<ul><li>NMRA requests post-jab monitoring plan</li><li>Registration to be granted on one-on-one basis&nbsp;</li><li>Commercial interest wanes</li><li>Importer yet to provide requisite follow-up info</li></ul> The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) is awaiting a post-vaccination monitoring plan from the company responsible for importing the dengue vaccine before the next steps can be taken towards its use in Sri Lanka, NMRA Chairperson Dr Ananda Wijewickrama said yesterday (15). Speaking to The Daily Morning, Dr Wijewickrama said the NMRA had decided to grant registration to the vaccine on a one-to-one basis, following which the commercial interest surrounding the matter had subsided. “Since this is a new vaccine, we informed the company that a proper mechanism must be in place to monitor people who receive it. We need to know how recipients will be followed up, including what happens if they contract dengue after vaccination and whether their condition becomes less or more severe,” he said. Dr Wijewickrama said that the company had been asked to explain how such follow-up would be carried out, but the NMRA had not yet received the required information. He stressed that the responsibility lay with the company importing the vaccine, which must provide details of the proposed monitoring mechanism before the process could proceed. Health Ministry Secretary&nbsp; Dr Anil Jasinghe, when contacted for comment, said that approval had been given to the dengue vaccine to be used in the private sector. Those who want can obtain it, he added.

Dengue vaccine import hits snag

<ul><li>Fewer post-A/L applicants entering training&nbsp;</li></ul>The shortage of nursing officers in 32 divisional hospitals in the Jaffna District is affecting the provision of healthcare services, with a call being made to recruit more nurses from the Northern Province to address the issue.Speaking to The Daily Morning, an informed source in the Provincial health services said yesterday (15) that some hospitals have very few nursing officers, with patients admitted following accidents or snake bites sometimes facing a situation where no nursing officer is available. The source claimed that minor staff are administering medicines in such circumstances.&nbsp;The source said that hospitals in the Province are repeatedly receiving newly recruited nurses for training, only to lose them through transfers to other parts of the country. This had left hospitals having to train new batches of nurses, affecting the continuity of patient care. “Northern hospitals are more like training centres for nurses,” the source said, pointing out that nurses recruited from areas such as Galle, Karapitiya and Kandy had to travel home regularly and are eventually transferred after completing their training and service in the North.&nbsp;The source said that the Government should consider recruiting more people from the Province to ensure that hospitals had a stable nursing workforce. Although there are concerns about the reluctance of young people who had completed the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (A/L) Examination in the Biology stream to enter the nursing profession, the source said that recruitment could be expanded to include students from other subject streams. The source cited a special recruitment initiative carried out during the tenure of former Health Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne, under which Tamil students who had sat the A/L Examination in different subject streams were recruited for nursing training. “There are ways to increase the number of school leavers joining the nursing profession in the Province, especially in the district,” the source said, suggesting that similar recruitment programmes could be considered.&nbsp;The source stressed that the concern is not about nurses from other ethnic communities serving in the North, but about ensuring that patients receive proper care without hospitals repeatedly losing their nursing staff to transfers elsewhere. “We are not against nurses from other ethnicities coming here. Our concern is for poor patients who come to State hospitals in the district, only for the hospitals to serve as training centres before the nurses are transferred to other parts of the country. It is the patient who suffers,” the source said.When contacted for comment, Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni said that the number of students entering nursing training varied between districts, with fewer applicants coming from some areas. He said that nursing trainees are selected based on the Z-scores of students who apply for nursing training. While districts such as Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Kurunegala and Kegalle generally record higher numbers of applicants, fewer applications come from Colombo and the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Jaffna District hospitals short of nurses 

