News
Cremation of Covid-19 victims will continue – Sudarshini
Still no change in existing burial procedure
by Suresh Perera
There is still no change in the official decision to allow the burial of patients who succumb to Covid-19, State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle said yesterday.
“The status quo remains. Cremations will continue as per regulations in place”, she told The Sunday Island.
She said that until and unless there is a new gazette notification issued to legally permit the burial of coronavirus victims, health authorities will continue with the existing cremation procedure in terms of the law.
There was speculation that the process would be reversed after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa told Parliament that the government has decided to permit the burial of Covid victims.
However, the recommendations of a scientific committee appointed to examine the issue are being awaited to make a final determination on whether it was safe to sanction burials, health officials said.
With claims and counter claims that permitting the burial of Covid-19 victims could contaminate ground water and pose a health risk to the population, there needs to be an indepth analysis by experts to clear grey areas before arriving at a formal decision, they explained.
The Muslim community in particular has been demanding that burials be permitted in keeping with their religious rites.
Water used by Covid patients in treatment centres also seep into water ground tables. Medical opinion seems to be divided on the controversial subject with some experts indicating the possibility of the virus persisting and remaining infectious in or on the body of someone who has died.
A professor of microbiology whose specialty is virology said the dead body of a Covid infected person does not pose a risk to ground water as the potency to spread the virus is negated after death.
There are antibodies in a dead (infected) patient’s system, which could continue to pose the risk of transmission, a medical specialist opined.
Asked whether the pandemic has virtually gone out of control particularly with the emergence of the highly contagious new variant, Minister Fernandopulle assured that the situation is being managed effectively under a concerted campaign.
Sri Lanka saw the highest number of 13 Covid-19 related deaths on Wednesday since the outbreak of the contagion around March 2020.
The number of positive cases have declined over the past two days, the Minister said, while adding that it was still too early to predict how the wave will play out.
Of the numbers, all those listed don’t die of corona per se as there are a few among them who succumb to non communicable diseases such as heart attacks, diabetes, kidney failure, suffer strokes or have other underlying medical conditions, she noted.
Medical officials warned that patients with co-mobidity face a bigger risk if they contract the virus as it could prove fatal under the circumstances.
As of Friday (19), the Covid-19 death toll stood at 430 with 78,926 infections and 72,566 recoveries.
The presence of the British variant of the virus is also believed to have contributed to the surge in infections as the new strain has been declared highly contagious.
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
