National Cancer Control Programme To Oppose First Ever Are ca nut Factory In The Country

The national cancer control programme  has decided to oppose the  inaugurating  of first ever areca nut factory in Sri Lanka due to cancerous substance found in areca nuts, community physician attach to cancer control programme  Dr.Hemantha Amarasinha  has said.A proposal regarding inaugurating  of the said factory has been submitted to cabinet some time back dr.amarasinha added.

As areca nuts have proven as including substance caused oral cancer national cancer control programme had appealed to ministry of health to intervene in to this matter and pressurizing government to remove this proposal with immediate effect he stressed. Chewing of areca nuts is known as  one of the main causes for oral cancer.

According to cancer control programme India has now facing  oral cancer threat due to opening of 1000 areca nut factories throughout the country.Areca nuts are used when chewing betel leaves.

Oral Cancer Among Youth Is On Increae

Oral Cancer among Sri Lankan youth is on increase according to consultant attached to National Cancer Control Programme Dr.Hemantha Amarasinha.Chewing of betel leaves and are co nuts ,smoking and addiction  to liquor are identified as major risk factors that lead to oral cancer here.


Dr.Amarasinha has said that oral cancer is the number one cancer among sri lankan males while 6th  major cancer among females.even small children too are getting oral cancer he stressed.for an example a two and half year old child was became positive for oral cancer due to chewing of are co nut dr.amarasinha has said.

According to latest statistics available around 34 %  of Sri Lankan adult and youth population  addicted to chewing of betel leaves and majority are belongs to the age group of 35-44.

Four Provincial Councillors Lost Their Party Membership Of SLFP?

The Governing Sri Lanka Freedom Party(SLFP) has cancelled the party membership of 4 of their Provincial Councilors who are charged for rape and crimes with immediate effect the party sources said.There was a heated debate in  the country during last few weeks on  misbehavior of these accused Councillors.

The provincial Councillors who lost their party membership are Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman W.P. Sampath Chandrapushpa, Tangalle Municipal Council Member B.L. Anjana Kusum Ruwan, Akuressa Provincial Council Chairman S.H. Sunil and Akuressa Provincial Council Deputy Chairman Munidasa Gamage.

1500-2000 Oral Cancer Patients Reported Annually From Sri Lanka

Around 1500 to 2000 Oral Cancer Patients have been reported annually in Sri Lanka and daily 2 patients are dying due to this disease according to Oncologists.The main risk factors caused oral cancer in Sri Lanka are identified as Chewing Betel Leaves,Smoking and Liquor.

Oral Cancers among males are in increase in the country Oncologists have warned.According to them to avoid getting this cancer people should refrain from above risk factors.

GMOA Has Cleared Allegations Leveled Against Director General Of Helath services

Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has today (24) announced no fraudulent activity has occurred during purchasing of Rs.182 million worth surgical equipment to government hospitals as charged by some health trade unions.This was revealed after a special inquiry conducted by three member committee appointed by Executive Committee of GMOA the assistant secretary of the union Dr.Nalin Ariyaratne has said.

Addressing a special media briefing held in GMOA Office in Colombo Dr.Ariyaratne has said the three member committee has revealed  that tender procedure adapted for purchasing of above surgical equipment had met  required standards.

The Health Services Trade Union Alliance and few Health Ministry Officials have been involved in a mud slinging campaign against Director General Of Health Services(DGHS) Dr.Ajith Mendis by stating he should responsible for Fraud and irregular activities occurred when purchasing of Surgical equipment mentioned above.However some of the Powerful health trade unions including government medical officers association and public services nurses union convey their support to  DGHS on this issue.

"As DGHS is due to received a service extension before retiring from service on 06th of August this year some trade unions are trying to prevent his re appointment by slinging mud against him over fraudulent activities he has never committed" says a spokesman of 24 union Health Services Trade Union Confederation.

Meanwhile Health Ministry  Secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathilake had  sent a letter to presidential secretary Mr.Lalith Weeratunge by stating that no fraudulent activity has occurred during purchasing of above equipment according to the initial investigations carried out  by Ministry's Special Investigations Unit.

Health Services Trade Union Confederation Invites Trade Union Alliance For A Debate

The president of Health Services Trade Union Confederation Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero has make an open invitation to leaders of Health Services Trade Union Alliance and it's allies for an open debate on  Rs.182 million corrupt deal  which the alliance said as occurred during purchasing of surgical equipment to government hospitals.

According to Muruththettuwe Thero those who are charged that there's a corrupt deal during purchasing of above equipment should come for the debate and try to prove that  without slinging mud on others.

