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SL cautious over concerns of deadly Lambda variant sneaking in
by Suresh Perera
Sri Lanka’s overwhelmed public health care sector, already under tremendous pressure over galloping Covid-19 infection numbers, has raised the alarm over the possibility of the deadly Lambda variant sneaking into the country.
“We have to be on the alert”, a senior medical official cautioned, as the latest mutated variant of the coronavirus swept across 30 South American countries.
There are stringent quarantine measures in place at points of entry into the country, but there is always the possibility of some people arriving from overseas escaping detection, says Dr. Hemantha Herath, Deputy Director-General of Medical Services.
The Lambda (C.37) variant, initially identified in Peru in December 2020, now accounts for the majority of infections there. In what medical experts described as an “alarming trend”, the highly transmissible Covid-19 strain is on the rise in other South American countries, including Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, and Brazil.
Dr. Herath said that all those coming to Sri Lanka from overseas are placed under 14 days mandatory quarantine, which is generally sufficient to identify positive cases. However, there could be outliers who escape detection.
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) screening doesn’t translate into a 100% ‘all clear’ where the identification of the infection is concerned. That’s why there’s a follow up mandatory quarantine period, he pointed out.
“Under the circumstances, the possibility of the new strain emerging in Sri Lanka is inevitable. Therefore, we should be alert to the situation and be geared to meet any eventuality”, he stressed.
“Our laboratory sequencing has so far not detected the Lambda variant in Sri Lanka”, said Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
He said the newest strain has already affected more than 30 countries in South America.
Asked whether the vaccines now being administered have been found effective against the Lambda variant, he replied, “that’s still not known”.
“The only way the threat of Covid-19 and its variants can be defeated is by collectively adhering to stipulated health safety guidelines”, Dr. Herath underscored.
If people tread cautiously without lowering their guard, the virus will ultimately die down as it cannot survive without human cells to multiply, another medical official said.
“Irresponsible public behavior will only help to aggravate the situation, as seen in April this year, when unrestricted inter-provincial travel, crowd gathering and merry-making during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year led to an explosive situation with infections multiplying”, he warned.
According to reports, scientists and experts see the latest Lambda variant of the virus as a fresh threat to the gains made over the last year or so.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says a variant becomes a “variant of interest” when it is identified as a cause for significant community transmission or multiple COVID-19 clusters, in multiple countries, with increasing relative prevalence alongside the increasing number of cases over time.
Besides, such a variant also shows signs of other apparent “epidemiological impacts” to suggest an emerging risk to global public health, the world health body said.
Meanwhile. the United Kingdom health body, Public Health England (PHE), designated Lambda as a “variant under investigation” on June 23, a day after the country reported a total of six cases.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
