<ul><li>1,000 new Arogya centres to be established over three years</li><li>Family doctors to become first point of care for patients</li><li>Reforms aimed at easing pressure and overcrowding at major hospitals</li></ul> The Government plans to establish 1,000 new Arogya Health and Wellness Centres over the next three years as part of a wider effort to introduce a family doctor-based primary healthcare system across the country and reduce the growing burden on major hospitals, Consultant Medical Administrator and Director of Primary Care Services (Primary Health) at the Health Ministry, Dr Sarathchandra Kumarawansa, said.Dr Kumarawansa, speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (7), said the Government’s health policy envisages providing a medical team, including a family doctor, for every 10,000 people, with patients first being assessed and treated at the primary healthcare level before being referred to secondary or tertiary hospitals when specialised treatment is required.The proposed system is expected to help reduce unnecessary visits and overcrowding at the outpatient departments of major hospitals by ensuring that patients receive appropriate care at the primary level and are referred to higher-level institutions only when necessary.Explaining the referral pathway, Dr Kumarawansa said that patients would initially receive care at the primary level, while those requiring specialist services would be referred to a secondary-level hospital. If further specialised treatment is required, patients would then be referred to a tertiary-level hospital.He said that at least 2,000 primary healthcare institutions would be required to provide a family doctor and medical team for every 10,000 people.“There are currently around 1,000 primary healthcare institutions. Therefore, we need another 1,000. The additional 1,000 institutions are what we call Arogya Health and Wellness Centres,” he said.Of the 1,000 new centres, around 80% would be developed using existing clinical centres where Family Health Service Officers are currently working, while the remaining 20% would be newly constructed.Dr Kumarawansa said that each newly constructed unit would cost a maximum of Rs 50 million and would be equipped with basic medical equipment and the required information technology facilities.He stressed that the programme would not focus only on establishing the 1,000 new centres, but would involve upgrading and developing all 2,000 primary healthcare institutions.The 1,000 new centres would be established over three years, with 300 planned for the first year, 400 in the second year and 300 in the third year.Dr Kumarawansa said that the pilot project for the Arogya concept had already commenced this year (2026) and was being evaluated monthly and quarterly.“So far, we have received good results,” he said.He said that Health Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa had requested the World Health Organisation (WHO) to evaluate the pilot sites and that the WHO had conducted a comprehensive assessment involving five consultant specialists from Japan, the United Kingdom, Thailand, India and Australia.The WHO had recommended the Arogya model as a suitable model for the country, while also making several recommendations, he said.Dr Kumarawansa said that the Ministry had continued its own evaluations of the pilot centres and identified several shortcomings, which would be addressed when the programme is implemented more widely.He said that the primary healthcare programme would mainly focus on the prevention and early detection of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly diabetes and hypertension.Annual screening for diabetes and hypertension would be compulsory for everyone over 30 years of age, with screening expected to be increased to every six months at a later stage, he said.The programme would also include compulsory screening for common cancers, including oral, breast and cervical cancers, while people over 60 would be screened annually for 10 common conditions.In addition, the primary healthcare package would include palliative care, rehabilitation, primary mental healthcare, eye care and oral healthcare services, Dr Kumarawansa said.Dr Kumarawansa said that if the full benefits of the free healthcare system are to reach patients, major structural changes are needed across the health system, from primary to tertiary care.However, he said that it should not be forgotten that Sri Lanka, despite being a lower-income developing country, had maintained health indicators at a level comparable with developed countries for more than 100 years, largely due to its strong human resources.He said that there are also certain changes that need to take place on the patients’ side.“Recently, the President said that people cannot simply go to whichever hospital they want, and that is correct. However, the Government has the primary responsibility for creating awareness among the public about this,” he said.“At the same time, we cannot simply stop patients who currently come directly to hospitals. An attitudinal change needs to be created among patients as well, covering the entire system from primary to secondary and tertiary care,” he added.Meanwhile, the President of the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors organisation, Dr Chamal Sanjeeva, said that the family doctor concept should be gradually introduced into Sri Lanka’s health system to reduce overcrowding at the outpatient departments of major hospitals.He said that the concept could serve as a basic mechanism to regulate patient referrals, with patients first being assessed by a family doctor and referred to a higher-level facility when specialised treatment is required.He said that successive Governments had been reluctant to introduce the family doctor concept partly because it was not a popular political slogan and because of strong resistance from health-sector trade unions.The 2015 Government had begun the initial stages of introducing the concept but had failed to turn it into a practical system due to the socio-political environment at the time, he said.While describing the present Government’s efforts to introduce the concept as commendable, Dr Sanjeeva said that the Government should first pay close attention to the efficiency of the existing health system, including the utilisation of budgetary and donor funds, the duplication of projects, bureaucratic delays, procurement and tender procedures, and the implementation of health policies.He stressed the need to consider both the State and private health sectors when reforming the system, as the two sectors are closely connected.He also noted the need for a stronger national policy framework covering areas including medicines, antimicrobial medicines, regional healthcare, human resources, salaries, recruitment, and the training and skills development of health professionals.

