The Sri Lankan government has decided to maintain a safety stock of medicines to mitigate the ongoing shortages in the country.

Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijayamuni stated that this move is in response to recurring issues such as tender cancellations and the rejection of medicine consignments following quality inspections.

These problems have been key contributors to medicine shortages in recent months.

According to Dr. Wijayamuni, the planned emergency stockpile will be sufficient to meet the country’s needs for a period of six months.

To ensure a stable supply, the government intends to directly import medicines through agreements with the governments of countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and the United States.

Dr. Wijayamuni further explained that by maintaining such a buffer stock, the additional expenses currently incurred by purchasing medicines from the open market can also be reduced significantly.

He added that a Cabinet paper will be submitted shortly to formalise and implement this initiative.

(News 1st)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News 1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

A luxury passenger transport bus veered off the road in the early hours of this morning (May 14) in the Wewatta area along the Ampara–Mahiyanganaya main road.

The accident occurred around 2.30 am, according to reports.

Although the bus had sustained considerable damage in the crash, no passengers were seriously injured, according to the Mahiyanganaya Police.

A tragic bus accident in Gerandi Ella, Kotmale took place over the last weekend, killing 23 and injuring scores while another bus accident was reported in Aladeniya yesterday.

(Pics: Accident 1st)

Related News :

The Department of Meteorology says that several spells of showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts today (May 14).

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Central, Uva, North-central and Eastern provinces after 1.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds of about 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.

Thus, the general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.