The National Building Research Institute (NBRI) has launched an investigation into the collapse of part of an earth embankment near the Kadigamuwa area for the second time of this month (October), which sent soil onto the railway track and disrupted train services.&nbsp;The NBRI warned that slopes destabilised by Cyclone Ditwah could become active again during rainfall, potentially leading to similar incidents in the future. The investigation will focus on identifying possible long-term solutions to mitigate such risks. Speaking to The Daily Morning, NBRI Senior Scientist Wasantha Senadheera said that further collapses could occur until the areas destabilised by Ditwah gradually stabilise over time. He said that the ongoing investigation would help identify measures to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future. “We provided the designs to reconstruct the railway sections damaged during Ditwah, and they have been reconstructed. Following this, train services resumed. However, we cannot guarantee that these issues will not recur, as slopes destabilised by Ditwah could become active again. We have launched an investigation into this and will look into what measures can be taken in the future,” he said.The investigation comes after part of an earth embankment near the Kadigamuwa Railway Station collapsed for the second time this month. A train that departed from Colombo Fort at 5.15 p.m. for Peradeniya on Wednesday (14) was halted at the Rambukkana Railway Station due to the obstruction. Earlier, on 5 October, two days after services resumed on the affected line, a morning office train struck a mound of debris between Ihala Kotte, Kadigamuwa and Gangoda, causing a derailment and major delays.The restoration of the Upcountry Railway Line took nearly 10 months following extensive damage caused by Ditwah in November of last year (2025) and it was on 2 October that the regular passenger train services officially resumed.

NBRI probes Upcountry Rail Line disruptions 

Foreign Affairs Minister, Vijitha Herath has reportedly assured the National Shoora Council (NSC) that necessary action will be taken on its proposal to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to seafarers stranded aboard Iranian civilian vessels near Sri Lanka.&nbsp;Speaking to The Daily Morning, NSC Administrative Coordinator, attorney-at-law A J M Arshad said that Herath had responded by letter dated Tuesday (13), assuring the Council that action would be taken as proposed. "Herath has thanked us for conveying the issue and has acknowledged our demands and has vowed to address them all," he said. The NSC had written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on 9 October, with a copy to the Herath, seeking urgent humanitarian assistance for Iranian, Indian and Bangladeshi seafarers stranded aboard Iranian civilian vessels within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In its appeal, the NSC urged the Government to ensure that humanitarian assistance at sea is provided based on the needs of those affected, irrespective of the vessels’ flags or the nationalities of the crew members. The Council also called for coordinated relief operations involving the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Colombo, the Navy, the Coast Guard, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross. These operations, it proposed, should assess the crew members’ needs, provide essential supplies such as drinking water, food and medicine, and evacuate sick or injured seafarers for immediate medical treatment. Among its other proposals, the Council called on the Government to engage with Iran, India, Bangladesh and other relevant flag States and countries of the seafarers’ nationalities to ensure the provision of supplies, crew welfare and repatriation. Further, he said that the NSC welcomes Herath's assurance and said that it is likely to appoint a team to coordinate with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, if required. Repeated attempts to contact Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra, Ministry Secretary Aruni Ranaraja and the Director General of International Security Cooperation and Public Diplomacy at the Ministry Thushara Rodrigo were unsuccessful.