Northern Provincial Government Docs To Strike Tomorrow(24)

Government Hospital Doctors in Northern Province are to launch an one day token strike tomorrow (24)morning requesting solutions for two demands according to Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA).A spokesman of GMOA has stated that Northern Province doctors are launching this strike by demanding immediate transfer to Jaffna Hospital director and conduct an inquiry on death threats received by doctor in Jaffna Hospital.

The one day token strike scheduled to be launched at 8 a.m tomorrow will continue till 8 a.m on Wednesday the spokesman stressed.Around 1000 doctors attached to 100 hospitals in the province will participate this strike GMOA sources said.

Fasting Month Of Ramazan Begins Tomorrow(21)

The Colombo Grand Mosque has announced today (20th) the fasting Month Of Ramazan will begin tomorrow(21) as the new moon is sighted.The Ramazan Festival falls  on 19th of August.

18 Foreign Doctors Are Trying To Get Back Their Cancelled Registration -GMOA

Around 18 foreign doctors who have lost their registration from   Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) recently are in a process of pressurizing health authorities to get  their registration back according to Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA).The SLMC cancelled the registration of these foreign doctors as they do  not having enough qualifications to practice medicine here GMOA sources said.

There are around 184 foreign doctors working in private hospitals in Sri Lanka at the moment and majority of them are not having enough qualifications to practice medicine here sources further added.

University Teachers To Boycott Marking Of Advanced Level Exam Papers

The executive committee of the Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) has yesterday (16th) decided to boycott marking of forthcoming G.C.E Advanced Level Examination Papers FUTA has announced.Meanwhile Association has also said that the ongoing strike of University Teachers which began on 04th of July will continue further till authorities meet their demands .

Health Ministry Tried To Protect Some Corrupt People -GMOA

Health Ministry has tried to protect some corrupt people attached to the health sector the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has charged  today (16).While speaking at a press briefing held at GMOA Headquarters -Colombo, secretary of GMOA Dr.Chandika Epitakaduwa has said that the way  Health Ministry has  tried to conduct a disciplinary inquiry  against Jaffna General Hospital Director who have faced allegations  over involved in fraud activities when purchasing of a generator and  a stock of iron proved that.

The GMOA has urged authorities to conduct a disciplinary inquiry against Jaffna Hospital director after she will transfer to another hospital .If no action has taken in this regard during  this week GMOA will go for a stern trade union  action he has stressed.

131 Sri Lankan Asylum Seekers Got Arrested While Fleeing To Australia

The Sri Lankan Navy and Chilaw Police had today (15) arrested 131 Sri Lankan Asylum Seekers in kalkudah and Chilaw areas  when they have tried to flee Australia from boats.Out of these asylum seekers 109 were arrested at Kalkuda in Northern Sri Lanka and 22 were arrested at Chilaw.

Among those 109 people got  arrested at Kalkuda were  101 Tamils and 08 Sinhalese People and they came from Chilaw,Kalmunai,Valachchanai,Talawakale and Kalpitiya Areas.

198 Houses In Four Districts Were Partially Damaged Due To Winds

Around 198 houses situated in 4 districts were partially damaged due to the strong winds experienced in those districts the Disaster Management Center (DMC) has said.The houses in Badulla,Monaragala,Anuradapura and Polonnaruwa districts were partially damaged according to DMC .

Meanwhile it has been reported that around 8 houses were completely destroyed during last few days due to strong winds.

Government Hospital Nurses To Be Launched Continuous Island Wide Strike From 03rd Of August

Government Hospital Nurses have decided to launch a continuous Island wide strike from 03rd of August onwards by demanding solutions for 15 of their service demands The Public Services Nurses Union has stated.According to president of Nurses Union Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero  there is  a tense situation occurred among nurses due to the Health Ministry's delay of implementing promised solutions for their demands .

As One Nurse attached to a Government Hospital need to  carry out a work load of 3 nurses due to the  shortage of nurses,they are demanding immediate solutions for long standing demands like removing salary anomalies and implementing Nurse's Constitution Venerable Ananda Thero has stressed.

22 Health Trade Unions Filed A Petion Against those Responsible For Corruption

The 22 union  Health Services Trade Union Federation (HSTUF)  had handed over a petition today (10) to Bribery And Corruption Commission on  corruption charges against former Medical Supplies Division Director Dr.Sarath Weerabandara and Trade Unionist Saman Ratnapriya.The petitioners  are charged against said officials on involved in corrupt activities during purchasing of Drugs to government hospitals.

The petition has stated that above officials were earned a large amount of extra money with help of foreign Organizations and trying to involve in administrating  work in Health Ministry.

