Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media platform reports on a tough incident in Gaza still under media censorship
Iran's judiciary says 71 killed in Israeli strike on Evin Prison
Trump: Make the deal, get the hostages back
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 67 Palestinians were martyred in 24 hours in the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin

Sri Lanka almost out of medicine - doctors

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 10 Apr 2022 20:17
4 Min Read

Doctors in Sri Lanka warn of a death toll that could be worse than the one caused by the pandemic, due to the loss of medicines.

  • x
  • sr
    Sri Lanka witnessed several protests over the worsening economic situation

On Sunday, doctors in Sri Lanka alerted about the worsening economic crisis which has caused life-saving medicines to almost run out, threatening a death toll that could be worse than the one during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) stated that the country's hospitals no longer have access to imported vital drugs and medical tools, which obliged several facilities to stop routine surgeries since the month of March, especially due to the lack of anesthetics. The SLMA added that even emergency surgeries may stop very soon.

"We are made to make very difficult choices. We have to decide who gets treatment and who will not," the association said Sunday after it released a letter that was earlier sent to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to warn him of the situation.

"If supplies are not restored within days, the casualties will be far worse than from the pandemic."

Protests over the worsening situation, calls for president to resign

Consequently, the public was angry and the island has seen large protests urging Rajapaksa to resign.

Business leaders joined the protesters on Saturday and called the president to step down.

Sri Lanka has been suffering its worst downturn since the island's independence in 1948. Weeks of power blackouts and critical shortages of food, pharmaceuticals, and fuel have brought the people to the streets.

Related News

Sweden anticipates GDP contractions despite decreasing inflation rate

Sri Lanka protesters to hand back official buildings

Men and women flocked to Colombo's seafront promenade and surrounded the Presidential Secretariat, waving the national lion flag and chanting "go home Gota."

Others held cards that read "enough is enough" and "it's time for you to leave."

Rajapaksa's government is seeking an IMF bailout to help free Sri Lanka from the crisis, and finance ministry officials said sovereign bond-holders may have to take a haircut as the island seeks to restructure its debt.

On Friday, the new finance minister Ali Sabry said he expects $3 billion from the IMF to support Sri Lanka's balance of payments in the coming three years.

Sri Lankan cabinet resigns as economic crisis sparks more protests

All 24 ministers of Sri Lanka's cabinet have resigned from their posts on April 3, while the President and his brother the Prime Minister stayed on, amid protests and clashes in the capital, Colombo.

As anger mounted in the South Asian nation, Sri Lanka instituted a social media blackout and curfew in order to quell protests, but people kept protesting, and authorities arrested 644 people who violated the curfew. 

Sri Lanka has been facing a severe shortage of fuel, paper, food, as well as record inflation rates.

The ministers submitted their resignations at a late-night meeting, clearing the way for the President to appoint a new cabinet on Monday. Some of those that resigned may be reappointed.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared Saturday a nationwide state of public emergency in light of protests over the country's worst economic crisis since its independence, which has paralyzed Colombo's ability to provide the citizens with electricity and even hit the healthcare sector really hard.

The Colombo Gazette reported that the police arrested 644 people in Western Province during the night for violating the curfew imposed by the government over fears of a coup and the ousting of President Rajapaksa. Protestors had called for his resignation during their demonstrations as they face shortages and soaring inflation.

Read more: Sri Lanka president loses parliament majority, protests mount

  • Economical Crisis
  • Sri Lanka
  • colombo

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
The site of a direct missile strike launched from Iran in Tel Aviv on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Op. True Promise 3, wave 21: Multi-warhead missiles rain on 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 23 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
In this June, 12, 2021, file photo, former Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani sits in a meeting in Tehran, Iran.
Politics

Iran strategically foiled Israeli-US scheme, Advisor Shamkhani says

Sheikh Naim
MENA

Let no one think they can subjugate Hezbollah: Sheikh Qassem

Screengrab from a video published by the al-Qassam Brigades shows confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Al-Qassam releases video of deadly ambush with Israeli forces in Gaza

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Grossi, attends an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran bars IAEA chief Grossi from nuclear facility inspections

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS