News

7.5mn Pfizer vaccines expired!

Published

2 years ago

June 27, 2023

editor

Over 7.5 million Pfizer vaccines brought to Sri Lanka during the Covid-19 pandemic are to be destroyed since they have expired.

The stocks of the expired vaccines are now stored in a container outside the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) premises.

Following the spread of Covid-19, 20,088,050 doses of Pfizer vaccine were brought to Sri Lanka on several occasions between July and December of 2021.

A total of 7.5 million unused Pfizer vaccines were stored in the NBTS’s freezers for about seven months.

Arrangements were made to remove the vaccine stock from October 31 last year after it expired.

However, since these vaccines were stored in the storage facilities of the NBTS, the institution had to pay an additional electricity bill of nearly one million rupees.

Accordingly, the NBTS has informed the Epidemiology Unit on May 31 to get this stock of vaccines removed.

On the same day, the NBTS has disconnected the supply of electricity to the storage facility.

The authorities of the Epidemiology Unit last week removed the vaccine stock from the NBTS storage and stored it in a container outside the NBTS premises.

The Epidemiology Unit has requested the NBTS to give them some time to remove the vaccines container from the premises.

News

8,742 Vesak Dansals registered islandwide

Published

2 hours ago

May 12, 2025

editor

The Public Health Inspectors (PHI)’s Union states that a total of 8,742 Dansals have been registered islandwide, in line with Vesak celebrations this year.

According to the PHI’s Union chairman – Upul Rohana, the highest number of ‘Dansal’ is registered in the Western Province, particularly in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) area.

The union has also urged organiser to reduce the use of polythene and plastic during food distribution efforts.

News

Financial assistance from President’s Fund for Gerandi Ella bus accident victims

Published

3 hours ago

May 12, 2025

editor

A sum of Rs. 1 million from the President’s Fund will be granted for each individual who lost their life in the Kotmale bus accident, the President’s Media Division states.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake has directed that a sum of Rs. 1 million be granted from the President’s Fund to each individual who lost their life in the tragic bus accident that occurred early this morning (11) in the Garadiella area, Kotmale.

Accordingly, arrangements have been made to promptly disburse these funds to the next of kin of the deceased through the President’s Fund.

In addition to this assistance, compensation will also be provided to the affected families through the Sri Lanka Transport Board and relevant insurance schemes.

Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate the cause of the accident, which has claimed 22 lives so far.

(Pic : Accident1st)

News

Maxwell gets 5-yr. ban

Published

3 hours ago

May 12, 2025

editor

Former Secretary of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) Maxwell de Silva was handed a five-year ban, sources revealed.

Earlier, De Silva was suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Ministry of Sports due to various irregularities committed by him over several years.

Accordingly, the NOCSL Executive Committee decided to hand down a five-year ban on De Silva, considering the recommendations made by the NOCSL Ethics Committee, NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam told the Daily Mirror.

Subramaniam further stated that the penalty on De Silva has already been communicated in writing to the IOC.

Accordingly, the former secretary, who has been banned for five years, is now completely prohibited from representing the NOCSL at any foreign event or international conference.

(dailymirror.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)