News

Sports Minister’s nephew behind assault of fmr. SPMC chairman (Update)

Published

3 months ago

June 27, 2023

editor

It is learnt that a group of people including Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe’s elder brother’s son (Stephan) had assaulted Dr. Sayuru Samarasundera, a former Chairman of State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC).

Dr. Samarasundera said he was attacked by Stephan and the group when he went to inquire about an incident of several government-owned vehicles blocking the entrance towards the “Eden Garden” housing complex in Hokandara where Dr. Samarasundera resides.

He was injured in the attack and is currently undergoing treatment at the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital.

According to hospital sources, he suffered injuries to the head and was bleeding profusely when he was brought to the hospital.

Sports Minister Ranasinghe is currently abroad.

No one involved in the attack had been arrested so far.

It wasn’t Roshan’s brother: Media Secretary

Earlier, the media including us had reported that the brother of the Sports minister was involved in this attack. We regret any inconvenience our previous news may have caused to Minister Ranasinghe’s elder brother.

Issuing a statement, Minister Ranasinghe’s Media Secretary has said the minister’s brother was not involved in assaulting former SPMC Chairman Samarasundera.

Minister Ranasinghe has two brothers and one of them is in Japan and the other one is in England and therefore, neither were involved in this incident, the statement clarifies.

The statement also notes that the minister had inquired into the incident and it was found that the person in question had been assaulted after he had attempted to forcefully enter a house while under the influence of liquor. It adds that he had also been quite violent at the time of hospital admission as well.

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(Previous News : June 27, 2023 12.35am)

Fmr. SPMC chairman assaulted by Sports Minister’s brother!

Former chairman of the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation – Dr Sayuru Samarasundara has been brutally assaulted by several persons including the elder brother of Sports Minister – Roshan Ranasinghe.

Dr. Samarasundara says that he was assaulted when he had gone to inquire about several state owned vehicles being parked in an obstructive manner near his residence in Hokandara.

Following the assault, a severely bleeding Dr. Samarasundara has been rushed to the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital and is currently being treated at the ICU.

The Police are yet to make any arrests.

Sports Minister – Roshan Ranasinghe is currently overseas.

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.