Family doctor-based model mooted: Major shift in healthcare delivery 

<ul><li>&nbsp;Schools should seek assistance when necessary beyond school admin mechanisms &nbsp; </li></ul> The Education Ministry stressed that while schools may seek Police assistance to deal with drug-related incidents in exceptional circumstances, this does not mean that Police officers should routinely enter schools and conduct searches.Speaking to The Daily Morning, Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said that narcotics-related matters were not ordinary disciplinary issues and that the Police had a role to play in certain situations, particularly when schools required assistance that could not be provided through their own administrative mechanisms.He explained that committees established to address drug-related issues were designed to operate jointly, with the Police becoming involved when their specialised assistance was required. This could include situations involving the identification of suspected narcotics or other matters that schools were not equipped to handle on their own.However, he stressed that the Ministry was not proposing a system under which Police officers would routinely conduct drug raids at schools.“What is meant here is not that the Police should go into every school and carry out searches. There are certain special circumstances where Police assistance would be necessary. We expect the Police to act appropriately depending on the circumstances,” Kaluwewa said.The clarification comes after Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya recently called on schools to seek Police assistance when necessary, including the use of officers and sniffer dogs, as part of intensified efforts to detect and prevent drugs from entering schools.He also urged parents and teachers to pay close attention to changes in children’s behaviour and activities.

Drug searches in schools: Edu Ministry clarifies Police role in schools

The Agriculture Department has advised farmers to cultivate paddy only in the most productive areas and shift to field crops in other areas, as the country prepares for the predicted dry conditions associated with El Niño.Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy Director of Agriculture (Research) Dr H Shyamalee said that although there are paddy varieties capable of withstanding water shortages, the Department was encouraging farmers to turn more towards field crops in light of the impending El Niño conditions.“Especially in the dry zone, the Department advises farmers to grow paddy in the more productive areas and to cultivate field crops such as Kurakkan (finger millet) and Undu (ulundu/urad dal/black gram) in the remaining areas,” she said.She added that programmes were being conducted in collaboration with the Irrigation Department and the Agrarian Department to raise awareness and ensure adherence to these guidelines as El Niño conditions approach.“The compliance of farmers has been at a good level. They have also started early planting, as recommended by the Government,” she said.Dr Shyamalee further confirmed that seed paddy production had already been completed, while the production of field crop seeds was currently underway.“Stocks of field crop seeds that have already been produced are ready for distribution as well,” she said.The Department’s guidelines and measures come amid predictions of weather conditions associated with El Niño. According to the Meteorology Department, the South-West monsoon has brought below-normal rainfall due to the El Niño effect, resulting in a severe dry spell across many Districts.Authorities have warned that the country will experience insufficient rainfall and dry weather conditions leading up to next month (October), with further dry conditions also anticipated early next year (2027).

El Niño drought precautions: Farmers urged to think beyond paddy

The Education Ministry has confirmed that the Government has neither taken a decision nor made any move to regulate private tuition classes, saying its focus instead remains on improving the professionalism of school teachers, which could in turn reduce students’ dependence on tuition.Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy Education Minister Dr. Madhura Senevirathna said that tuition classes fell beyond the Government’s regulatory reach.“There is no policy decision taken by the Government, despite widespread news suggesting otherwise. Tuition classes are private institutes that are not registered anywhere, so we cannot regulate them. They are not Government institutions, nor are they affiliated with the Government,” he said.Dr. Senevirathna explained that the Government’s plan was instead to enhance the professionalism and ethical standards of Government school teachers.He added that there were proposals to establish a National Education Council, which would be granted the authority and provisions to make decisions regarding professionalism across the entire Government education service.Following the announcement of the proposed Council, various parties had claimed that it would be used to regulate tuition, make obtaining a licence mandatory for teaching, and require a degree for school teachers.He dismissed these claims as misinterpretations of the intended role of the proposed Council.

