News

PHIs suffer without test kits

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2023

editor

The Public Health Inspectors (PHI) have been greatly inconvenienced since they have not been provided with the kits to carry out on-site tests, Public Health Inspectors Association of Sri Lanka (PHIASL) Treasurer W.D. Roshan Kumara said.

The PHIs alleged that they have not been provided with any on-site test kits in a decade.

Since the test kits for checking iodine levels in a packet of salt have also not been provided, food samples have to be sent to laboratories incurring a large cost.

Even though they have been instructed to check the temperature of the refrigerators during raids, they have not even been given a thermometer to check the temperature. Some Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Offices have only one thermometer.

The PHIs pointed out that there are on-site test kits in other countries to even test for aflatoxin in coconut oil and a large amount of expenses can be saved if such kits are provided to PHIs in Sri Lanka.

They said that there is no option but to dissolve the food samples in water and send the suspicious samples to the laboratories for pigment testing.

The PHIs further said that if there are facilities to send the suspicious samples to the laboratories after conducting preliminary testing, it will be possible to reduce the congestion in the laboratories and reduce the cost.

News

COVID subvariants spreading in Asia detected in Sri Lanka

Published

9 hours ago

May 31, 2025

editor

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.