News

UNP Convention on September 10

Published

1 month ago

August 18, 2023

editor

The Working Committee of the United National Party (UNP) yesterday (17) decided to hold the 77th Anniversary Celebration and the Convention of the UNP under the chairmanship of party leader President Ranil Wickremesinghe on September 10 at 2 pm in front of the Lake House in Colombo.

The Working Committee meeting was held at the Sirikotha Headquarters under the chairmanship of President Wickremesinghe.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said that the party convention will be held in a grand manner with the participation of UNP supporters from all over the country and the new Constitution of the party will be approved at the Convention.

He said that a 14-member committee has been appointed to organise the Convention, and more people will be appointed in the near future.

Mr. Range Bandara said that the UNP Constitution has been amended so that any other group can be brought into the party during an election campaign, to give priority to the system change that the people demanded during the ‘Aragalaya’ and to take forward the UNP with a new vigour.

He said that President Wickremesinghe is the only leader who can salvage the country from the crisis it is facing and that he should be elected to the Presidency in the next election as well.

He said Anura Kumara Dissanayake is good with speeches and Sajith Premadasa keeps running away when he is given the opportunity to take up a challenge.

Responding to a question raised by a journalist on remarks made by MP Namal Rajapaksa warning the government, Mr. Range Bandara said that his party does not pay attention to what the children say.

He said that the President has saved all the people of the country including them from the crises.

News

Number of rabies deaths on the rise

Published

2 hours 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.