Role of Education Council: Not moving to regulate tuition: Ministry   

&nbsp;<ul><li>Electricity Consumers claim increased public burdens&nbsp;</li></ul> In the wake of the National System Operator (NSO) Private Limited presenting a new interim power generation plan, the Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) has warned that the proposal could end up increasing the burden on electricity consumers and claimed that it appeared to be an attempt to cover up the failures of previous long-term generation plans. Speaking to The Daily Morning, ECA’s General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said that the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) should require the NSO to address the shortcomings in the proposed plan and come up with a more practical programme that takes into account generation, transmission and the cost to consumers. He said that there is a clear contradiction between the renewable energy tariffs approved by the PUCSL last month (August) and the generation figures contained in the new plan. He added that the tariffs currently offered for renewable energy are already making it difficult for local investors to bring new solar and wind power projects into the system. “Instead of obtaining electricity at the lowest possible cost, what is happening is that prices are being determined without sufficient competition and the final cost is passed on to consumers.” &nbsp; He also questioned the track record of previous long-term generation plans, alleging that many of the projects had failed to move beyond paper proposals because of practical obstacles including the lack of suitable land, environmental approvals and transmission infrastructure. He said that the new interim plan appeared to have been brought forward partly to cover up those shortcomings. "According to the proposal, around 1,080 megawatts (MW) of battery storage systems could be required by 2029. Battery storage is necessary as renewable energy increases, how can the country afford to develop such a large capacity within three years?" Dhammika also cautioned that the stability of the national grid could be compromised if large amounts of solar generation are added without sufficient attention to system inertia and other technologies required to maintain grid stability. "A system relying heavily on solar generation and battery storage without adequate supporting infrastructure is similar to “a heavy vehicle without brakes”. A sudden loss of a major power plant could create a serious risk to the stability of the entire system."&nbsp;"Previously, there was another generation plan under which Cabinet of Ministers approval had reportedly been obtained for 2,500 MW of generation capacity. What happened to those projects? Many have not been implemented. We admit that we need 70 per cent renewable energy, that transition has to be achieved without raising electricity tariffs and without putting the entire country at risk of blackouts. The PUCSL should therefore ensure that the deficiencies in the interim plan are addressed before it is taken forward and that future generation planning is based on infrastructure that could actually be delivered." Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka was not available for comment.&nbsp;

 New interim power generation plan under fire 

<ul><li>Water levels at 20-34.4%</li></ul>The total water storage capacity of reservoirs across the island currently stands at nearly 47.3 per cent amid the prevailing dry weather, according to the Director (Water Management) of the Irrigation Department, H Herath.&nbsp;The water level in the major reservoirs managed by the Department currently stands at around 34.4%. The water levels in reservoirs located in the Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee Districts are currently at around 20%.&nbsp;However, as the Yala cultivation season has now entered its final stage, the available water reserves are expected to be sufficient for the remainder of the season. The existing water stocks are also expected to meet the drinking water requirements of areas dependent on these reservoirs until the next rainfall. He further urged the public to use water sparingly for agricultural activities and drinking water requirements, as water losses through evaporation from reservoirs have increased due to the prevailing hot weather in several parts of the island.Plans for the upcoming Maha cultivation season are currently being prepared. Depending on the water availability at the commencement of the season and decisions taken at the respective cultivation meetings, the authorities are planning to commence the Maha season as early as possible.

Reservoirs water storage capacity at 47.3% 

Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera, who was arrested by the Batticaloa Police for allegedly obstructing the duties of officers at the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) office in Batticaloa, has been remanded until today (8).The monk was arrested in connection with the incident and produced before the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court, which subsequently ordered that he be remanded.

Sumanarathana Thera remanded for obstructing GSMB

A special Gazette notification introducing regulations to protect the popular Nildiya Pokuna (Blue Water Pond) tourist site in Ella was signed yesterday (7), with authorities imposing a range of restrictions on visitors to the environmentally sensitive site.The Gazette was signed at the Environment Ministry under the patronage of Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi. Issued under a Subsection of Section 2 of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, the notification sets out several provisions governing visitor access and the management of services provided to tourists visiting Nildiya Pokuna, located within the Ravana Ella Sanctuary.A large number of tourists visit Nildiya Pokuna daily, prompting the introduction of regulations aimed at protecting the Sanctuary’s ecosystem while ensuring a safe and high-quality experience for visitors.Accordingly, every person entering the Sanctuary to visit Nildiya Pokuna must comply with the regulations, the Ordinance and any other rules made under it. Visitors must also follow the necessary safety measures specified in guidelines prepared by the Director General under Section 68B of the Ordinance.Under the new measures, children below 10 years of age will not be permitted to enter the cave, while those between 10 and 18 years will be allowed to enter only when accompanied by a guardian.Furthermore, any student wearing a school uniform, possessing a valid student identity card issued by an educational institution, or holding a letter of permission from the head of the institution will be treated as a student for the purposes of the regulations and must use only permitted routes.The Ministry said that under the special regulations, entering the waters of Nildiya Pokuna, disposing of garbage in the water, using detergents, or adding any substance or solution to the water inside the cave would be strictly prohibited.Other prohibited activities include making excessive noise, playing musical instruments or using sound-producing devices, lighting fires, smoking, consuming alcohol or illicit drugs, moving or altering the position of rocks, and carving or marking rock surfaces.

New rules to protect Nildiya Pokuna 

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa alleged that the Government is attempting to turn the Judiciary into a tool of the President and the Executive through the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, warning that this could cause serious damage to judicial independence.Premadasa made these remarks while addressing the executive committee meeting of the ‘Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya’, held in the Naula area of the Matale District.He said that if foreign investors perceived the Judiciary as being subject to Executive influence, prospective foreign investment in the country could be severely affected.He alleged that the proposed Amendment would undermine the democratic rights, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly of 22 million people, thereby steering the country towards authoritarian rule.Premadasa further claimed that the Government had failed to fulfil promises made during the election campaign, including reducing electricity tariffs and providing fuel at concessionary prices, while also cutting back on welfare assistance such as Aswesuma.

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