News
Indian pharmaceuticals expected here in two weeks
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Sri Lanka will start receiving pharmaceuticals, under the Indian credit line in the coming two weeks, Secretary to the State Ministry of Drug Production, Supply and Regulation, Dr. Saman Rathnayake, said.
Dr. Rathnayake said that Sri Lanka currently faced a shortage of 188 essential drugs.
“As with other shortages in the country, this was caused by the dollar shortage. We have been trying to purchase medicines through the aid of international organisations. And these attempts have been successful. The World Health Organization (WHO) has pledged 73 million US dollars, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has promised 60, 73 million US dollars, and India has given us credit worth, 126 million US dollars,” he said.
Sri Lankan hospitals use over 1,500 medicines and they have stocks for over 1,350 medicines. Some of the 188 essential drugs which are in short supply, are only needed in small quantities.
“We have most of the drugs. The problem is that we didn’t order drugs last year. So, we have to order drugs we need for 2022 and we need to start ordering for 2023. We need to start opening LCs and make orders. If we do not do this now, there will be a drug shortage in 2023 too,” he said.
Dr. Rathnayake also commented on reports that the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) had found that Sri Lanka has received over USD 330 million, as donations, to procure essential drugs, but these funds have not hitherto been used.
The COPE Chairman said Sri Lanka had received USD 200 million in financial assistance to purchase drugs, under the Indian credit line facility. By 22 April 2022, the Health Ministry’s Drug Sub committee had only wanted medical supplies worth USD 55.5 million, which is only 28% of the Indian grant. Even by 18 May 2022, Health Ministry had wanted drugs worth USD 92.9 million.
“This is how the delay happened. Let’s talk about the Indian credit line. While, the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) plays a role here, so do the Indian companies. The State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) was entrusted with the operations at our end. However, they also had to find Indian companies who would agree to be paid in Indian rupees. A company that agrees to be paid in Indian rupees must send us a document called the D-Form. We only got the D-Form at the end of May. Now the Treasury will hand over the documents to the Indian High Commission and then onward action will be taken,” he said.
Dr. Rathnayake said that Sri Lanka would start receiving Indian drugs in the coming two weeks and that they had not worked with most of the Indian suppliers who are sending medicines in the coming weeks. “We are working with new companies, new banks, so things take a bit of time,” he said.
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
