The Project for Digitization of the Eye Clinic at the Seeduwa Vijaya Kumaratunga Memorial Hospital was officially vested with the public on Thursday (04), under the patronage of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

According to the Ministry of Health, the initiative, launched under the Ministry’s direct supervision, aims to enhance efficiency and quality in national‑level eye care services. 

A financial donation of Rs. 3 million by hospital board member Neel Umagiliya enabled the installation of digital systems, following a six‑month pilot project that trained staff in practical applications.

The program introduces computerized management of patient data, medical records, clinical reports, and prescriptions, reducing long queues and ensuring faster, more effective treatment. Services such as cataract removal and diabetic retinopathy care are expected to benefit from improved accuracy and efficiency.

The project forms part of a broader national initiative, supported by the World Health Organization, to digitize Sri Lanka’s entire health system. 

During the launch, former President Kumaratunga inspected the progress of the Eye Clinic wards.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa stressed the government’s commitment to modernizing healthcare delivery. (Newswire)

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Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga visited former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake, who is currently remanded at Magazine Prison.

Issuing a statement, Kumaratunga said she does not usually visit prisons but described Ekanayake as “a good person and a skilled administrator.”

“We need a skilled administrative service to run the country,” she said.

Kumaratunga alleged that targeting administrative officials who are not politically aligned with a particular party began during the government of J.R. Jayawardena and claimed that the current administration is continuing what she described as political revenge carried over from past governments.

She said the country requires experienced administrators such as Ekanayake, noting that entering the public administrative service requires significant skill and merit.

The former president said she visited the prison to express her disapproval over the situation.

“I have worked with him closely. He is a very good person,” she added. (Newswire)

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Commemorating the 25th year since the bomb attack that targeted her in December 1999, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga donated essential medicines to the Apeksha Cancer Hospital in Maharagama. 

In a statement, the former President said she was accompanied by the family members of her Security official who had died in the bomb blast. 

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga further said that the medicine donation was made to the ‘Indira Cancer Trust’ operated by former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and Dr. Lanka Jayasuriya. 

“The six-storey complex provides valuable services to sick children and their families. It is equipped with all the facilities like delicious food and drinks, toys and educational equipment etc. and also helps people who are unable to afford bus fare,” she said.

The former President added that the hospital was a very valuable and appropriate place for anyone who wants to help others via donations. (Newswire)

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Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said that she was once offered a bribe of USD 5 million, which she promptly refused during her tenure as Prime Minister. 

The former President was speaking at the 45th National Conference of Chartered Accountants in Colombo, where she spoke about rampant corruption in Sri Lanka. 

“It has happened to me. Five million dollars were brought to my table in Parliament. I was still Prime Minister then. I said, take it and get out now. It was brought by the husband of a junior minister in my government. I said I’ll have you arrested, get out with this now,” Bandaranaike recalled, adding that this individual was accompanied by a Singaporean businessman. 

The former President stressed on the need to shape values from a young age, stating that it may not be possible to change the minds of adults who are accustomed to corruption. 

“We had a president who used to say, steal as much as you can, but don’t get caught. He said this to his cabinet. He used to say this to his  parliamentary MPs and local government MPs.”. 

“Everyone stole and nobody was arrested. This system is what has bedevilled our country,” Bandaranaike added. 

She warned that while businessmen may bribe to secure projects, widespread corruption ultimately leads to national bankruptcy.

“What you don’t realise is, okay, you may get that project, once or twice. But when that becomes the practice of the whole country, the country becomes bankrupt.” (Newswire)

“There was a President who said to steal without getting caught,” Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga speaks about corruption, revealing how she refused a 5 million dollar bribe as Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/zst3NxK3pK

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) October 17, 2024

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Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has decided to remain neutral ahead of the 2024 Presidential Polls. 

Addressing the media, the former President said she would exercise her franchise but is yet to decide which candidate to vote for. 

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga pointed out that whoever is elected as President has a major responsibility and job to carry out.

“All the candidates have unveiled beautiful policy statements. But I am waiting to see how they will implement them. These proposals cannot be implemented with a group of thieves. Many of the candidates on stage are those who are associated with those proven to be thieves. I do not understand how a government can be run with such people,” she said. 

The former president said, as such, she has decided not to work or extend her support for anyone, and remain neutral during the lead-up to the Presidential Election. 

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga further said that following the election the public should hold the elected President accountable via a peaceful ‘Aragalaya’  and urge the President to carry out required work, including the abolition of the Executive Presidency and implementation of a democratic system. 

The former President emphasized that the newly elected President must focus on the abolition of the Executive Presidency,  the implementation of anti-corruption-related work, and the Education Sector. (Newswire)

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Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK) has praised the recent ruling of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on the economic crisis. 

Last week (Nov 14), the Supreme Court held former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and several other officials from his government, including former Finance Ministers Mahinda and Basil Rajapaksa, and former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivad Cabraal, responsible for mishandling the economic crisis.

The court issued its verdict after taking up for consideration the petition filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) along with activists Chandra Jayaratne, Jehan Canagaretna and Julian Bolling in the public interest calling for action against persons responsible for the prevailing crisis in Sri Lanka.

Commenting on the court ruling, former President CBK said even though the court has named a few of those responsible for the economic crisis, there were more people linked to them who are also to be blamed but have not been named by the court. 

CBK further said this was also a learning point for future leaders of the country, adding “future generations will now learn how to properly govern a nation and be a leader who works for the nation and not for one’s self.”

She further suggested that the incumbent government must work on the Supreme Court’s ruling to recover the money mishandled by the group or seize their illegal assets and use it to repay Sri Lanka’s loans. (NewsWire)

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