News

Ministry suspends 40 SPMC products: Ravi Kumudesh

Published

2 years ago

August 14, 2023

editor

The Health Ministry has suspended medicines supplied to the hospitals on 69 occasions so far this year and 40 of the suspended medicines have been supplied by the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC), Health Professionals Association President Ravi Kumudesh said.

Mr. Kumudesh said that it is vital to pay proper attention to rectifying the issues regarding the condition of the medicinal drugs supplied by the SMPC instead of avoiding them.

He said the Health Ministry and the government should pay more attention to the issue since the SMPC manufactures medicines with the backing of the government.

Mr. Kumudesh said that some people are trying to import medicinal drugs only from Europe by creating a wrong impression about local pharmaceutical products and Indian products.

He said that while countries like India and Bangladesh were exporting high-quality medicinal drugs to the USA and European countries, Sri Lanka receiving only inferior medicinal drugs from the same countries was an issue of choice and not an issue of the country of origin.

“If there is an issue with the products of the SPMC that supplies medicines to the country through the intervention of the Sri Lankan government, it is a management issue,” he said.

He said that if decisions are being taken after considering the economic crisis in the country, there is no other option but to improve the production of local medicines.

News

COVID subvariants spreading in Asia detected in Sri Lanka

Published

9 hours ago

May 31, 2025

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The Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka has confirmed that the COVID-19 variant currently spreading in the Asian region has also been identified in the country.

Dr. Jude Jayamaha, a specialist in viral diseases at the Medical Research Institute, stated that patients infected with the Omicron subvariants LF.7 and XFG are being reported locally.

Dr. Jayamaha explained that this finding was confirmed through research conducted on biological samples collected from several hospitals across the island.

However, he emphasized that there is no need for undue fear regarding these COVID-19 variants.

Health authorities have also stressed the importance of vulnerable groups—such as pregnant mothers, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses—following health guidelines, including wearing face masks and avoiding crowded places.

Dr. Jayamaha reiterated that new COVID-19 variants emerge periodically, and health authorities are continuously monitoring the situation, so the public should remain calm.

(newswire.lk)

(This story, originally published by newswire.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Anudi misses out from Miss World Quarter-Finals

Published

9 hours ago

May 31, 2025

editor

The Miss World organization has announced its quarter-finalists, selecting 40 contestants from across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Sri Lanka’s Anudi Gunasekara, was not selected in the top 40, despite being recognized for her impressive performances in the Multimedia and Head-to-Head challenges.

The top 40 consisted of 10 contestants each from Asia & Oceania, Europe, Africa and the Americas.