Strong Winds Prevails Throughout The Island

Due to the activation of South Western Monsoonal Conditions strong winds currently prevails in most parts of the island to be continued further according to Meteorological Department.Most parts of the country have experienced the strong winds time to time during today (09) the department has said.

Meanwhile the authorities had issued an earth slip warnings  for  some parts belongs to Kandy,Nuwara Eliya and Kegalle Districts.

PHI Was Killed By A Resident During A Dengue Inspection

 A 52 year old Pubic Health Inspector (PHI) succumbed to his injuries this noon following a deadly assault on him by residents in a house at Kantale Area during a dengue inspection.According to Kantale Police the PHI was killed as he was attacked by a resident of the said house with a wooden pestle .

The incident happened when assassinated PHI along with other health workers gone  to a house to inspect dengue breeding places.As the residents of that house not supported the mission there was an argument between two factions and as a result PHI was killed it has been reported.

An eyewitnesses informed Police that  assassin had chased the victim long way and hit him with pestle . The critically injured PHI was rushed to Kantale Hospital where he was succumbed to his injuries.

Meanwhile the Sri Lankan Public Health Inspectors Union and Health Services Entomology Assistant Officers Association have criticized the killing of  PHI by stating if  proper security had been provided to the health staff during inspection this incident could have been avoided.

28 Sri Lankan Asylum Seekers Arrived Cocos Island

A boat carrying 28  Sri Lankan Male Asylum Seekers arrived at Cocos Island belongs to Australian Territory this morning according to reports.This boat is the fifth of it's kind arrived Australian Territory since last May.

Meanwhile another boat load of 31 Sri Lankan Asylum Seekers were  intercepted when they  arrived  Christmas Island yesterday (07th).

Drug Mafia Launched A Conspiracy Campaign To Ousted Director General Of Health Services -Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero

Those previous administrators who were punished for involved in fraud activities when importing of drugs to Sri Lanka are trying to influence Health Ministry Administration and getting back to their previous positions again claimed Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero the President Of Public Services Nurses Union and Joint Convener of Health Services Trade Union Federation compromising 21 unions said yesterday(04).

The first step of this conspiracy launched by  previous administrators is the ousting of current Director General Of Health Services (DGHS)Dr.Ajith Mendis who is awaiting another service extension after ending his current term in this August while  Drug Manufacturing Companies,some Trade Union Activists  and Non Governmental Organizations are backing this conspiracy Venerable Muruththetuwe Thero has stressed.He claimed that Dr.Mendis is a honest and dedicated administrator who is serving for the development of Sri Lankan health sector for around 3 decades.

Addressing a special media briefing held at Abayaramaya Temple in Colombo yesterday Muruththetuwe Thero further said that the 21 union Health Services Trade Union Federation will fight against this move of ousting DGHS from this moment ."As an experienced personal in health sector for more than four decades i know who is honest and who is involved in fraud activities  "he stressed.

Speaking at the briefing the joint convener of Trade Union Federation Ravi Kumudesh said that supporting the current DGHS Dr.Mendis who is due to appoint for the post for the third term is a need of the hour as Drug Mafia trying to take control of Health Ministry Administration .The President of Health Services Entomology Assistant Officers Union Najith Sumanasena hasalso addressed the briefing.

Ceylon Electricity Board Workers Launched 24 Hour Strike

Around 15,000 workers attached to Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) launched a 24 hour token strike from midnight today(03) till midnight tomorrow(04) requesting to settle their salary disparities.The Ceylon Electricity Board Joint Trade Union Alliance which organized this token strike warned public that there may be power failures during the strike period.

Around 42 Houses Damaged Last Night Due To Strong Winds

Around 42 houses throughout the island have been damaged last night due to strong winds experienced these days the Disaster Management Center(DMC) has announced today(03). One person died in Awissawella and around 8 houses  had  partially damaged and 1 house completely damaged in Nuwara Eliya District according to DMC.

Amongst other partially damaged houses were 16 Houses in Gampaha District,3 in Bambalapitiya-Colombo and 15 Houses in Kurunagala District.

Meanwhile the Meteorological Department has stated the prevailing strong winds will continue throughout the Island further accompany by occasional showers.

766 Houses And Institutes Maintaining Dengue Breeding Places Were Fined

The Courts have fined a sum of Rs.2,898,000 from 766 Residents and Institute Owners   who are maintaining dengue mosquito breeding places in their back yards during Island Wide raids carried out by Public Health Inspectors last week.The raids were carried out between 25th Of June to 29th of June according to Sri Lanka Public Health Inspectors Union.

During these raids around 133,404 houses and institutes were checked the union further said.