Colombo National Hospital Doctors To Launch A Token Strike Tomorrow(01)

All Doctors attached to Colombo National Hospital has decided to launch a one day token strike from 8 a.m tomorrow(01) to 8 a.m on Saturday (02) by demanding solutions for  two demands.

Around 1000 doctors attached to Colombo National Hospital launching this strike by demanding correcting irregularities of  annual transfer list of doctors and suspending orders given by health secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathiake to release around 450 doctors based on out dated 2012 annual transfer list according to Colombo national  hospital branch of Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA)all  OPD (Out Door Patients Department) clinical treatment as well as  routine surgeries and treatment will not be performed during strike period while emergencies will be performed as usual branch union officials said.

If the solutions for two demands not given withing next two days national hospital doctors will launch a continuous strike from coming Monday(04) officials further added.

Supreme Court Suggests Reducing The Size Of Health Warning Pictures In Cigarette Packs

The Supreme Court today(28) has suggests Health Ministry and Ceylon Tobacco Corporation to settle health warning issue by reducing the size of health warning pictures proposed to be appeared in Cigarette Packs.Court has given both parties to settle this matter till 28th of March.

Tobacco Company has  filed a case against Health Ministry opposing the printing of health warning pictures in cigarette packs which earlier rejected by appeals court.

President Has Instructed Education Minister To Introduce Medical Fitness For School Sports Activities

President Mahinda Rajapaksha today(27) has instructed Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena to work out a system to subject students selected for sports activities to medical fitness first.president has instructed this following the death of a school girl who was collapsed and died yesterday (26)whilst participating the school sports meet .

The school girl reside in Mawanaella(Kandy District) was collapsed during running 5000 meter race at sports meet of her school  and was declared dead after she was admitted to the hospital.

As majority of skilled  Government Hospital Intensive Care Unit(ICU) nurses are applying hospital jobs in Canada and other western countries functioning of around 90 hospital ICU's are in question according to hospital sources.according to hospital authorities a group of ICU nurses have already left western countries to serve hospital ICU's there while a large number of skilled ICU nurses are participating IELTS English examination seeking  foreign employment.

This situation also worsen the severe shortage of nurses in government hospitals as only 24,000 nurses are employed in hospitals  while around 36,000 nurses needed to fill the vacancies.

Sri Lanka Protested Over Channel-4 Documentary

Sri Lanka has officially protested against screening of Channel-4 documentary "No Fire Zone-The Killing Fields In Sri Lanka"which is due to be screened this Friday during United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)meeting in Geneva ,Switzerland.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Switzerland Ravinatha Ariyasnha has protested the screening of above documentary through a letter sent to head of UNHRC in which he mentioned the documentary as contains a narrative that is "discredited, uncorroborated and unsubstantiated.

Two Died ,Seven Injured Due To A Lorry Accident

Two persons died and seven others were injured due to a lorry accident occurred on the Bandaragama-Piliyandala Road early this morning.two persons died upon admission to the Colombo South Hospital according to hospital sources.the accident has occurred when the lorry has skidded off the road at Kindelpitiya Junction in Bandaragama-Piliyandala Road.

All Cough Syrups Containing "Dextromethorphan"Suspended

According to the recommendation of World Health Organization(WHO) the Ministry Of Health has temporarily  suspended the usage of all cough syrups containing "Dextromethorphan"the ministry has announced today(23).

Prices Of Petrol And Diesel Increased

The prices of   90 Octane Petrol,95 Octane Petrol and Auto and Super Diesel were increased with effect from midnight yesterday(23) according to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation(CPC).according to the new price increase  a litre of  90 Octane Petrol was increased by Rs.3 (Rs.162) 95 Octane Petrol by Rs.3(Rs.170) Auto Diesel by Rs.6(Rs.121) Super by Rs.3 (Rs.145).

Government Doctors Wants Health Minister To Uphold Amendment On Removing Surgical Part From MBBS Degree

The Government Medical Officers Forum(GMOF) has informed the Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena today (21) that around 14,000 graded Medical Officers island wide will be withdrawn from their hospital services soon if the Health Authorities failed to uphold the amendment to the Sri Lankan Medical Ordinance on removing surgical part from MBBS(Bachelor Of Medicine Bachelor Of Surgery) Degree awarded to Graduate Doctors with immediate effect.

During the special meeting held between a 15 member delegation of  GMOF Doctors and Health Minister at the Health Ministry Premises this evening the doctors have pointed out that the amendment to the Medical Ordinance on removing surgical part from MBBS Degree should be withdrawn with immediate effect.

Also the team of doctors proposed a plan to give Grade 1 Promotions for the Grade 2 Medical Officers who have completed six years of service.

Cabinet Has Decided To Prohibit The Sale Of State And Private Land To Foreigners

The Cabinet has decided to prohibit the  outright sale of state and private land to foreigners Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has stated today(21).speeking at the cabinet press  briefing held in Government Information Department he has said the decision was taken during yesterday's Cabinet Meeting.

Government Has Recalled Sri Lankan Ambassador To Italy

The Government has recalled it's ambassador to Italy Mr.Asitha Perera with immediate effect following the complaints made against him by Sri Lankans living in Italy according to Sri Lankan Foreign Employment Bureau.

A large number of Sri Lankans living  in Italy are said to be  not happy over ambassador's  activities it has been reported..a group of Sri Lankans staged a protest campaign in front of Sri Lankan Embassy in Italy yesterday according to foreign media reports.

Government PSM'S To Launch Two Day Island Wide Strike This Week

The Professions Supplementary To Medicine(PSM's) attached to government hospitals have decided to launch two day island wide strike from 8 a.m Thursday(21) Morning till 8 a.m on Saturday(23) by demanding the implementation of circular issued by treasury on increasing their allowances.

According to Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine although treasury has issued the said circular on 27th of January this year recommending increasing of overtime,on call and emergency allowances the  health ministry continuously delaying the implementation of that circular without a proper reason."therefore we have no other option then going for a strike action "the secretary of joint council Mr.Saman Jayasekere has said.

PSM'S compromising government pharmacists,radiographers,medical laboratory technologists(MLT'S),physiotherapists and occupational therapists are due to participate this strike action while only emergency services due to be maintained during strike period.

Due to humanitarian reasons PSM'S attached to Lady Ridgway Childrens Hospital,De Soyza Maternity,Castle Street Maternity,Cancer and Sirimawo Bandaranaike Childrens Hospitals are not participating this  strike jayasekere has stressed.

Large Number Of Drug Varieties Out Of Stock In Government And Private Sectors

Around 20 drug varieties  in Government Hospitals and more then 200 drug varieties  in government and private pharmacies are out of stock these days according to health sources.due to this drug shortage patients are facing numerous difficulties sources added.

 This drug shortage occurred due to the delay of importing these drugs to the country sources further said.

New Captains Of Sri Lankan Test,ODI And T2O Cricket Squads Have Announced

All Rounder Angelo Mathews has been appointed as Sri Lanka's new Test and ODI Cricket Captain while new comer Dinesh Chandimal has been appointed as T20 Captain Sri Lanka Cricket has stated today (14).

New T20 Captain Dinesh Chandimal has been appointed as deputy capatain of both Test and ODI Squads while fast bowler Lasith Malinga has appointed as deputy capatin of the T20 Squad.

100 Nurses Dashed 100 Coconuts Against a Hospital Matron'

Around 100 nurses attached to Mahamodara Teaching Hospital(Southern Province) dashed 100 coconuts in front of gatabaru temple in deniyaya area this morning against matron of the hospital who they alleged  as behaving in a wicked manner.the group of nurses dashed the coconuts while they are on their way to work hospital sources said.


Meanwhile The Public  Services Nurses Union has decided to launch a continuous strike from this Tuesday demanding the removal of  said matron however suspended  the strike action till this Friday after health ministry officials have intervened in to the matter.

5000 Metric Tonnes Of Substandard Diesel Imported By LIOC Found Contaminated

Around 5000 metric tonnes of substandard diesel imported by Lanka Indian Oil Company(LIOC) has been rejected by Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited(CPSTL) pending further tests it has been reported. laboratory tests conducted on diesel samples taken  from the shipment of fuel had confirmed that they are substandard according to spokesman of CPSTL .

The contaminated stock of diesel was imported from a Singapore based company the spokesmen has stated.altogether LIOC has imported 40,000 metric tonnes of fuel which contained contaminated fuel.

Recently state owned Ceylon petroleum corporation has also imported substandard fuel which a large number of vehicles got damaged after using it.

ICC World Cup Cricket-Sri Lankan Women Cricketers To Take Australians In To Day's Important Match

Sri Lankan Women's Cricket Team which stormed the women's cricket world last week by beating top two teams in a row at the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup Cricket Tournament will take Australian Women's Cricket Team in today's super six match.after lost the first super six match to New Zealand Team  last Friday today's match is very important for the Sri Lankans to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.

Sri Lankan Women's Cricket Team has defeated world number one England Team and Indian Team during preliminary stages and seal their place at  super six round of the tournament first time in team's  16 year old history.the match between Sri Lanka and Australia is scheduled to be commenced in 9 a.m local time  at brabourne cricket stadium in Mumbai.

Ten Drug Varieties Are Out Of Stock In Govt.Hospitals

Around ten essential drug varieties  are reported as not available in government hospitals including karapitiya teaching hospital these days the hospital sources said.drugs prescribed for diabetes ,hypertension and cholesterol are among these out of stock drug items hospitals sources further added.

Nursing Staff Of Mahamaodara Hospital To Launch An Island Wide Strike

The Nursing Staff attached to mahamodara teaching hospital (southern province) has decided to launch an island wide continuous strike from next Tuesday(12) demanding the removal of matron of the hospital who has  accused as harassing the nursing staff .

According to the nurses in  hospital there were 3 inquiries conducted by health ministry alone against the said matron during last year based on the complaints made by public services nurses union.however the authorities have failed to implement a single inquiry  report the nurses stressed.nursing staff attached to the mahamodera hospital launched a three hour strike last Tuesday demanding the removal of  matron.

Priavte Buses To Launch An Island Wide Strike After 15th Of February?

The private bus owners association has decided to launch an island wide strike without prior notice after 15th of february if the government failed to grant a price hike in bus fares else some kind of concession according to president of private bus owners association gamunu wijerathne.

Due to the  rising of fuel and motor spare part prices private bus owners needs  some kind of concession to avoid income loss he has stressed.

Supreme Court To Appoint A Fuller Bench On Case Of Chief Justice

The supreme court has today(06) decided to refer the case on challenging the appointment of Mohan Pieris as  chief justice to a fuller bench.supreme court has decided to appoint more than three judges to the fuller bench on this case according to the article 132(3) 11 of the constitution.

The case is scheduled to be summoned on 05th of March.

Medical Administrators Engaged In Private Practice Are In Increase

Around 25 Medical Administrators  are  reported as doing priavte parctice which is prohibited for them through a health ministry circular.a majority of these administrators are from southern province while some are attached to the health department sources added.

Some medical adminsitrators are reported as using their official vehicles for the  private parctice sources further said.

A Large Number Of Medical Officers Not Able To Apply For Annual Transfers ?.

Over 4000 medical officers island wide who are in the annual transfer list issued by the Ministry Of Health are facing severe difficulties due to the short period of time  given to them by  authorities to send applications.usually around  two month period has allocated 10 days are given for sending applications which is not enough at all according to provincial medical officers.

According to Helath Ministry Web Site medical officers entitled to this years's annual transfers should send their filled online applications by today(01) and a copy of that on line applciation should be  posted to the minsitry on or before 06th of February.however it's not possible for all medical officers to send these applications on line during the given period due to the lack of inernet facilities rural areas are having medical officers stressed.

A large number of medical offcers have phoned to the ministry today (01)and criticized the short period of time given to them for applying annual tarnsfers.