situation is not an outcome of arbitrary decisions, but rather a result of historical political pressures that prioritized water release over power conservation. The government is committed to ensuring the stability of the power supply and, contrary to misconceptions, the risk of widespread power cuts remains minimal at present.”
He further outlined that the procurement process involves the government providing the necessary fuel for electricity generation. The minister reaffirmed that the government’s approach primarily centers on preventing any disruption to power supply and sustaining the functioning of power plants without unnecessary interruptions.
As Sri Lanka navigates through these challenges, the emergency electricity procurement serves as a proactive measure to safeguard the nation’s energy requirements, underlining the government’s commitment to responsible energy management in the face of climatic fluctuations.
In a significant move, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to terminate the agreement between the Board of Investment (BoI) and Hambantota Oil Refinery (Pvt) Limited pertaining to the construction of a petroleum refinery. This decision was conveyed by Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister, Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana.
The agreement in question was forged between the BoI and Hambantota Oil Refinery (Pvt) Limited for the establishment of a petroleum refinery with a substantial capacity of 420,000 barrels per day in Hambantota. This ambitious venture was solely intended for the export market.
A sizable land area of approximately 1,200 acres was designated for the project, granted under a long-term lease spanning 50 years. However, despite these commitments, the actual implementation of the project has failed to materialize, as the project proponent did not proceed with acquiring the leased land and no tangible progress has been observed.
Minister Gunawardhana emphasized, “Numerous written communications were dispatched to the project proponent, urging them to initiate the project in accordance with the established agreement. Unfortunately, no response or actions were forthcoming from the proponent, resulting in a breach of the mutually agreed provisions.”
Taking these circumstances into account, the Cabinet of Ministers endorsed a proposal put forth by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also serves as the Investment Promotion Minister. This proposal seeks to annul the agreement that had been established between the two parties.
This decision underscores the government’s commitment to responsible and effective governance, ensuring that agreements entered into are upheld and that projects of national importance are executed with dedication and integrity.
Minister of Power and Energy Mr. Kanchana Wijesekera says that Sinopec will start operating under its own brand from September 20.
“SINOPEC has informed that as of this morning, contracts with 109 of their 150 separators have been completed. By the end of this afternoon, I think it will be around 115. They hope to finish all 150 by next week.
They have informed us now that September 20 is the date they have decided to start business under their brand with all distributors.”
Also, the minister further mentioned that the company has been allowed to sell fuel at a lower price than the maximum price of fuel currently sold in the market.
Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said this while addressing a press conference held yesterday (15).
A significant breakthrough in the ongoing battle against narcotics emerged as law enforcement arrested an individual in the Wanawasala area within the Peliyagoda police division. The suspect was found in possession of a substantial quantity of ‘ice’ drugs, commonly known as crystal methamphetamine.
The operation, skillfully executed by the Western Province (North) Crimes Division, transpired on the evening of August 15th. A meticulously planned raid resulted in the confiscation of illicit substances.
During the operation, a 23-year-old resident hailing from Dippitigoda in Kelaniya was taken into custody. The suspect was intercepted while transporting a staggering 1 kilogram and 6 grams of crystal methamphetamine on a motorcycle.
This apprehension marks a significant stride in combating the drug trade, protecting communities from the pernicious influence of narcotics. The arrested individual is slated to face legal proceedings at the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court later today. Meanwhile, the Western Province (North) Crimes Division continues to delve deeper into the case, striving to uncover further insights into the illicit activities.
SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne asks Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to disclose the identities of his (the Speaker’s) legal advisors from whom the latter had sought legal advice before ruling that the Parliament-approved Domestic Debt Optimisation motion was not open to a legal challenge.
Finance Ministry relaxes restrictions on importing motor vehicles for public transport including buses, lorries, tankers/bowsers and trucks: State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya asserts that the same items imported during the restricted period & lying uncleared in ports will also be released, subject to a surcharge of 30%.
Sri Lanka Ports Development Authority to raise tariffs in accordance with the Govt’s revenue enhancement plans: approval granted to revise the tariff structure of navigation, stevedoring, harbour tonnage, container operations, conventional cargo operations, etc:
President Ranil Wickremesinghe announces plans to transform Mannar into an energy hub: also says an inter-city express train service between Thalaimannar and Colombo will commence on 15 September to enhance connectivity between the two cities.
An IMF team is scheduled to visit Colombo from September 14 to 27 to conduct its 1st review of the Extended Fund Facility arrangement for Sri Lanka.
Assn of Medical Specialists media spokesman Ashoka Gunaratne says SL may have to bring down specialist doctors from overseas in the next couple of years or reduce the size of the cadre in given hospitals, if specialist doctors continue to leave the country.
NPP’s Dr Nalinda Jayatissa says the airtime of state-owned Channel Eye had been sold secretly to VIS Broadcasting (Pvt) Ltd for Rs.250 mn per month, effective for 6 months from June 30: alleges that the Minister of Mass Media had submitted a Cabinet Paper after the Rupavahini employees and people who were aware of the deal objected to it.
Cabinet approves the termination of what was once described as the largest-ever FDI agreement between the BOI and Hambantota Oil Refinery after years of protracted inaction by the investor to fulfil the stipulations of the agreement.
Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says the Chinese oil company Sinopec which is expected to start operations in Sri Lanka on Sep 20, will be allowed to sell fuel at less than the maximum retail price set by the Govt.
Top Cricketer Wanindu Hasaranga, 26, informs Sri Lanka Cricket that he is retiring from international Test cricket: the highly talented Hasaranga has not been a regular member of the Test squad over the last 2 years, and has played only 4 Tests.