NSC hopeful of humanitarian aid for Iranian vessels 

Police have seized over 100 kg of heroin concealed in six sacks at Kapparathota Beach in Weligama, following information obtained from five suspects arrested by the Navy off Dondra.The Police Special Task Force (STF) recovered the consignment, packed in 120 packets, during a coordinated operation conducted yesterday (15) morning.Two satellite phones and an internet connectivity device were also recovered from the beach.The operation was launched following information revealed by five suspects arrested by the Navy during a search operation in the Southern seas on Tuesday (13). The Navy had intercepted a suspicious local multi-day fishing trawler off Dondra and apprehended the five suspects.The subsequent operation involved the Navy, the State Intelligence Service, the Police, the STF, the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) and the Coast Guard.The five suspects arrested by the Navy have been handed over to the PNB for further legal proceedings.Meanwhile, six suspects, including two women, have been arrested with 112 grams (g) of heroin at a rented house in Halpita, Polgasowita, where they were allegedly involved in drug trafficking and packaging.The raid was conducted by the Kesbewa Police based on confidential information received by the Officer-in-Charge of the station. Police recovered the heroin, an electronic scale and small paper packets bearing an emblem, allegedly used to package the drugs.A married couple is among those arrested. One suspect is also reportedly linked to an incident several months ago in which a woman sustained serious injuries after a group broke into a house in Boralesgamuwa. Another suspect has pending court cases involving theft, robbery and drug-related offences, while the others have also reportedly faced criminal charges.During questioning, the main suspect had allegedly disclosed that the drugs belonged to an organised criminal and drug trafficker known as ‘Bodhiwatte Avishka’. The suspects had allegedly operated a distribution network, delivering narcotics to various locations on instructions received from the alleged drug trafficker over the phone.The suspects were due to be produced before the Kesbewa Magistrate’s Court, where the Police were expected to seek detention orders.In a separate incident, three Thai nationals were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake for allegedly attempting to smuggle hashish worth approximately Rs. 51 million into the country.The arrests were made by PNB officers early yesterday. The suspects, aged 22, 22 and 33, are reportedly drivers by profession and had arrived from Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG 307 at around 12.30 a.m.Police found 5 kg and 96 g of hashish concealed inside containers of cosmetic products packed in three pieces of luggage carried by the suspects.The three suspects and the seized hashish were scheduled to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday.&nbsp;

Over 100 kg of heroin seized in Weligama

<ul><li>Gnanasara Thera’s derobing petitions fixed for 22 October</li></ul> The ‘Justice for the Robe, National Pledge Offering and Freedom March’, organised under the leadership of the Buddhist clergy calling for the release of Bodu Bala Sena organisation’s General Secretary, Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, reached the vicinity of the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo yesterday (15), where representatives of the clergy met the Presidential Secretary to discuss the matter.Presidential Secretary Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake held discussions with the monks, who requested that an alleged technical flaw in the Presidential pardon previously granted to Gnanasara by former President Maithripala Sirisena be rectified.The monks also sought a timeline for the process, stating that they were aware that the Presidential Secretary had already discussed the matter with the President. However, Dr Kumanayake said a definitive answer could not be given at this stage.The foot march commenced on 10 October at the premises of the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy and proceeded through Kadugannawa, Kegalle, Warakapola and Nittambuwa before concluding in Kadawatha on Wednesday (14). The march resumed from Kadawatha yesterday morning and proceeded to Colombo.The Nidahase Pada Yathra (Freedom March) was initiated under the leadership of the Buddhist clergy to demand Gnanasara’s release and advocate for the religious rights of Buddhist monks. Heavy Police security was deployed around the Presidential Secretariat and nearby roads as the march reached the area.Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal has fixed 22 October for consideration of petitions challenging the decision by prison authorities to remove Gnanasara’s monastic robes while he is serving a prison sentence.The petitions were taken up yesterday before a bench comprising Justices R Amal Ranaraja, Mahen C L B Gopallawa and K Priyantha Fernando. They were filed by a group of Buddhist monks, including Ven. Thiniyawala Palitha Thera.

Prez Secy gives no assurance on pardon 

The Colombo High Court was told yesterday (15) that Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, had received approximately Rs 5.15 million in salaries during his service in the Sri Lanka Navy, excluding allowances.The amount was disclosed by a Naval officer who testified during the hearing of the money laundering case filed against Rajapaksa under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.The case was taken up before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, during which evidence was recorded from prosecution witnesses.The Court postponed the further hearing of evidence until 30 October.

