Private Bus Opeartors To Launch An Island Wide Continuous Strike From Midnight Tonight

The Lanka Private Bus Operators Association(LPBOA) has decided to launch an island wide continuous strike  from midnight today(10) by demanding several service demands including increasing   bus fares.meanwhile other private bus operators pledged that they will not participate for the strike.

However a large number of private bus owners belongs to the striking association Lanka Private Bus Operators Association .the president of LPBOA Gamunu Wijerathne has said that the bus strike will go ahead as planned as today's  talks on their demands with authorities have not produced any results.

Low Quality Dextran-40 Saline Bottles Were Distributed To Government Hospitals

The Low quality Dextran-40 Saline Bottles have been distributed among government hospitals island wide according to Health Services Trade Union Alliance(HSTUA).a large amount of by waste and white particles were found inside of several saline bottles the alliance has said.

The said saline is using mainly to treat dengue patients and patients with accidental injuries.

The dextran-40 saline bottles were imported from Thai drug company in February this year and 5000 saline bottles were imported as another 2900 bottles were in medical supplies division stores at that time  the president of HSTUA Saman ratnapriya has said during a press briefing held in Colombo today(08).

Ratnapriya has appealed the health authorities to investigate on this stock of low quality saline bottles and take a stern action against those who responsible for importing them.

No Sri Lankans Among The Injured In Mahabodhi Temple Blasts In India

No Sri Lankans were among the injured in the multiple bomb blasts of Mahabodhi Temple in India's Bihar State this morning according to Sri Lankan High Commission in India.a Buddhist monk and a pilgrim have been rushed to the hospital due to the bomb blasts in Mahabodhi Temple in Buddagaya occurred early this morning.

There's No damage to the temple shrine as the exploded bombs were of low density according to the foreign media reports.police have been investigating to arrest the culprits who were responsible for the attacks reports further said.

Meanwhile while condemning the terrorist attack on Mahabodhi Temple in Buddhagaya Sri Lankan government has requested sri lankan pilgrims to avoid visiting the temple shrine during next week due to investigations carried over on today's blasts.

Police Arrested Two Persons Transporting Rare Origin Leaves

The Police Special Task Force in southern province has arrested two persons today (06) who have transporting a rare origin of  "vallapatta' leaves which use to make most expensive perfumes in western countries  .the stock of leaves the two suspects transported weighing 4 kilos and 900 gram mes and  worth rs.73,500 according to police.

Eleeven Railway Trade Unions To Launch A 48 Hour Strike Tomorrow

Eleven Railway Trade Unions have decided to launch a 48 hour rail strike from midnight tomorrow(07) by demanding few of their service demands including a pay hike according to Railways Professional Trade Union Alliance.

The 3 hour discussion  held yesterday on  railway trade unions demands ended without a proper solution the alliance has said.

Government Professions Supplementary To Medicine Are To Launch An Island Wide Work To Rule Campaign

The Professions Supplementary To Medicine(PSM'S) attach to government hospitals are to launch an island wide continuous work to rule campaign from next Tuesday (09) by demanding solutions for five of their service demands according to Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine.

Government Hospital PSM'S are demanding solutions for five demands including recruiting unemployed PSM graduates to government hospitals and giving the delayed promotions of special grade PSM officers the Secretary  of  the Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine saman jayasekera has said.

Meanwhile A meeting on PSM's demands is scheduled to be held next Monday (08)between health ministry secretary dr.nihal jayathilake and PSM union officials on their demands at the Health Ministry.if the talks failed to address their demands the trade union action will continue he has stressed

The PSM'S compromising pharmacists,radiographers,medical laboratory Technologists(MLT's),physiotherapists and occupational therapists are to participate this work to rule campaign.

Sri Lankan Cricket To Inquire On Sri Lankan A Crickerter Who Tried To Open The Cabin Door Mistakenly During A Flight

The Sri Lankan Cricket Board has today (03) instructed the retired senior superintendent of police(SSP) Lakshman De Silva to conduct an inquiry in to the incident involved by Sri Lankan A Cricketer and son of cabinet minister Keheliya Rambukwella ,Ramith Rambukwella taken place inside British airways flight to London on Monday night.

Rambukwella has said to be attempted to open the cabin door of the plane by thinking it as a  toilet door when the flight was at 35,000feet high reports said.he was said to be under influence of liquor during the  incident . rambukwella who has a apologized passengers and flight crew later  over the incident which they  have accepted in faith.both local and foreign media were given a wide publicity in to this incident.

