July 22, Colombo (LNW): The Medical Research Institute (MRI), the leading entity for laboratory testing and diagnosis, is facing criticism for allegedly neglecting a substantial portion of its testing duties.
Trade unions representing the health sector claim that currently, 50 per cent of MRI investigations are not being conducted.
The unions specifically mentioned that tests such as Rabies, Candida Ab ELISA, Mannan Ag for Candida, ASOT (Anti-Streptolysin O Titer), Brucella PCR, HbA1C, ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), thyroid stimulating hormone, and Melioidosis Ab are among those not performed by the MRI.
Responding to these allegations, MRI Director Dr Suranga Dolamulla told Daily Mirror that the figure cited by the trade unions is outdated and incorrect.
“Previously, 50 per cent of MRI investigations were not conducted, but this figure has now significantly dropped to 20 per cent,” he said.
He also noted that some tests highlighted by the trade unions are deemed unnecessary by medical experts.
“This improvement reflects the implementation of more effective systems and the efficient use of diagnostic resources,” Dr Dolamulla added.
Additionally, sources indicated that the MRI is struggling with insufficient funding, which hampers their ability to perform more tests.
Despite this, the MRI director assured that they are prioritising the most crucial tests.
These evangelical groups not only challenge the Supreme Court’s special determination delivered last year with regard to the bill, but also act in violation of a number of obligations Sri Lanka has to respond to before the United Nations. They happen to instigate a hate campaign against people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) and women’s reproductive health rights.
The campaign is being led by a Pastor from Agape Ministry, which has its origins in Texas, USA, and she has created a recruitment and conversion movement called ‘Mother’s Movement’ to spread false propaganda, an activist on the condition of anonymity told LNW.
The Mother’s Movement (spelled Mawwarunge Peramuna in Sinhala), led by the Pastor in question, has come under fire for allegedly using tactics resembling those employed by the late Mangala Samaraweera’s Mother’s Front (Mawwarunge Peramuna). Whilst Samaraweera’s campaign sought justice for missing children during the second JVP uprising in the late 80s, the current Mother’s Movement is spreading misinformation and promoting religious conversions.
Evangelical groups in Sri Lanka are known for their multi-layered approach to conversion, often presenting themselves as charitable organisations involved in education, healthcare, and rural development. This strategy helps them build trust within communities before introducing religious conversions.
This organisation, which relies on the financial backing of US-supported evangelical Christians, has initiated this protest as part of a much larger campaign to recruit individuals to its particular brand of Christianity by leveraging religious influence.
Alongside their conversion initiatives, these evangelical groups also disseminate anti-queer rhetoric. This aligns with a broader global strategy observed in various countries, where US religious right organisations have invested millions to combat LGBTQIA+ rights and instil fear against marginalised communities to drive conversion and recruitment to their brand of Christianity.
Recently, these groups have escalated their activities in Sri Lanka by organising protests against a bill intended to decriminalise same-sex consensual relationships. They propagate false accusations against the queer community, garnering support under deceptive pretences.
Alarmingly, they have succeeded in persuading certain Buddhist and Muslim groups to back their cause, exploiting their lack of awareness regarding the evangelical groups’ underlying conversion agendas.
The movement proposes the recent developments on behalf of the LGBTQIA+ community in Sri Lanka to be ‘abominable’ and ‘daemonic’. It also proposes that gays, lesbians and transgender individuals are paedophiles, thereby inciting a call for all mothers to protect their children from such individuals, in a clear violation of the Supreme Court determination which dismissed such baseless accusations last year.
Their stance of recruiting converts for their movement in the appearance of inciting hate against marginalised communities and women’s rights also instigate tarnishment of the diverse religious and cultural fabric of our nation.
“Persons with homosexual tendencies are children of God. God loves them. Condemning a person like this is a sin. Criminalising people with homosexual tendencies is an injustice,” the Pope said in a recent statement.
This compassionate stance distinguishes the Roman Catholic Church from the more extreme positions of evangelical groups that use hate and fear as recruitment tools.
Whilst we are reassuring our stance against all forms of extremism, we would like to conclude this article by emphasising the importance of creating a society where every individual is treated with respect, irrespective of their religion, race, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. This is essential for the long-term stability and renaissance of Sri Lanka.
July 22, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council has delivered a strong rebuke to successive governments for their inconsistent policies, asserting that this inaction has facilitated widespread corruption, detrimentally affecting various industries.
Despite repeated promises from different administrations, the Council highlighted the persistent lack of good governance and effective policy as a major issue.
On Friday, Council Chairman Sean Van Dort called on the Ports Authority and the Minister of Shipping to tackle the entrenched corruption within institutions such as Sri Lanka Customs and the Inland Revenue Department.
Re-elected as Chairman at the Council’s 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Van Dort criticised the government’s inadequate response to the recent go-slow campaign by Sri Lanka Customs, describing it as a clear indication of its reluctance to address these issues decisively.
“It is disgraceful that a department like Customs and the authorities take such a dismissive view of these problems. Customs continue to be a thorn in our side,” Van Dort remarked.
While ship handling at the ports meets acceptable standards, Van Dort drew attention to ongoing challenges with the logistics side, mentioning unsanitary warehouses and outdated equipment.
“Pilferage and damage are commonplace. This is the reality,” he lamented.
