News

Ambulances unregistered with DMT, used in healthcare!

Published

1 year 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

Only half of Sri Lankans brush teeth twice a day

Published

2 hours ago

March 20, 2025

editor

Available statistics suggest that only 50% of Sri Lankans brush their teeth twice a day, the Health Ministry has stated.

This was highlighted during a press briefing in Colombo yesterday (March 19) held to mark the World Oral Health Day which falls today (March 20).

Speaking, Consultant Dental Surgeon and vice secretary of the Sri Lanka Dental Association – Dr. Nilantha Ratnayake has stated that this leads to tooth decay, heavily impacting oral health.

He also noted that 3/4 of Sri Lankans inflicted with oral diseases have been identified to be hailing from low income households.

Dr. Ratnayake further stated the high consumption of sugar and not using toothpaste with fluoride as major reasons for oral health issues in Sri Lanka.

News

Gazette revises import export regulations

Published

3 hours ago

March 20, 2025

editor

An extraordinary gazette notification has been issued, revising multiple import and export regulations, including a significant update permitting Bureau Veritas inspection certificates for vehicles imported from all countries.

A Gazette Extraordinary has been issued yesterday (March 19) revising amending multiple import and export regulations.

The revised regulations include a key change allowing Bureau Veritas inspection certificates for vehicles imported from all countries.

Accordingly, Sri Lanka Customs is required to verify the authenticity of documents online before clearing motor vehicles.

News

Lanka Sathosa riddled with corruption : Mujibur (Video)

Published

3 hours ago

March 20, 2025

editor

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP for the Colombo district Mujibur Rahman made a startling revelation about irregularities and malpractices at Lanka Sathosa, and charged that a tender for system audit had been offered to a company that belongs to Duminda Hulangamuwa who now serves as the advisor to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Delivering his remarks in Parliament during the budget debate, he said the previous tender for system audit which was opened on February 28, 2025 was scrapped since Hulangamuwa’s company had not been selected.

He charged that a fresh tender calling had been done purely for this particular company to qualify. The SJB MP charged that Lanka Sathosa is riddled with corruption in the purchase of supplies such as eggs and rice and transporting coconuts.

“In the past, Lanka Sathosa had always been tainted with corruption and fraud. Today, it is under the purview of a Minister who spearheaded the anti-corruption watch at that time. Despite your past role in an anti-corruption movement, you have miserably failed to address corruption at an institution which is under your purview. You raised your voice against corruption and fraud at that time. Today, you have failed. I wonder whether you remain silent or are incapable of addressing it. Or else, I wonder whether you pretend to not know anything,” he said.

Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe was present at that moment.

He said that the current Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lanka Sathosa had interfered in the tender process for rice purchases, and an audit inquiry is now underway in this regard. He said the Acting CEO had been appointed initially as Deputy General Manager- Internal Audit.

“Now, he operates in two positions,” Rahman said.

Responding to the allegation,Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe said there has been no violation of tender procedures in awarding the systems audit contract to a company of Presidential Advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa.

Denouncing the allegation, Minister Samarasinghe said any company which is qualified will be awarded contracts irrespective of ownership.

“The opposition alleged that a contract had been awarded to a company which is said to be owned by the President’s advisor. However there has been no violation of procedures in awarding the contract. A company owned by anyone can secure a contract if it is qualified. A number of government contracts have been awarded to a number of companies owned by a few members of the present Parliament. I don’t want to reveal their names,” he said.

(dailymirror.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk on March 19, 2025, has not been edited by SLM staff)