All Children Under The Age Of One Year Scheduled To Be Immunized With Extra Measles Vaccine

The Epidemiology Unit has declared this Friday(05) as a "Special Measles Vaccination Day" on immunizing children of the age group 06-12 months (one year) with an extra measles vaccine  to combat the measles epidemic currently prevails in the island.

According to the epidemiology unit around 600 children infected with measles were reported during first six months of this year and its  5 folds more than  the number of child measles patients reported during last year.out of this number 60%  of patients were less then one year old epidemiologists said.
"due to this situation we have decided to declare this special measles vaccine immunization day " a senior epidemiologist has said.

At present measles vaccine is given to the children completed one year as a combined vaccine MMR(Measles,Mums and Rubella) and it's coverage among local children stands as 99-100% .however due to some reason those who received the MMR Vaccine too have developed measles he has stressed.

The Epidemiology Unit Of Sri Lanka has appealed mothers to bring their infants age between 06 to 12 months to the nearest MOH office on this Friday and  vaccinate extra measles vaccine to avoid spreading measles among local child population.

15,670 Dengue Patients Were Reported In First Six Months Of This Year

During last 6 months 15,670 dengue patients have been reported throughout the island according to the Epidemiology Unit.out of this number 42.57%were reported from western province epidemiologists said.

However  the number of dengue deaths occurred  this year  is much lower then last year the epidemiologists have stressed.

Government Has Spent Rs.33.56 Million To Import BTI Bacteria From Cuba-Deputy Health Minister

Government has spent Rs.33.56 million to import 10,000 Liters of BTI Bacteria from Cuba two years back to use in National Dengue Control Programme although health authorities have now stating it not suits for Sri Lankan conditions deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanyake has said.according to the statistics government has spent Rs.3356 per BTI Liter he has stressed.

The Health Ministry has spent Rs.400 million last year for Dengue Control activities minister has revealed.

Stating on media queries on health ministry's decision on not issuing details of dengue deaths to the media deputy health minister has said the reason behind this is it will badly effect tourism in the country.if the total number of dengue deaths issued to the media some  tourists may mislead on the real situation and avoid visiting Sri Lanka minister has said .

In the year 2009 around 300 dengue deaths were reported per around 35,000 dengue patients but now dengue deaths are restricted under 50 deaths so far this year he has revealed.deputy health minister made these remarks during his address on Public Discussion on Dengue held at Jayawardena Center in Colombo -07 yesterday(26).

Dental Drug Shortage Expands Dental Filling Awaiting Lists In Government Dental Clinics

The Awaiting Lists of normal dental fillings and Nerve Fillings carried out in more than 100 government dental clinics island wide and in only Government Dental Hospital In Sri Lanka Colombo Dental Institute  are at risk of expanding 2 to 3 months further due to the severe shortage of Dental Drugs and Surgical  Government Dental Surgeons Association has said.

 Six  months long awaiting lists are there for  both Normal and Nerve Dental Fillings in Government Dental Clinics at present the president of Government Dental Surgeons Association Dr.Ananda Ratnayaka has said.a severe drug shortage including Euginol,Composite Bonding,GIC,Mercury use for Amalgum filling mixture and 0.5 mili meter stainless steel wires are out of stock these days according to Dr.Ratnayake,

Due to this Dental Surgeons in Government Hospitals have restricted performing normal and nerve dental fillings he has stressed.if the surgeons stopped performing all dental fillings and dental care activities due to the drug shortage dental patients will face enormous difficulties as they have to spend Rs.500-1000 per normal dental filling and rs.4000-10,000 per nerve filling if goes to
 private hospitals and dental clinics.

Petroleum Corporation Has Rejected A Shipment Contained Sub Standard Diesel Arrived From Dubai

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation(CPC) has send back a ship contained 40,000 metric tonnes of sub standard Diesel arrived at the Colombo Harbor  from Dubai on last Saturday(22).the consignment of substandard Diesel in the said ship was subjected to thorough tests and inspections and results shown it contained substandard Diesel  the CPC sources said.

After the tests the supplier has agreed to take back that substandard stock of Diesel  and supply a new quality stock of Diesel sources added.due to the rejection of 40,000 metric tonnes of sub standard Diesel there is no shortage of Diesel in the country at present sources further said.

Disaster Managment Center Has Advised People Around Kelani River To Be Vigilant In Rising Water Levels

The Disaster Management Center(DMC) has advised the people living around the Kelani River to be vigilant as spill gates in Castlereagh Reservoir will be opened and water levels are expected to  rise.

