Amid virus surge, Lankan Health Minister replaced

Keheliya Rambukwella to take charge

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on August 16 replaced the country’s Health Minister in the wake of growing opposition and public criticism over the government’s “mismanagement” of the country’s of COVID-19. Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, who earlier made headlines for endorsing a “potion” that she claimed would “cure” COVID-19, has now been given charge of the Transport Ministry, while Media Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella will be the new Health Minister, according to a statement issued by the Presidential Media Division. Over the past week, health authorities reported over 3,000 cases a day and record daily deaths – 161 on August 14 – that they attribute to the rapidly spreading Delta variant. Despite medical professionals’ repeated calls for a country-wide lockdown to help the health sector cope, the government has minimally restricted mobility, mostly during the night. President Rajapaksa has asked health sector officials to expedite the ongoing vaccination drive.