Keheliya’s NCM: Amaraweera & Vidura’s request to go abroad denied

Published

2 weeks ago

September 6, 2023

editor

The debate on the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) brought by the Opposition against Health Minister Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella will begin today (06) in Parliament.

The debate will be held for three days consecutively and an Opposition MP will present the proposal to Parliament today.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said that the NCM is being brought against the minister as the standard of the health sector has deteriorated.

It said the family members of several people who died due to substandard medicines administered from government hospitals have also been invited to watch the debate in Parliament today.

Apart from this, SJB MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardena said that a people’s petition signed against the Health Minister will also be handed over to Parliament.

The Opposition has also discussed with the government MPs seeking their support to win the NCM.

Meanwhile, all the ministers of the ruling party have been made mandatory to attend Parliament as the NCM is being debated.

The vote on the NCM will be held Friday afternoon.

However, it was reported that Ministers Vidura Wickramanayake and Mahinda Amaraweera have requested permission to go abroad during this period. The request has been denied by the President.

Rumors in the political arena said that they made this request to avoid the NCM.

Number of rabies deaths on the rise

Published

58 mins 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.