Earlier today (26), Japanese ambassador to Sri Lanka – Mr. Mizukoshi Hideaki signed an Exchange of Note for grant assistance to provide JPY 503 million (USD 3.7 Million) in order to improve the management of infectious waste, which has increased following the spread of the COVID-19.
Based on “Gudelines for Management of COVID-19 infectious waste MoH, DE & OH” of March 2020, etc., the treatment of infectious waste through medical waste incinerators and infectious waste sterilization equipment has been encouraged. However, due to budget constraints, the proper facilities have not been developed sufficiently.
On the other hand, due to the increased infectious waste in the wake of the spread of COVID-19, the amount of the infectious waste exceeded the processing capacity of existing infectious waste treatment facilities in Sri Lanka. As a result, problems are arising such as the exposure of hospital staff to infectious pathogens, health damage to surrounding residents due to the disposal of waste through burning in open fields or through aging facilities, and the emission of dioxins, smoke, and unpleasant odors.
Through this project, medical waste incinerators with temperature control and exhaust gas treatment equipment will be installed at 15 hospitals covering all 9 provinces in Sri Lanka. It is expected that this project will increase the processing capacity of infection waste, enabling it to process more wastes with smaller environmental impact, and lead to reduction of the burden on the surrounding environment.
The All Island Canteen and Restaurant Owners’ Association (AICROA) has decided to increase the prices of all canteen and hotel food items from midnight today.
Association Chairman Harshana Rukshan said that the price of a cup of plain tea will increase by Rs. 5, a cup of milk tea by Rs. 10, a plate of fried rice and kottu by Rs. 30, and the prices of short eats by Rs. 10.
Addressing the media, he said that no concessions were provided for canteen and restaurant owners in the recent budget.
“Even though the price of a packet of salt has increased to Rs. 200, the price of an egg has risen again to Rs. 35, a kilogram of chicken costs more than Rs. 1,000 and the price of coconuts has reached a maximum of Rs. 220, we did not request the President to reduce the prices of any of these items.
“Unfortunately, no support has been provided for the protection of canteens and restaurants in the country,” he added.
(dailymirror.lk)
(This story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)
Indictments have been served against former Minister Piyankara Jayaratne before the Colombo High Court today (Feb. 18).
He faces charges of allegedly committing an offence of “corruption” by influencing officials of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to deposit an amount of Rs. 494,000 to an account of a bank in Chilaw, during his tenure as the Minister of Civil Aviation.
The indictment sheets, filed by the Bribery Commission, were handed over to the court before the High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne today.
The judge subsequently ordered to release the ex-minister on two surety bails of Rs. 500,000 each
Bakery owners have agreed to reduce the price of a loaf of bread by Rs. 10, according to the Ministry of Trade.
This follows a decision by two leading flour manufacturers in Sri Lanka – Serendib Flour Mills and Prima, to reduce the price of wheat flour by Rs. 10 per kilogramme.