The Sri Lanka Salt Producers Association (SLSPA) states that currently, 400 containers, comprising nearly 28,000 metric tons of imported salt, are stuck at the Colombo Port without clearance. 

National Organizer of the Association, Chaminda Rusiru Maliyedda, told the media that due to the recent salt shortage in Sri Lanka, the association intervened to import salt from India. 

He said, however, 400 containers with imported salt have been stuck at the Colombo Port for over 45 days. 

“The issue has arisen due to issues stemming from the Bill of Lading date. There are around 28,000 metric tons in one container. The primary fault is with the shipping company,” he said. 

Chaminda Rusiru Maliyedda further said that, as businesses that pay their due taxes, they expect a concession from the government in this regard. 

“As a solution to this issue, the Finance Ministry or the Health Ministry must intervene and release the load. The benefit is for consumers, as we intend to sell the imported salt for a reasonable price,” he said. 

Chaminda Rusiru Maliyedda also revealed that despite several requests being made from the authorities for a discussion on the matter, they have yet to receive any response in this regard. 

Sri Lanka opted to import salt after a significant decline in local salt production was reported due to various reasons, including the impact of weather. 

As such, the government opted to import salt from India, with two batches having arrived at the Colombo Port. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Energy has urged the public not to fall victim to fake news being circulated about a fuel shortage in Sri Lanka. 

Issuing a statement, the ministry said that it has been observed that various false and misleading news reports are circulating, especially on social media, that there may be a shortage of petroleum in the country due to the war situation in the Middle East.

The Ministry of Energy further said that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) currently has the necessary fuel stocks for the next two months.

The ministry went on to note that the necessary measures have been prepared to obtain the fuel stocks ordered in advance without any issues. 

As such, the Ministry of Energy urged the public not to be fooled by fake news circulating in this regard. (Newswire)

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The current shortages of certain medicinal drugs have arisen because procurement decisions were not taken in a timely and proper manner in 2024, Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa said.

Addressing an event in Colombo on Saturday, Minister Jayatissa said Sri Lanka imports hundreds of drugs each year, but tenders for purchasing medicines for 2025 were called for only 67 types of medicines in the first five months of 2024.

He further said that tenders have now been called for 233 types of medicines, which had been stalled for years. 

The Health Minister also revealed that the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation completed procurement processes for 233 types of drugs in the first five months of 2025.

He said that 65 per cent of drugs used in the public hospital system are imported, explaining that the process of supplying medicines, from the initial stage to procurement and distribution, takes around nine months and is highly complex.

“For 2026, the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation must supply 450 types of medicines. Of these, tender procedures for 435 have already commenced, and the procurement process for 418 has already been completed. 325 of them have also been sent for final evaluation. Currently, we have taken a number of measures to ensure the pharmaceutical supply process in Sri Lanka continues efficiently and without disruption. 

“Recently, we held lengthy discussions with both local manufacturers of Western medicines and companies that import medicines. We explained the current situation to them and gave them targets, asking them to inform us of the types of medicines they can supply and produce within specific time frames. If they are unable to meet these targets, the Ministry of Health will have to engage with governments to arrange the import of medicines,” he said.

Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa pointed out that this was the best solution the government could provide for the current medicinal drug shortage in Sri Lanka. “Our aim is to ensure a continuous supply of high-quality medicines for the people of this country,” he added. (Newswire)

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Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya says there is currently a shortage of 40,000 teachers across Sri Lanka, and that the government expects to recruit a certain number of the required vacancies by the end of this year.

PM Amarasuriya made these remarks in Parliament on Wednesday (21 May), while responding to a question raised by opposition MP Mujibur Rahman.

Addressing the Parliament, PM Amarasuriya said there are currently 4,240 teacher vacancies in the Sinhala medium and 2,827 in the Tamil medium for Grades 1 to 5 in government schools, while the number of vacancies reported from Grades 6 to 11 is 11,274 in the Sinhala medium and 6,121 in the Tamil medium.

She went on to note that in the Western Province alone, government schools report 1,310 Sinhala medium and 302 Tamil medium teacher shortages for Grades 1 to 5, adding that for Grades 6 to 11, the vacancies stand at 1,325 for Sinhala medium teachers and 397 for Tamil medium teachers. 

PM Harini Amarasuriya revealed that as a whole, nationwide, there are 40,000 vacancies for teachers.

She further said that the Public Service Commission has issued a recommendation that recruitments to fill the vacancies in the Ministry of Education should be done through an examination-based process. 

“Currently, there is an ongoing court case regarding the recruitment of graduates into the teaching profession. Taking all these matters into consideration, attention is being directed towards recruiting graduates to fill the existing teacher vacancies,” she said. 

The Prime Minister emphasized that the government expects to fill at least a certain number of the required vacancies by the end of this year. (Newswire)

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The shortage of doctors in Sri Lanka’s Health Sector will be resolved in the future, as several doctors who left the country are now returning, the Health Ministry claimed.

Speaking to the media, Deputy Director General (Medical Services) Dr. G. Wijesuriya said Sri Lanka recently reported a shortage of doctors after several doctors, including specialist doctors, and nurses had left the country.

The healthcare workers had left the nation due to difficulties faced as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and the economic crisis that soon followed in the nation.

However, it has been observed that several doctors, including specialist doctors, were now returning to Sri Lanka, he said.

Stating that there was a drop in healthcare workers leaving the country, Dr. Wijesuriya said that instead, several doctors were cancelling their leaves and returning to Sri Lanka. 

He further revealed that with doctors returning to Sri Lanka, the Health Ministry has been able to appoint specialist doctors to required hospitals. 

Dr. Wijesuriya expressed hope that with the return of the healthcare workers, the shortage of doctors in Sri Lanka will be resolved soon. (NewsWire)

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Seven office trains scheduled for this evening (Oct 31) have been cancelled, Sri Lanka Railways announced.

The Railway Department said the train services have been cancelled due to a shortage of Locomotive Operators. 

It is reported that the Railway Department had not recruited train drivers since 2017 resulting in the current shortage of around 150 train drivers.

The Railway Department said the shortage of locomotive operators resulted in the cancellation of 08 trains that were scheduled for this morning and afternoon. (NewsWire)

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