Yoshitha earned Rs 5.15 m in Navy salaries

India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a transnational smuggling network that allegedly imported 7,311 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin rock salt through Sri Lanka using forged trade documents to conceal its origin.Four people have been arrested in connection with the operation, which uncovered 295 containers of industrial and Himalayan rock salt valued at approximately Rs 104.5 million in Sri Lankan currency, according to a statement issued by India’s Finance Ministry on Wednesday (14).Under Operation Deep Manifest, the DRI found that the consignments had been routed through the Colombo Port before being imported into India through the Mundra and Kandla Ports.The shipments allegedly violated India’s prohibition on goods originating in or exported from Pakistan. Fabricated certificates of origin and invoices issued by UAE-based entities had allegedly been used to misrepresent the origin of the salt.Acting on specific intelligence, the DRI conducted a coordinated operation between 26 September and 11 October, searching premises linked to the suspected network in Gandhidham, Adipur, Veraval, Panipat, Pune, Patiala, Delhi and Mumbai.Investigators found that nine importers had brought in the 295 containers since March. Five containers carrying 140 metric tonnes of rock salt, valued at approximately Rs 8.48 million, were seized at the Kandla Port. The agency also seized sales proceeds amounting to Rs 7.3 million held in the importers’ bank accounts.The four suspects were arrested under India’s Customs Act of 1962. They include two proprietors or partners of importing firms, a holder of a Customs Broker’s G-card and the owner of a Dubai-based supplier. The latter had also established and operated an importing firm in his father’s name, the ministry said.Preliminary investigations have uncovered an alleged cross-border network involving entities owned by Pakistani, Emirati, Sri Lankan and Indian nationals. These entities had allegedly coordinated shipments and supporting documentation to conceal the Pakistani origin of the goods.The investigation found that shipping documents and Customs declarations in Sri Lanka contradicted the documents submitted by the Indian importeRs Bills of lading for shipments from Pakistan to Sri Lanka, together with declarations filed with Sri Lanka Customs, reportedly identified Pakistan as the country of origin and India as the final destination.The certificates of origin submitted by the importers were found to be fabricated, according to the DRI.Certificates of origin establish where goods were produced or manufactured and help determine whether imports comply with a country’s trade restrictions. In this case, the alleged falsification was intended to conceal the salt’s Pakistani origin and circumvent India’s import restrictions.India Today

 India busts salt smuggling racket involving SL

<ul><li>COPF queries expenditure and ROI</li></ul> The Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) was told the Government had spent Rs 9.7 billion to establish the Colombo Port City (CPC) project, and COPF Chairperson Dr Harsha de Silva stressed that it was the taxpayers who had borne a significant cost and the State needed to receive a return on its investment.The CPC Economic Commission (EC) said the Government had spent Rs 9.7 billion on the project.&nbsp;Dr de Silva requested.&nbsp;The CPCEC Chairperson, President’s Counsel Harsha Amarasekera said that the Government expected to recover its expenditure when the first State-owned plot of land is sold.&nbsp;Dr de Silva sought detailed information from the CPCEC on investments attracted by the Port City, the salaries of Commission employees, the status of businesses operating within the development, and the Government’s expenditure on the project.&nbsp;During a meeting held on 8 October, COPF members questioned whether the CPCEC is adequately disclosing information on public expenditure, investment inflows and the returns generated by the Port City, given that the project had been developed using State resources.&nbsp;Opposition Parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rasamanickam questioned whether the salaries of the CPCEC’s Director of Legal Affairs and other employees are paid from public funds and requested a copy of the said Director’s salary details. He also questioned the respective roles of the CPCEC and the Board of Investment, asking how much foreign direct investment (FDI) each body had attracted and what proportion of the investment had actually entered the country in Rs or US$.&nbsp;Amarasekera said that he will give the salary details in confidence to Dr de Silva if that is required.&nbsp;Rasamanickam questioned the expenditure incurred on salaries at the CPCEC in comparison with the investments brought into the country, asking how much the Port City is costing the State and how much foreign currency it is generating. Rasamanickam also questioned the purpose of having a governing body if the COPF could not obtain information on the revenue, the activities of the businesses operating within the Port City and the land provided to Chinese investors, including whether such land had subsequently been sold.&nbsp;Dr de Silva also sought an updated list of businesses gazetted to operate within the Port City, including their current status and whether they remained active. He asked whether the businesses had invested the amounts originally proposed, recruited employees and commenced operations in accordance with their approved business plans. He also questioned how the CPCEC monitored businesses to ensure that they operated in accordance with the conditions under which they had been gazetted. Dr de Silva further sought details of the permissions granted to these businesses, the recruitment of foreign workers and the visas issued to them. He asked whether the businesses are bringing in their own employees from overseas and how the CPCEC monitored such arrangements. He also raised questions about condominium projects and foreign investment, recalling that it had previously been stated that 100 per cent of the construction costs had to be brought in as foreign currency through overseas investment and FDI.The CPCEC said that it had been asked to provide updated investment figures for businesses operating within the Port City, details of investments in the pipeline, the current status of condominium projects and information on condominium sales. It added that annual returns are required to be submitted to the CPCEC by the end of this month (October). More information had been requested under a new schedule, and the CPCEC would be in a position to provide comprehensive details once those returns had been received.During a presentation by the CPCEC’s Director of Commercial Operations, the Commission outlined three major projects that had been gazetted to operate within the Port City. The projects were Marina Hotels Holdings, with a proposed investment of $ 114 million; Homelands Port City, with $ 152 million; and Primewell Port City, with $ 131 million. The total investment associated with the three projects was stated to be $ 397 million.Dr de Silva questioned whether the lease payments for the land allocated to these projects had been made in Sri Lankan Rupees and how much revenue the Government had received from the arrangements.The CPCEC explained that the land parcels allocated to the three companies were classified as project-company marketable land. It said that the leasing arrangements for such land had been structured under the applicable mechanism, with 1% of the relevant lease and construction amounts being credited to the CPCEC Fund. The CPCEC said that the 1% payment from the three companies had amounted to Rs 398 million, which had been received by the Commission. It explained that the fund supported the CPCEC’s operations as a self-sustaining entity.

