Only 60 psychiatrists to treat mental health in SL - Dr.Hettiarachchi
Chandrasena Marasinghe[-Sunday, 15 Sep 2013
Chandrasena Marasinghe[-Sunday, 15 Sep 2013
Sri Lanka has only 60 psychiatrists to treat mental health patients, though the country requires a cadre of 2100 psychiatrists, Mental health Director Dr. Rasanjalee Hettiarachchi said.
The health director warned that the mental health sector is in crisis in the country due to the dearth of qualified staff.
Statistics have revealed that a higher prevalence of mental patients committing suicide .
Sri Lanka's suicide rate in 1995-96 was 47 out of every 100,000 person in the population . However the numbers have declined since then to 11 cases for every hundred thousand persons in the population .
A Health Ministry spokesman said the objective is to reduce the numbers further to 5 out of 100,000 in population.
The health director warned that the mental health sector is in crisis in the country due to the dearth of qualified staff.
Statistics have revealed that a higher prevalence of mental patients committing suicide .
Sri Lanka's suicide rate in 1995-96 was 47 out of every 100,000 person in the population . However the numbers have declined since then to 11 cases for every hundred thousand persons in the population .
A Health Ministry spokesman said the objective is to reduce the numbers further to 5 out of 100,000 in population.
Major security ops for CHOGM
September 15, 2013
A major security operation has been launched in the city ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Sri Lanka.
Security sources told The Sunday Leader that under stage one of the operation salons, communication canters, and locations used as lodging by Indian and Pakistani nationals living in the city as well as lodges have undergone a thorough security check.
A report on the first stage of the security operation in preparation for the CHOGM summit has been given to the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), sources added.
The second stage of the security operation will cover hotels where the Heads of State will be staying during the Commonwealth summit in November.
Security sources told The Sunday Leader that there are fears some groups may attempt to disrupt the summit which will be attended by Heads of State from Commonwealth countries including India as well as Prince Charles who will represent the queen.
Meanwhile sources at the office of the Chief of Defence Staff said that a search operation will also be carried out within the Colombo city limits and areas to be visited by the Heads of State during the summit.
Local security agencies are also working with foreign security agencies as part of the security arrangements for the summit.
Report by Indika Sri Aravinda
