Locally produced saline soon

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

France will help Sri Lanka produce Saline locally. Production will commence before year's end, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena revealed this when he called on Asgiriya Mahanayaka Thera Most Ven Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Thera and Malwatte Mahanayaka Thera Most Ven Thibbotowawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayaka Thera in Kandy yesterday.

The current Saline requirement of Sri Lanka is 20,000 bottles per day. Sri Lanka imports its entire requirement at present.

Minister Sirisena also informed the Mahanayaka Theras that the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) and the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) will be brought under one Chairman and one Board of Directors and set as one State institution in order to deliver an effective service to the public. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has already given his approval for this idea.

During the meeting Minister Sirisena pointed out that a large amount of State owned lands belonging to State Hospitals had been forcibly taken over by various persons and organizations. A special committee will be appointed to look into this issue and take back State owned lands now being used by other persons illegally. The worst affected area is Kandy.

Responding to a request made by Mahanayaka Theras Minister Sirisena promised to solve all issues exist in connection with Kidney diseases and treatments.