By Sandun A Jayasekera
The non arrival of two Cuban epidemiologists who were due in Sri Lanka
on Saturday morning has baffled Health Ministry officials and the Cuban
Embassy, a ministry official said yesterday.
Health Ministry spokesman W.M.D. Wanninayake said Cuba's chief
epidemiologist Dr. Aramis Martinez and assistant epidemiologist Dr. S.
Yalina were expected to arrive on 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and were to be
met at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Ministry and Embassy
officials.
The two Cubans were being sent here after Health Minister Nimal Siripala
De Silva sought the assistance of Cuban Ambassador Ms. Nirisa Castro
Guevara for Cuban expertise to control the fast spreading dengue
epidemic with the use of BTI -- Bacillus Thuringensis Israelensis. The
bacteria is being widely used in Cuba to control the breeding of
disease-bearing mosquitoes.
"I went to the airport with health services Deputy Director General Dr.
Palitha Mahipala to receive the two Cuban epidemiologists who were to
arrive on an Emirates flight via Dubai. They were not among the
planeload of passengers who checked in at the Immigration desk," Mr.
Wanninayake told Daily Mirror yesterday.
He said when the Cuban Embassy checked with the health authorities in
Havana and they were told the two epidemiologists had left their office
on Thursday saying they were due to travel to Sri Lanka via Dubai.
"However, when the embassy checked the Emirates passenger manifesto it
was found that the two Cubans had not arrived in Dubai," Mr. Wanninayake
said.
He said Cuban Embassy officials who appeared somewhat embarrassed at
what had happened told the ministry officials the epidemiologist would
arrive later at 11:00 p.m. but it was not to be so.
Meanwhile Ms. Guevara told the Minister she would do whatever possible
to bring the two experts to Sri Lanka.
The Daily Mirror however failed in its attempts to contact the Cuban
Ambassador.
Sri Lanka Breaking News-Daily Mirror Online (20 July 2009)
http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=55216
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