News

Ambulances unregistered with DMT, used in healthcare!

Published

8 months ago

September 21, 2023

editor

It is reported that private hospitals in the country are currently using many ambulances that are not registered with the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT).

‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ learns that the ambulance service of the International Medical Care in Maharagama (IMC) or RSK CARE is using unregistered ambulances.

Upon inquiring from its owner – Mr. Ranjith Susantha Karunaratne, he said that the company has one ambulance registered with the DMT as well as 02 unregistered ones.

He said that documentation has begun to register one of the 02 unregistered ambulances.

He further said:

“We have the largest number of original ambulances…most ambulances in Sri Lanka are converted and unregistered. We have 08 ambulances with LW-numbers…”

In the meantime, Mr. Karunaratne said that they had also taken over two ambulances owned by Rev. Elle Gunawansa Thero, on a long term basis.

He also claimed to have bought an ambulance (LW-0485) belonging to a Buddhist monk in Matara while entering into a pact to obtain another ambulance (LW-0188) owned by the same monk.

Mr. Karunaratne also added that 02 ambulances of the IMC have been seized by the leasing companies. One has been recovered while the other remains unrecovered due to a high monetary amount which is required to be paid to release the vehicle.

Unregistered ambulances at St. John Ambulance Service

‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ also discovered that the St. John Ambulance Service also has an ambulance that is not registered with the DMT.

Upon contacting the service’s commissioner – Dr. Nilam, he said that there was no such unregistered ambulance and said that keeping such an ambulance would not be legit.

However, when inquiring from the Colombo District Commissioner of St. John’s Ambulance Service, Mr. M.D.P.D. Senanayake, who is said to be in charge of the said ambulance, said that although they do actually have an unregistered ambulance, it is not being used to transport patients.

Instead, it is used for training purposes, he said.

However, it was reported that the ambulance in question was used to transport students who were injured during school rugby matches during the last season.

Also, it is reported that this ambulance is currently at the house of an additional district commissioner of St. John Ambulance Service, with his father working as the driver.

Meanwhile, it is also reported that several private ambulance services including Roanim, Royal and King’s also have unregistered ambulances.

News

Fire breaks out in workers’ living quarters near Colombo Port

Published

5 hours ago

May 19, 2024

editor

A fire has reportedly broken out in the living quarters of highway access road workers near the Colombo Port.

The Colombo Fire Brigade said it has dispatched four fire trucks to assist in extinguishing the flames.

News

President Wickremesinghe meets Elon Musk to discuss starlink implementation in Sri Lanka

Published

5 hours ago

May 19, 2024

editor

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has met with billionaire and investor Elon Musk on the sidelines of the 10th World Water Forum High-Level Meeting being held in Indonesia.

During the meeting, Wickremesinghe and Musk discussed the implementation of ‘Starlink’ in Sri Lanka.

It was emphasized that Sri Lanka is committed to expediting the application process to connect the country to the global Starlink network, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

Minister Jeevan Thondaman, accompanying the President on his two-day visit to Indonesia, tweeted: “President and Elon discussed Sri Lanka’s recovery, economic potential, and new opportunities for investment. Great to have two visionary leaders come together for Sri Lanka.”

Elon Musk arrived in Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on Sunday to launch Starlink satellite internet service in the world’s largest archipelago nation.

The billionaire head of Tesla and SpaceX, and owner of social platform X, arrived by private jet on the idyllic “island of the gods,” renowned for its tropical beaches, terraced rice paddies, mystical temples, and colorful spiritual offerings.

Musk is slated to launch the service alongside Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a ceremony later Sunday at a public health clinic in Denpasar, the provincial capital of Bali.

Musk will also sign an agreement to enhance connectivity in the country’s health and education sectors.

During his first in-person visit to Bali, Musk is also scheduled to participate in the 10th World Water Forum, which seeks to address global water and sanitation challenges.

–With agencies inputs

News

Senior diplomat to oversee Sri Lankan embassy in Russia

Published

15 hours ago

May 19, 2024

nipuni

It is reported that the government has planned to send a senior officer of the foreign service to the Sri Lankan embassy in Russia until a new ambassador is appointed due to the lack of an ambassador.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Taraka Balasuriya has told the media that the absence of an ambassador is just a gap in the work procedure, and based on the current situation in Russia, a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be directed to supervise its affairs.

He emphasized that a retired foreign service senior is being sent and the lack of an ambassador is not a major problem.

The Minister further stated that there is already a senior Foreign Service officer there, and given the urgent need, a very senior Foreign Service officer is being sent not because the officer currently in Russia is inadequate.

Mr. Balasuriya has stressed that this is being done to strengthen the operation and that the work will be done according to the normal protocol.

However, even though an ambassador has been appointed to Russia, Mr. Balasuriya has made arrangements not to reveal who it is to the media.

The former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage, was given three extensions, and she ended her service at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow on April 29.

At present, Counsellor Ruvini K. Munidasa serves as the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy.