Severe Drug Shortage In Pharmacies

More than 200 medicinal drugs including life saving drugs are out of stock in both government and private pharmacies throughout the island these days causing severe hardships for patients purchasing drugs from pharmacies it has been reported.according to sources some of these out of stock drugs are not even available in government hospitals these days.

Due to the delay of supplying these out of stock drugs to pharmacies the drug shortage has become worse  pharmacists said.the available variety of drugs too are in  short supply.

Surgeries Postponed Due To Non Availability Of Schools For Doctors Children

Around 100 surgeries and 200-250 clinical checkups in government hospitals have been postponed today (28) due to the absense of some 200 MBBS Doctors including around 25 consultant surgeons who were gathered Colombo this noon to discuss on non availability of schools for their children.these doctors representing government hospitals in 11 districts hold a special discussion with Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) members on this issue.

Minor Cabinet Reshuffle Added Five New Ministers To The Cabinet

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakshe has made a minor Cabinet Reshuffle today(28) with ten  Cabinet Ministers,Six Deputy Ministers and two project ministers were sworn in at Temple Treas.Ministereal Posts of Power and Energy,Enviornment ,Investment Promotions,Eduction and Petroleum were changed and Parliamentarians  Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena,Jayaratne Herath ,Duminda Dissanayake ,Basir Segu Daud and Vijith Vijayamuni Soysa were newly appointed Ministers to the Cabinet.

The newly appointed ministers,deputy ministers and project ministers are as follows.


Ministers-
Susil Premajayantha – Environment and Renewable Energy Minister
Patali Champika Ranwaka – Technology, Research and Atomic Energy Minister
Pavithra Wanniarachchi – Power and Energy Minister
Anura Priyadarshana Yapa - Petroleum Industries Minister
Lakshman Seneviratne – Sugar Industries Minister
Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena – Investment Promotion Minister
Jayaratne Herath – Botanical Gardens and Public Recreation
Duminda Dissanayake – Educational Service Minister
Basir Segu Daud - Productivity Promotion Minister
Vijith Vijayamuni Soysa - Wildlife Conservation Minister

Deputy Ministers-
S.M. Chandrasena – Economic Development Deputy Minister
Susantha Punchinilame – Economic Development Deputy Minister
Faizer Mustapha – Investment Promotion Deputy Minister
M.L.A.M. Hizbullah – Economic Development Deputy Minister
A.R.M. Abdul Kader – Environment and Renewable Energy Deputy Minister
Sarath Kumara Gunaratne - Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Deputy Minister


Project Ministers-
Rohitha Abeygunawardena – Ports and Highways
Nirmala Kothalawala – Ports and Highway

A Cabinet Reshuffle Is Due Tomorrow(28)

A cabinet reshuffle is due to take place tomorrow(28) morning with several ministries are expected to be changed the presidential media has announced.several new ministers are also expected to be appointed during this reshuffle sources said.

A new Prime Minister is also expected to be named due to the poor health of current prime minister D.M Jayaratne sources added.the current cabinet comprises of  9 senior ministers,49 cabinet ministers and 31 deputy ministers.

Health Ministry Temporarily Suspended Use Of "Meropenam"Injections After Glass Piece Was Found In One Vial

The Health Ministry has yesterday (24) ordered to temporarily suspend the use of life saving anti biotic injection vial "Meropenam" in  all government hospitals and pharmacies island wide after a glass piece contained injection vial  was found from  Marawila Base Hospital .the glass piece contained "Meropenam" injection vial was found on Wednesday which is due to expire in June this year.

This is the second occasion that a glass piece contained injection vial has found during last few weeks since a glass piece was found in "Cloxacillin" injection vial stored in south colombo teaching hospital on last December.the contaminated injection vial was belongs to the batch number 170340 of the stock of "Meropenam" injection vials imported from an indian drug company .

The  contaminated injection vial was sent to the national drug quality assurance laboratory for further tests .

Meanwhile the  circular of suspending the said injection vials was issued last evening to all government hospitals and pharmacies according to health ministry sources.also the ministry officials have decided to inform on this glass piece contained injection vial to the indian government,health minister and drug authorities as soon as possible according to a mutual agreement reached between sri lankan and indian health ministries.

New International Air Port To Be Open On March

The newly built Mattala International Air Port in Hambanthota District (Southern Sri Lanka)is scheduled to be  inaugurated on 18th of March 2013 the Minister Of civil aviation MP Priyankara Jayarathne has announced today (24) in Parliament.

Government Has Raised The Age Limit Of Hose Maids To Saudi Arabia As 25 Years

The Government has decided to raise the minimum age limit for females who are going to work in Saudi Arabia as house maids to 25 years.this decision has taken after the much criticized execution of Sri Lankan maid rizana nafeek who worked in saudi arabia on 09th of January after she was found guilty of killing an infant under her care .

Following her execution human right groups and women's organization both here and abroad pressurized  Sri Lankan government to re-considering the sending of  Sri Lankan females to Saudi Arabia as hose maids.

Island Wide Search operations To Tackle Quack Doctors

An island wide search operations are to be conducted  in first week of February to arrest  around 40,000  quack doctors  practicing throughout the country according to Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA).the police department is due to carryout these search operations with the assistance of ministry of health.

The police ha s already  set up an information office at Mirihana Police Station in view of  receiving information on quack doctors.

The ministry of health has also decided to tightened the laws related to punishing of quack doctors and according to ministry sources under the new law a quack will be received  minimum of 5 year imprisonment .

A Doctor Arrested For Selling Banned Drugs To His Patients

The Negombo Police has  arrested a MBBS Doctor today(20) who has sold banned pharmaceutical drugs to   drug addicts and running an abortion center near Negombo Area .this doctor has said to be sold Psychiatric Drug  "Sudole" which are widely used by some youth as an addictive drug without diagnosing the patients.the arrested doctor has also engaged in treating drug addicts it has been revealed.

The police has also found 15  national identity cards   belongs to men and women and a stock of banned drugs from  doctor's house .the identity cards believe to be belongs to women who came to doctor's abortion center seeking  abortions .

Bribary Case Was Filed Against New Chief Justice

A financial fraud  case was filed at Bribery and Corruption Commission this evening against the newly appointed chief justice Mohan Pieris according to the commission sources.a trade unionist attached to leftist Janatha Wimukthi Peramuna(JVP) vasantha samarasinha had filed this case against new chief justice by stating  he has made the government a loss of Rs.75 million  during his tenure of office as attorney general.

Dr.Mrs.Bandaranaike Declared She Is Still The Legitamate Chief Justice Of Sri Lanka

Although president Mahinda Rajapaksha has appointed a new chief justice this noon the 43rd chief justice of Sri Lanka Dr.Mrs.Shirani Bandaranaike has stated this evening that she is still the legitimate chief justice in the country as both supreme and appeal courts recently gave her the verdict that the impeachment motion passed against her by the government was an illegal one.

Speaking to the media while vacating her official residence at Colombo 7 this evening she has said that the main reason behind  vacating her  official residence is to prevent occurring any violence among public under present circumstances.Dr.Mrs.Bandaranaike has also said that she didn't take a single cent from public money neither done anything wrong during her 32 year old career  as charged in impeachment motion passed against her at Parliament last Friday . "although  justice was not with me today the truth will revealed in near future" she has stressed.

Earlier on Sunday Mrs.Bandaranaike has requested the inspector general of police to tighten her security soon after received the  removal notice from chief justice  post from president.however inspector general of police after considering the request has replied her that the police department only able to provide her security till 6 p.m today.due to the  growing concerns over her security  after  new chief justice was appointed the first female chief justice of sri lanka Dr.Mrs.Bandaranike has revealed that now the security of  her family lies on the hands of  general public.

Meanwhile several court cases scheduled to be hear on number 502 court room of supreme court complex were postponed today due to the absence of dr.mrs.bandaranaike who was scheduled to sit down on the bench of judges of these cases.

Mohan Pieris Sworn In As New Chief Justice

Former Attorney General Mohan Pieris had sworn in before president mahinda rajapakshs as Sri Lanka's 44th Chief Justice this noon after parliamentary council has  recommended him for the top judicial post.despite criticisms from  opposition parties and intellectuals on  the way  government has removed chief justice Dr.Mrs.Shirani Bandaranaike from the post mohan pieris sworn in at temple treas amidst tight security.

After sworn in ceremony the newly appointed chief justice has visited the Supreme Court complex this evening.however largest trade union of sri lankan lawyers the bar association of Sri Lanka boycotted the sworn in ceremony as previously announced.

President Nominated Former Attorney General As A Nominee For The Chief Justice Post

President Mahinda Rajapaksha has today (14)nominated former attorney general Mohan Pieris as his nominee for the post of chief justice to the parliamentary council government sources said.parliamentary council is to meet tomorrow(15) to appoint a suitable candidate for the chief justice sources further added.

Meanwhile  two opposition members representing the council were announced today that they will not  participating the council meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow to select a new chief justice.

Chief Justice To Remain In Her Post Despite Being Received The Removal Notice

Despite being   received the removal notice from the post from president yesterday Chief Justice Dr.Mrs.Shirani bandaranaike has not willing to vacate her post based on the decision made by the  supreme  court  declaring  the impeachment motion and parliamentary select committee report of it  as illegal.

Meanwhile Dr.mrs bandaranaike has  requested inspector general of police today (14)to tighten her security due to the present crisis occured between juiciary and executive it has been reported.mrs.bandaranike has also scheduled to sit on the judge bench which is set to hear cases next week sources revealed.

President Mahinda Rajapaksha has sent a removal notice to chief justice yesterday morning indicating her removal from the post stated as based on the request made by parliament to do so.an impeachment motion against chief justice was approved by the parliament  last friday with 155 parliamnetarians voted in favor and 49 voted against it presidential sources said.however the main opposition united national party and other opposition parties claimed that parilament has only approved a motion srequesting president  to appoint an independent committee to inquire on findings of parliamentary select committe on impeachment motion against chief justice but not to remove her from the post .

President Signed The Removal Notice Of Chief Justice

President Mahinda Rajapaksha has signed the removal notice of Sri Lanka's first female chief justice Dr.Mrs.Shirani Bandaranaike this morning ratifying  Parliament's vote to impeach her according to government sources.the removal notice was sent to the official residence of chief justice sources further added.

The Parliament has approved the findings of Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) which inquire on impeachment motion against chief justice Dr.Mrs.Bandaranaike with 155 parliament mp's voted in favor and 49 voted against it.

Many western countries including USA,UK and Commonwealth criticized Sri Lankan government on it's decision to impeach chief justice and appealed to hold a fair trial on impeachment.International Committee On Jurists too condemned the move.meanwhile the Bar Association Of Sri Lanka the biggest trade union of  sri lankan lawyers recently  vowed publicly that the association will not welcomed the new chief justice under present circumstance while lawyers collective has called all supreme court judges not to recognize newly appointed chief justice.

Meanwhile lawyers were engaged in several protest campaigns during last week opposing parliamentary debate on impeachment motion against chief justice by  stating according to supreme court's interpretation of sri lankan constitution parliamentary select committee has no authority to inquire on chief justice.

Impeachment Motion Against Chief Justice Has Passed In Parliament

The controversial impeachment motion against Chief Justice Dr.Mrs.Shirani Bandaranaike whas passed today(11) in Parliament after debated in two days with 155 MP's vote for the motion while 49 MP's voted against the motion.20 MP's were absent during the voting.the MP's of main opposition United National Party(UNP) and leftist Janatha Wimukthi Peramuna walked out from walked out from the parliament during the voting.

 The resolution passed by parliament today is due to send to  the president for future course of action. 

Sri Lanka Recalled Ambassador To Saudi Arabia Over Rizan's Execution.

Sri Lankan Government has recalled it's ambassador to Saudi Arabia with immediate effect as a move to express the country's displeasure over the execution of Sri Lankan Maid Rizana Nafeek .Rizana was executed yesterday near Riyadh in Saudi Arabia despite the growing number of appeals from Sri Lanka and in other countries .

Heavy Traffic Reported In Colombo Due To Lawyers Protest

A heavy traffic was reported in entry roads to Supreme Court this morning due to protest campaign organized by lawyers regarding  the parliamentary debate on impeachment motion against  chief justice .

Meanwhile similar protest campaigns were conducted by several organizations throughout the city.

Government Professions Supplementary To Medicine To Launch 3 day Strike Tomorrow

Government Professions Supplementary To Medicine(PSM'S) have decided to launch an island wide three day strike from tomorrow (09) by demanding solutions to 10 of their service demands.the three day strike of government PSM's will commenced on 8 a.m tomorrow till 8 a.m on Saturday(12) according to Joint Council Of Government Professions Supplementary To Medicine.

The PSM'S compromising government pharmacists,radiographers ,medical laboratory technologists(MLT's),Physiotherapists and occupational therapists are launching this strike demanding 10 of their service demands including granting overtime,accidental and extra payments,granting communication allowance to PSM's,recruiting unemployed PSM  Graduates to state sector and implementing delayed promotions of grade 1 PSM  officers.

Due to humanitarian reasons PSM'S  attached to Castle Street Women's Hospital,De Soyza Maternity,Sirimavo Bandaranaike memorial children's hospital,cancer hospital,maharagama and blood bank will not participating tomorrow strike according to Joint Council.

Parliamentary Debate On Impeachment Motion Against CJ To Be Taken On Thursday And Friday

All  Political Party Leaders have today (07) decided to conduct the parliamentary debate on impeachment motion against Chief Justice Dr.Mrs.Shirani Bandaranaike on this Thursday(10) and Friday(11) while vote will be taken at 6.30 p.m on Friday (11)this decision was taken at a special meeting of the leaders of all political parties held at parliamentary premises today.

Met Department Warned Fishermen In Matara And Potuvil To Reftain From Fishing Due To Low Preassure Area

The Metereological Department has warned fishermen in coastal areas of Matara to Potuvil to refrain from going to sea these fays due to the low preassure area developed in bay of bengal.the low preassure area in bay of bengal is in 450 km of Potuvil and it may cause rough sea waves the department has added.

Due to the influence of low preassure area showers with gusty winds will continue throught the island furher met department has said.

Price Of A 12.5 KG Gas Cylinder Goes Up

The price of  a 12.5 KG domestic LP Gas Cylinder has increased by Rs.150 with effect from midnight tonight according to consumer affairs authority .according to the new price revision the price of a LP gas cylinder will be Rs.3396.

Gas Companies were earlier requested consumer affairs authority to increase the price of a gas cylinder.

Court Of Appeal Has Stated PSC Has No Legal Authority To Inquire On Chief Justice

The court of appeal today (03) has stated that a parliamentary select committee(PSC) has no legal authority to inquire on allegations against chief justice .the court has satted this by  reading out the Supreme Court intepretation on constitution.

This was revealed  when two petitions filed by Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayaka were taken up at the Appeal Court today.

The Appeal court further explained that allegations against a judge could only be investigated by an entity with judicial authority. If not the authority of the whole judiciary of the country could be threatened, the Court added.

PSC was established under the standing order 78(A) and the aforementioned order is not a law, the Appeal Court observed.

Court has stated that in order to inquire allegations the Chief Justice, Parliament needs to appoint and committee or an entity endowed with judicial authority.

Government And UNP Members Of Parliamentary Select Committee To Boycott Court Proceedings

Government Members as well as main opposition United National Party (UNP) members who were members of parliamentary select committee (PSC)which investigated impeachment charges against chief justice have decided not to appear before Court Of Appeal tomorrow(03) although received notices to appear in court.

However TNA and Jvp members who were in PSC have decided to appear before court tomorrow.