Yesterday(22) Disaster Management Center has advised the people using water in Mahaveli River at Peradeniya ,Gampola and Katugastota Areas to be vigilant as the spill gates in Kotmale Reservoir have been opened.

Meanwhile the Met Department has said showers will be occurred at times in Sabaragamuwa,Western,Central and Southern Provinces and may have extended to North Western Province too. some ares will be experienced heavy showers up to 100 mile meters met department has said.

Met Deparatment Requesting Fishing Community To Refrain From Fishing Rough Sea Areas

The Meteorology Department has today(23) issued warnings to the Fishing Community requesting  refrain from fishing  sea areas of the coasts from Mannar to Potuvil via Galle and Trincomalee to Jaffna as those sea areas will be rough assisted with strong winds.the winds in the given sea areas will be up to 50-70 Kilo Meters per hour.

Sri Lanka Imposed 10%Tax On All Gold Imports.

Sri Lankan Government has decided to impose 10% tax on all Gold imports with immediate effect according to government sources.government has imposed 5% customs duty and 5% surcharge on Gold Imports sources revealed.

The main reasons behind this decision are recent increase in gold imports ,the increase in smuggling gold to Sri Lanka illegally  and due to tax imposed  by India on gold imports government sources added.recently Sri Lankan Air Port Customs arrested several people who smuggled gold in to the country.

Before imposing the tax a 24 carrot gold was sold at Rs.47,000 and now the price stands at rs.4000-5000 more sources said.

Severe Shoratge Of Dental Drugs Paralyzed The Dental Fillings And Treatement In Governemnt Dental Clinics

Due to the severe shortage of five essential drugs and surgical items used for dental fillings and treatment the dental fillings and treatment in Colombo Dental  Institute and 100 other government dental clinics are   restricted according to Government Dental Surgeons Association.

The dental drugs and surgical items Euginol.GIC,Composite bonding,mercury use for amalgam filling and 0.5 m.m stainless steel wire use for fractured teeth and jaw bones are out of stock these days in dental clinics and medical supplies division the association has said in a letter sent to the health ministry secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathilake today(20).if the authorities not taken steps to supply these out of stock drug and surgical items with immediate effect dental filling and dental treatment in government dental clinics will be stopped within next few days.

Navy Has Arrested Another Passenger Boat Illegaly Sailing Towards Australia

Sri Lankan Navy today(19) has arrested another boat carrying around 80 persons who are heading towards Australia in the eastern seas of Batticloe.due to increasing  the number of  passenger boats trying to sail illegally to Australia the Navy has increased the intelligence services  as well as the number of routine patrols  by several folds.

Four Passengers Died As Their Bus Fallen Into A Precipice

Four Passengers including a School Student have died and 70  injured when the bus they traveled in had fallen  to precipice in Seeta Eliya,area in Nuwara Eliya this evening .the injured have been admitted to Nuwara Eliya General Hospital and several of them are in serious condition according to hospital sources.the bus driver was amongst the deceased.

The bus was on an educational tour and had arrived from passara-namunukula region.

DIG Vaas Gunawardena Has Interdicted Over The Abduction And Killing Of Businessman

The Deputy Director General Of Police (DIG) Vaas Gunawardena who is in remand over the alleged involvement in abducting and killing of a a  Colombo based businessman has  interdicted today(18) according to Police.DIG Gunawardena who was arrested in suspect of the abduction and killing was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital and later transferred to Prisons Hospital after he fell ill while in custody.

Before getting arrested he was questioned by CID on his involvement of the incident.after produced before the court Colombo Additional Magistrate A.M Shabdeen has remanded him till 25 th of June.

DIG gunawardena was charged on abducting and killing of businessman Mohomad Siyam in Dompe Area on 22nd of May.

Sri Lanka Reached Semi Finals Of ICC Champions Trophy Cricket Tournament

Sri Lankan National Cricket Team beet Australian team  today(17) and reached the Semi Finals of ICC Champions Trophy 2013  currently underway at England and Wales.in a day night encounter  played at Oval Cricket Stadium in London Sri Lankans beet Australians by 20 runs after scored 253 runs for the loss of 8 wickets on their 50 overs  .in reply Australians were all out for 233 runs.

Mahela Jayawardena who top scored with 84 runs for Sri Lanka was adjudged as man of the match.Sri Lankans now play their semi final match with India on this Thursday at Cardiff Cricket Stadium in Wales while hosts England will play South Africa at Oval Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.The Finals due to play in Edgbaston,Birmingham.