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World Bank approves $150 mn. to improve Primary Healthcare Services in SL

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The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $150 million in financing for Sri Lanka to improve the quality and utilization of its primary healthcare services. 

The newly approved Sri Lanka Primary Healthcare System Enhancing Project will help improve quality of care and increase the use of primary medical care institutions, which provide essential health services to local communities.

Capacity challenges and absence of a formal referral mechanism have led to the underutilization of primary healthcare facilities and overcrowding in tertiary care facilities in Sri Lanka. The previous World Bank-supported Primary Healthcare Systems Strengthening Project had already enhanced 550 Primary Medical Care Institutions with essential equipment, medicines, health workers and basic laboratory testing facilities. The new project will scale up these efforts to cover 100% of Primary Medical Care Institutions across all districts of Sri Lanka, expanding to over 1,000 facilities with a more comprehensive service package and improved quality of care.

“Sri Lanka’s health system has demonstrated remarkable performance, but it needs to be strengthened to face emerging health care challenges,” said Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. “This project will support the country’s forward-looking primary care reorganization agenda, laying the foundation for a more responsive and people-centric healthcare system.”

Non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cervical cancer are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Sri Lanka, accounting for 80% of deaths.  Effective control and management of non-communicable diseases require robust screening, early diagnosis, treatment and follow up. Additionally, Sri Lanka has the fastest aging population in South Asia, necessitating health system adaptations to meet the growing healthcare needs of the elderly. This project is designed around these evolving health priorities, helping invest in preventive care and promoting primary care facilities as the first point of care.

In addition, the project will support the provision of comprehensive primary healthcare services by expanding capacity to cover mental health, palliative, geriatric, rehabilitative, and emergency care, which are particularly important for the aging population. The project will also bolster pandemic preparedness by expanding the capacity of primary medical care institutions to detect and respond to future infectious disease outbreaks. This will help Sri Lanka’s healthcare system to adapt and respond effectively to new and emerging challenges.

(worldbank.org)

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Foreigner arrested at BIA with cocaine in stomach

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The officers attached to the Narcotic Control unit at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake have arrested a passenger yesterday morning (Nov. 11) on suspicion of trafficking narcotic substances.

He had arrived from Sierra Leone via Istanbul by the Turkish Airlines flight TK 730.

After being put through a body scanner, it was revealed that the suspect had concealed drugs in his person.

Subsequently, the suspect was admitted to the Negombo Hospital and 17 pellets suspected of containing narcotics have been retrieved. However, the suspect had confessed that there are more pellets in his stomach.

The retrieved pellets and the suspect were handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigations.

According to Sri Lanka Customs, the estimated street value of the seized cocaine pellets is around Rs. 13 million,

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IOC calls to suspend NOCSL Secretary General

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has called for the immediate suspension of Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) Maxwell de Silva.

Jerome Poivey, Associate Director, Institutional and Governance Services IOC NOC Relations Department in an email dated November 11, 2024 has urged Suresh Subramaniam, President, NOCSL to convene an urgent meeting of the NOC Executive Board and take appropriate action without any further delay, in accordance with the NOCSL Constitution.

The measure comes following the conclusions and the recommendations submitted by the NOC Ethics Committee.

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Pavithra’s gazette on Vidataltivu Nature Reserve to be reviewed

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The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that the new government intends to review the Extraordinary Gazette notification issued by former Wildlife Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, which altered the boundaries of the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve to facilitate an aquaculture project.

Deputy Solicitor General Fazly Razick, representing the Attorney General, made these remarks in connection with two Fundamental Rights petitions filed by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka and the Environment Foundation. These petitions were heard before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, A.H.M.D. Nawaz, and Janak De Silva.

Previously, the Supreme Court had issued an interim order suspending the operation of the Extraordinary Gazette issued by Minister Wanniarachchi, which modified the boundaries of the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve for an aquaculture project. This interim order was further extended today till July 29, 2025.

The petitioners are challenging the unlawful acts of the Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation by Extraordinary Gazette bearing No. 2383/05 and dated 6th May 2024.

The petitioners stated that this Gazette issued by the subject Minister noted that the area specified in the appendix of the gazette will no longer be designated as part of the Vidataltivu Nature Reserve.

The petitioners further state that the area that formed the Nature Reserve was identified as an area requiring protection by an Integrated Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka (hereinafter referred to as ISEA-NPSL) carried out by the Central Environmental Authority and Disaster Management Centre with other government departments and experts between 2009 and 2014 and published in 2014.

They state that Vidataltivu falls under the classification of a “Strict Nature Reserve” declared under the provisions of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. It is critical for mangroves and fauna including rare species of great biodiversity and crucial ecological significance. Vidataltivu is situated close to the buffer zone near the Wilpattu National Park and the former Minister has de-gazzeted portions of the strict nature reserve to give it to a private company doing shrimp farming.

President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardana PC with Dilumi de Alwis and Rukshan Senadheera appeared for the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka, while Counsel Nilshantha Sirimanne with Deshara Goonetilleke appeared for the Environment Foundation (Guarantee) Ltd.

(dailymirror.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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