Dengue vaccine import hits snag

Jaffna District hospitals short of nurses

Jaffna District hospitals shor ...

NBRI probes Upcountry Rail Line disruptions

NBRI probes Upcountry Rail Lin ...

NSC hopeful of humanitarian aid for Iranian vessels

NSC hopeful of humanitarian ai ...

Over 100 kg of heroin seized in Weligama

Over 100 kg of heroin seized i ...

Prez Secy gives no assurance on pardon

Prez Secy gives no assurance o ...

Yoshitha earned Rs 5.15 m in Navy salaries

Yoshitha earned Rs 5.15 m in N ...

India busts salt smuggling racket involving SL

India busts salt smuggling ra ...

GoSL spent Rs 9.7b on Port City

GoSL spent Rs 9.7b on Port Cit ...

Jaffna District hospitals short of nurses

Jaffna District hospitals shor ...

NBRI probes Upcountry Rail Line disruptions

NBRI probes Upcountry Rail Lin ...

NSC hopeful of humanitarian aid for Iranian vessels

NSC hopeful of humanitarian ai ...

Over 100 kg of heroin seized in Weligama

Over 100 kg of heroin seized i ...

Prez Secy gives no assurance on pardon

Prez Secy gives no assurance o ...

Yoshitha earned Rs 5.15 m in Navy salaries

Yoshitha earned Rs 5.15 m in N ...

India busts salt smuggling racket involving SL

India busts salt smuggling ra ...

GoSL spent Rs 9.7b on Port City

GoSL spent Rs 9.7b on Port Cit ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Jaffna District hospitals short of nurses

Jaffna District hospitals shor ...

NBRI probes Upcountry Rail Line disruptions

NBRI probes Upcountry Rail Lin ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

NSC hopeful of humanitarian aid for Iranian vessels

NSC hopeful of humanitarian ai ...

Over 100 kg of heroin seized in Weligama

Over 100 kg of heroin seized i ...

Prez Secy gives no assurance on pardon

Prez Secy gives no assurance o ...

Yoshitha earned Rs 5.15 m in Navy salaries

Yoshitha earned Rs 5.15 m in N ...