Another attempt to smuggle a stock of gold gel worth over Rs.160 million by five local traders concealed in their baggage bound for India was thwarted by the Sri Lanka Customs stationed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday afternoon.

One-third of the total CT scanning machines in government hospitals are completely dysfunctional, medical professionals pointed out.

While condemning the recent burning of a Quran in Sweden, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that it is a violation of the Freedom of Worship and questioned why the Human Rights Council in Geneva has remained silent on this issue.

The Health Ministry has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the seven deaths allegedly caused due to fungal infection at the Kandy Hospital, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena said.

• Govt offers to separate mechanism for them to hold responsibilities with perks
  
• Another offer made to create posts for family members
• Senior SLPP MP vows to topple Govt

Dhaka, July 10 -- Bangladesh will start trade with India in Rupees in order to reduce stress on the US dollar requirements from Tuesday.

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, along with his wife Ioma Rajapaksa, was seen with UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on the night of July 9, ironically the day which marked the first anniversary of his fleeing office following the Aragalaya, a source from the airport said.

An Extraordinary Gazette notification (2340/03) was issued announcing the collection of the census of population and housing in Sri Lanka for the years 2023 and 2024.

• Regulatory mechanism not functioning
  
• Experts call for revamping entire regulatory system of drugs
• NMRA too in a position to develop fully-equipped lab

The absence of an advanced laboratory to test the quality of pharmaceuticals has resulted in an influx of drugs of inferior quality in the market, leading to fatalities of patients at times, medical experts alleged.

Speaking to Daily Mirror, Secretary of the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) Dr. Haritha Aluthge said Sri Lanka lacks a proper mechanism of regulating the quality of drugs, mostly imported from India.

“That’s why we have been urging the Health Ministry to establish an advanced laboratory with WHO accreditation to test the quality of all batches of drugs coming to the country. What is happening is that the quality of drugs is checked through the patients, which could result in deaths and complications as evident by the recent incidents,” Dr Aluthge said.

“We urge the Government to take prompt measures to set the tone to establish a quality assurance laboratory in collaboration with a suitable foreign body,” he added.

Dr. Aluthge said that a spate of unregistered drugs had entered the country under the emergency purchase, leading to serious concerns among medical professionals.

Commenting on the matter, President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne told Daily Mirror that “Irrespective of the origin of the country, there is an independent mechanism of evaluating and improving drugs. Our concern is that National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has failed to effectively manage the due process resulting in a serious breach of confidence among doctors and people on the quality of drugs.”

“We have also noticed that several drugs are being imported by means of a provision called waiver of registration (WOR), which facilitates the import of specific drugs on an emergency basis. However, the NMRA has violated that process as well, leading to grave concerns with regard to the quality of certain drugs,” he argued.

“In this manner, it is evident that the regulatory mechanism of drugs is not functioning properly and there is an immediate need to have a comprehensive analysis as to how a sound testing on the drugs can be conducted,” Dr Ariyaratne added.

A senior official from the NMRA told Daily Mirror that there is an immediate necessity of establishing an advanced laboratory where almost all batches of drugs could be tested in order to ensure the quality of drugs.

(Sheain Fernandopulle)

The latest consistory comes as Francis continues to handpick those who would choose his successor.

DHAKA, July 10 -- Thai Airways will be operating double daily flights on Dhaka-Bangkok route from July 16.

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to reduce the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank by 200 basis points to 11% and 12%, respectively.

Fitch Ratings has downgraded Sri Lanka's Long-Term Local-Currency (LTLC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'C' from 'CC'.
The issue ratings on local-currency bonds have also been downgraded to 'C' from 'CC'.

Belgium has expressed consent to provide modern European technology required to develop Sri Lanka's Ports.

A Russian rocket has hit an apartment building in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, killing at least three people, the local mayor has said.

The Right to Information Commission (RTI) yesterday reprimanded officials representing the Parliament for its wavering stance on the possession of Presidential Commission Report of the Easter Sunday Attack and warned that furnishing false information to the former is a punishable offence by law.

A fresh attempt is underway by certain health ministry officials with the blessings of high office bearers of a powerful trade union to undermine the undertaking given by the Health Ministry Secretary to the Court of Appeal on the retirement of medical specialists, two medical specialists alleged on behalf of the 176 petitioners.

In an order delivered by Colombo High Court on Wednesday (5) observed that the alleged statement said to have been made by Stand-up comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya does not on the face of it (ex-facie) comes under section 3(1) of ICCPR for advocating national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to hostility or violence.

It saves 400 nautical miles for SL multi-day fishing vessels

*Prez to discuss matter when visiting New Delhi

*India extended US $ 4 billion financial assistance during economic crisis

Israeli forces have started withdrawing from Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, a defence source says.