News

Brain-dead student helps save six lives!

Published

2 months ago

March 27, 2023

editor

The heart and lungs taken from a brain dead 19-year-old student with the permission of her family were transplanted to a critically ill anesthesiologist at the Colombo National Hospital, a specialist who participated in the surgery has told Lankadeepa.

Medical experts said that this is the first time in the medical history of Sri Lanka that these organs have been transplanted to a patient who was suffering from a heart disease and a lung disorder in one surgery.

A team of Indian medical specialists and a team of specialists from Sri Lanka have transplanted the heart and lungs to the anesthesiologist. Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and senior officials of the Health Ministry have given their support to make this operation successful.

In addition, the kidneys and liver taken from the student were transplanted to two patients suffering from kidney disease and a liver patient.

The bone marrow of the donor has also been taken to be transplanted to patients.

According to a pledge made by the student when she was still alive, her eyes were also donated to the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society.

The organ donor was a student from Ambanpola in Nikaweratiya by the name A. H. T. Vihagana Nuwanmini Ariyasinghe.

She has been pronounced brain dead while being treated in the intensive care unit of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital due to a brain tumor.

She was a student of Maliyadeva Girls’ College in Kurunegala and appeared for the recently held A/L examination.

(Lankadeepa)

News

Bus collides head-on with lorry injuring 22

Published

1 hour ago

June 9, 2023

editor

A bus belonging to SLTB collided head-on with a lorry at Embulgama in Hanwella on the Colombo-Avissawella Road early this morning (9).

The drivers of both vehicles and 20 bus passengers were injured in the accident and hospitalized.

The accident occurred when the lorry travelling from Colombo towards Avissawella collided head-on with the bus travelling from Akkaraipattu to Colombo.

News

Chinese National protest deportation at BIA!

Published

1 hour ago

June 9, 2023

editor

The Chinese man, who was arrested for entering Sri Lanka with a fake passport, has behaved aggressively saying that he cannot return to China when he was brought to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to be deported, airport sources said.

He was brought to the airport yesterday (08) around 5 pm under strict security of two STF officials, a police inspector from the Police Narcotics Bureau and an officer from the Immigration Department.

Sources said that when he was brought to the final gate to board the plane, he began to behave violently saying that he could not return to China.

A senior official at the airport said that the security personnel had to use force to get the Chinese national to board the SriLankan Airlines flight UL884 and took him to China with great effort.

The three police officers and the immigration officer also went to China along with the suspect.

News

ADB provides SL access to concessional financing

Published

12 hours ago

June 8, 2023

editor

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday said it has approved Sri Lanka’s eligibility to access concessional financing.

The availability of concessional assistance, offered at low interest rates, broadens Sri Lanka’s options to bridge its urgent development financing needs to restore economic stability and deliver essential services, particularly to the poor and vulnerable, the Philippines‎-based regional development bank said in a press release.

Eligibility for concessional resources among the ADB’s developing member countries is based on gross national income per capita and creditworthiness.

ADB explained that its decision was considered based on a request from the Sri Lanka government in view of the severe and unprecedented economic crisis that has reversed hard-won development gains.

“ADB is committed to further enhancing its support for the people of Sri Lanka as the country responds to this deep crisis that has severely undermined their livelihoods and well-being,” said ADB Director General for South Asia, Kenichi Yokoyama. “The availability of concessional assistance will help Sri Lanka to lay the foundation for economic recovery and sustained, inclusive growth.”

Thus, Sri Lanka is now eligible for ADB support including concessional and market-based financing, technical assistance, policy advice, and knowledge solutions that together comprise a comprehensive suite of options to address the crisis.

The ADB notes that access to concessional financing will also ease debt servicing pressures through more favourable lending terms.