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Jayasumana: Nearly 2 mn people have received booster shots
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Deputy Director General of Health Services (DDGHS) Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday (20) said that those between 16 and 20 years would be given the second as well as the booster in due course.
Dr. Herath said that an announcement would be made in that regard soon. The top official said so when The Island questioned the rationale in denying the 18-20 category, that included the student community, at least two doses at a time people 20 and above were being administered the third jab.
The health ministry spokesperson Dr. Herath said that in the wake of reports and claims of complications caused to some of those who had received the second dose the government put on hold the second round of vaccination of those between 16 and 20 category. However, analysis of relevant data proved that there was no basis for concern therefore they too would be fully inoculated, Dr. Herath said.
The second round would be launched in consultation with the Education Ministry, Dr. Herath said.
Responding to another query, Dr. Herath said that the population 16 and above would be given three doses, including the booster in line with the government policy whereas the inoculation of 12-16 category would be restricted to one jab.
Medical Technical Services Director Dr. Anwar Hamdani on Sunday (19) told The Island that decisions with regard to vaccination would be taken by a technical committee headed by Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena. The official said in response to The Island query why the student community was deprived of at least two doses at a time omicron posed quite a threat.
Dr. Hamdani explained how the inoculation project was being carried out as expeditiously as possible to counter the continuing threat posed by Covid-19. The omicron variant is a matter for serious concern, Dr. Hamdani said.
State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that the Covid-19 situation was largely under control due to the largely successful completion of the second round of inoculation and an early launch of the third.
Acknowledging that there had been shortcomings on their part as well, Prof. Jayasumana said that so far approximately 2 mn people had received the booster. The State Minister said that the government had sufficient stocks of Pfizer in hand to continue with the third round of inoculation.
The top medical academic turned politician emphasized that they felt the urgent need to administer a booster before the end of this year as a key part of the overall strategy to thwart another massive eruption during the festive period.
Asked whether the government had been successful in convincing the public about the urgent necessity for the inoculation drive, State Minister Jayasumana emphasized that those who refused to get vaccinated were only a fraction of the population. If one compares the segments which refused the vaccination over various reasons, including religious sentiments in the West and other parts of the world, the situation here was much better, Prof. Jayasumana said.
The State Minister said that the government wouldn’t under any circumstances force people to receive vaccination. However, those who refused vaccination should realize their movements would be automatically restricted once the inoculation was made mandatory to enter public places, the Anuradhapura District MP said.
Commenting on the impact the epidemic had on the national economy, Prof. Jayasumana said that the country was already experiencing such a difficult situation another eruption would be catastrophic. “We cannot afford to have another lockdown,” Prof. Jayasumana said, urging the public to follow the basic guidelines. According to the State Minister, the losses suffered since early 2020 due to Covid-19 eruption had been incalculable and were having a negative impact on current recovery efforts.
Prof. Jayasumana remained as State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals in spite of health minister Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi being replaced by Keheliya Rambukwella on August 16. Rambukwella received the health ministry amidst accusations over serious flaws in the management of the epidemic.
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
