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Leprosy cases in SL increase in 2023

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Sri Lankan health officials have observed a significant increase in leprosy cases in 2023.

Officials said that a total of 864 patients were detected during the first seven months of the year, and 161 of these patients were from Colombo.

The Anti Leprosy Campaign at Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry said that 47 leprosy patients were recorded from the Egodawela MOH zone alone.

In a media briefing held last month, the Health Promotion Bureau stated that the highest number of Leprosy patients recorded this year were found from the Moratuwa area in Colombo District.

Speaking at the media briefing, Moratuwa MoH Manjula Thillakaratne had said that 51 Leprosy patients were recorded from Moratuwa and 08 of them were children under the age of 14 years.

Dr. Prasad Ranaweera from the Anti Leprosy Campaign said an awareness campaign will commence in the Western Province next week.

Although Sri Lanka eliminated leprosy in 1995, after having achieved the elimination target of less than one case of leprosy per 10,000 of the population, recent statistics point to a rising trend in leprosy incidence, said the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2023.

Sri Lanka has been recognized by WHO as one of 23 “global priority countries” for Leprosy, emphasizing the need for targeted efforts to sustain elimination status and a final push towards ending Leprosy in the country.

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Chamari Athapaththu fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

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Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu has been fined 10 percent of her match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct.

The incident took place during the final group stage game of the recently concluded tri-series in Sri Lanka, with the hosts facing South Africa in Colombo. The Proteas emerged victorious in a high-scoring fixture.

Athapaththu was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.”

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Athapaththu’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

The said incident occurred in the 32nd over of South Africa’s innings, when after being hit for a four by Annerie Dercksen, Athapaththu took off her sunglasses and smashed them to the ground, breaking them into several pieces.

The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Anna Harris and Dedunu de Silva, third umpire Lyndon Hannibal and fourth umpire Nimali Perera.

There was no need of a hearing as Athapaththu admitted the offence and accepted the sanctions proposed by Michelle Pereira of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

The tri-series was eventually won by India, who defeated Sri Lanka, the tournament hosts in the final by 97 runs.

(ICC)

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4-hour strike at Colombo port causes Rs. 300 mn. loss

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A four-hour strike by employees at the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) and the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port last night has resulted in an estimated loss of at least Rs. 300 million, a senior official of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said.

He said the strike, which began at 8:00 p.m. yesterday and continued till midnight, was triggered by a controversial decision by the Ports Authority to cut incentive allowances paid to essential employees who worked on April 12 and 13, dates that coincided with the Vesak Poya holidays.

The workers resumed duties at around 12:30 a.m. today after the SLPA administration reissued a letter assuring that overtime allowances will be paid according to the previous system.

At the time the strike began, six cargo ships were anchored at the affected terminals, and all operations were brought to a complete halt, the official said.

The dispute stems from a decision by a senior SLPA official to limit the overtime allowances for work done on the Poya day (April 12) to Rs. 10,000 and the following day (April 13) to Rs. 5,000. This move broke with long-standing practices regarding holiday compensation for essential workers.

The Ports Authority official further alleged that the decisions were taken unilaterally by a senior administrator who has previously been criticised for making media statements regarding workers’ salaries.

The temporary halt in port operations has sparked renewed concerns over the administration’s handling of labour

relations and the broader financial impact of such disruptions on the national economy.

(dailymirror.lk)

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8,742 Vesak Dansals registered islandwide

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The Public Health Inspectors (PHI)’s Union states that a total of 8,742 Dansals have been registered islandwide, in line with Vesak celebrations this year.

According to the PHI’s Union chairman – Upul Rohana,  the highest number of ‘Dansal’ is registered in the Western Province, particularly in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) area.

The union has also urged organiser to reduce the use of polythene and plastic during food distribution efforts.

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