News

Court order issued against IUSF protest

Published

1 month ago

August 10, 2023

editor

A court order has been issued against a protest organised by the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) in Colombo today (10).

Accordingly, Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage issued an order preventing the protesters from entering several places including the Presidential Secretariat, President’s House, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Galle Face Green.

The Magistrate ordered the protesters not to cause inconvenience to government officials and the public by blocking the streets.

However, the Magistrate informed that peaceful protests could be carried out and ordered the Colombo Fort Police to hand over the court order to the protesters.

The order was issued against 10 people including IUSF Convener Madhushan Chandrajith and the Magistrate ordered the arrest of the protesters who would violate the court orders and produce them in the court.

The Magistrate issued the order based on the facts presented by the Colombo Fort Police in a B-Report to the court regarding the inconvenience that could be caused to the public by the protests.

News

Number of rabies deaths on the rise

Published

2 hours ago

September 21, 2023

editor

The Ministry of Health said that the number of people who have died from rabies has increased in the last few years.

Dr. Heshan Guruge, medical officer of the Anti-Rabies Division, said that the lack of knowledge about rabies as well as the bites of animals other than dogs have led to the increase in these deaths.

Dr. Guruge expressed these views while attending a discussion held yesterday (20) at the Health Promotion Bureau in conjunction with the World Rabies Day on September 28.

“When studying the human deaths that happened in the last few years due to rabies, we can see that a number of animals other than dogs have bit them. In some cases, it is not even possible to know who the animal is. Several people who had passed out after being drunk had been bitten by some animal. After a few days, the symptoms of rabies develop. Several such incidents were reported in the last two or three years. Proper first aid should be given in case of any animal bite. Wash the wound with soap and water. If you have alcohol at home, an iodine solution like betadine, surgical spirit, or an antiseptic liquid like hydrogen peroxide, you can use it. Then go to a hospital. If we do this, we can eliminate rabies from Sri Lanka,” he said.

Don’t get closer to new pets for two weeks

Meanwhile, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana, community specialist of the Epidemiology Unit, said that 12 people have died due to rabies in 2023 so far.

He said that there is a risk of contracting rabies from the bites of all mammals.

The Anti-rabies Unit said that 25 to 30 people die from rabies every year.

The Epidemiology Unit requested the people not to get closer to pets such as dogs and cats for 14 days after bringing them home.

Arrangements should be made to vaccine the dogs against rabies before a period of four weeks has passed.

When bitten by a dog, the area should be washed and cleaned with soap for ten minutes, and after that it is important to seek medical treatment immediately.