The Shippers’ Council also noted that private sector entities must be held accountable for their contributions to corruption.
Van Dort explained that in the interest of efficiency, the private sector often outsources bribery and corrupt practices to other entities.
“Companies present themselves as respectable but then engage other entities to pay bribes, disguised as agency commissions and handling fees,” he stated.
Despite these challenges, Van Dort emphasised that the Council and its members do not expect government handouts.
“What we expect is a service that does not hinder operations. We are confident in our ability to compete in international markets. Our private sector is robust enough to find their own markets and generate revenue, but we need the service we deserve,” he added.
July 22, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe reassured that he will disclose his decision when the time is right.
The President made this announcement in response to Minister Prasanna Ranatunga’s call for an immediate announcement of his candidacy.
“Minister Ranatunga extended an invitation to me. You must always respond to an invitation. I will answer Minister Ranatunga’s request at the proper moment,” Wickremesinghe said during a rally in Kadawatha.
Minister Ranatunga had passionately urged President Wickremesinghe to declare his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election within the next week, emphasising the eagerness of the people of Gampaha for his decision.
Instead of announcing his candidacy, President Wickremesinghe reiterated his appeal for the opposition’s support in transforming Sri Lanka into a developed nation.
“I urge the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), National People’s Power (NPP), and SLFP to join us in this endeavour. The current need is a national agenda. The days when each political party could pursue its own agenda are over. The political climate must align with the national agenda,” he said.
The President noted that the opposition has repeatedly rejected his request for cooperation. “Every three months, I have asked for the opposition’s support, but they have consistently denounced me,” he said.
He also mentioned that Sri Lanka has successfully reached an agreement with all creditors. “Creditors will announce this in the coming days,” the President stated.
Highlighting the economic challenge, President Wickremesinghe said, “Sri Lanka needs to increase its GDP fivefold by 2040. We have increased revenues to ensure the people can live without fear.”
UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene also urged the main opposition SJB to support national revival efforts. “Your duty is to the nation, not just to seizing power. President Wickremesinghe has introduced a new political culture, which explains why we work with the SLPP,” he said.
July 22, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured that Sri Lankan students and workers in Bangladesh remain safe despite ongoing unrest in the country.
Director General Niluka Kadurugamuwa stated that there are currently 53 Sri Lankan students studying in Bangladesh.
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dharmapala Weerakkody, along with the High Commissioner’s office, is closely monitoring the situation of each student.
In light of recent developments, nine Sri Lankan students have returned to Sri Lanka.
The High Commissioner has also communicated with university administrations to ensure the safety and well-being of Sri Lankan students.
The Ministry noted that Sri Lankan students can safely remain in their hostels as the Bangladeshi Government has not requested foreign students to leave the country.
Regarding Sri Lankan workers, the Ministry confirmed that there are approximately 3,000 Sri Lankans working in Bangladesh, and there have been no security issues reported concerning their safety.
July 22, Colombo (LNW): The People’s Action for Free & Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has advised the government against introducing any amendments that would require a referendum at this time.
Conducting a referendum amidst the current economic crisis, which would cost ten billion rupees, is a financial burden, Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of PAFFREL, pointed out.
He criticised the government for considering such amendments when Local Government elections have been postponed due to a lack of funds.
The PAFFREL chief further argued that this approach reveals the government’s focus on retaining power rather than addressing the country’s urgent issues.
July 22, Colombo (LNW): As of 18 July 2024, Sri Lanka has welcomed a total of 1,019,642 tourists this year.
Data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) shows that 43,083 visitors arrived in the first week of July, followed by 42,343 in the second week.
Additionally, 23,967 arrivals were recorded in the first four days of the third week.
Indian tourists accounted for 25.2 per cent of the total, with 27,574 visitors up to 18 July, making them the largest group from any single country.
The United Kingdom, China, Germany, and the Netherlands also contributed significant numbers of tourists, according to the SLTDA.
July 21, Colombo (LNW): Teacher and principal trade unions have commenced a two-week ‘work-to-rule’ campaign starting today (22).
The unions have announced that they will abstain from participating in workshops, external professional activities, and training programmes mandated by provincial and zonal education offices from today onwards.
Parakrama Weerasinghe, General Secretary of the National Association of Principals, said over the next fortnight, they will focus solely on classroom teaching, withdrawing from all external activities.
However, Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thero, Convenor of the National Collective Against Teachers’ and Principals’ Salary Disparities, has expressed that they do not endorse this union action, viewing it as an attempt to bolster political movements.
July 22, Colombo (LNW): A few showers may occur in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, but mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere of the island, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (22).
Strong winds of about (50-55) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee, Monaragala and Hambantota districts.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times elsewhere of the island.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers may occur at a few places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Matara via Galle.
Winds:
Winds will be westerly to south-westerly and wind speed will be (25-35) kmph. Wind speed can increase up to 60 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Hambantota to Pottuvil. Wind speed can increase up to 50 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Trincomalee to Kankasanthurai via Mullaittivu and Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coasts extending from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Hambantota to Pottuvil can be rough or very rough at times. The sea areas off the coasts extending from Trincomalee to Kankasanthurai via Mullaittivu and Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle can be fairly rough at times. The swell waves (about 2.0–2.5 m) height (this is not for land area) may increase in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kalpitiya to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle, and Hambantota. Naval and fishing communities are requested to be attentive in this regard.
