253 Sri Lankan Asylum Seekers Captured By Indonesian Navy Threatend To Blow Their Boat

Around 253 Ethnic Sri Lankan Asylum Seeking Tamils who were on their way to the Chirstmas Island in Australia from a Wooden Boat threatened to blown up their Boat if the Authorities tried to forcibly disembark them from the Boat after they were captured by the Indonesian Navy.Their Boat which is sailing through the Waters of Indonesia and Malaysia was captured by the Indonesian Navy at the Sunda Straight between Java and Sumatra Islands during the Weekend.These People were aboard the Boat from Jafna.

According to the Indonesian Officials the Group of Sri Lankans yesterday threatened the Authorities that they will blown up their Boat by using Cooking Stoves if they are forcibly disembark from the Boat.Each Asylum Seeker is believed to be paid Rs.15,000 US$ for the journey.Now they are negotiating with the Indonesian Navy and most of these people still believing that they still can make up to the Christmas Island if the Indonesian Authorities are releasing them.

The Boat of  these people are in is tied to the Anti Submarine Ship which captured the Boat at The Port of Marack Area.

Investigation Team Inquire On The Rubella Vaccine Incident Began The Inquiry

The Investigation Team appointed to Inquire on the Death of the School Girl which occurred after receiving the Rubella Vaccine left for  Variayapola and Kurunagala Hospitals in the North Western Province today to begin the Inquiry in to the Incident.Four Members of the Team left today and they will also due to questioned the Parents of the Demised School Girl if  a need arise The Epidemiology Unit said.

Meanwhile The Health Authorities here already informed the Incident to the World Health Organization(WHO) Headquarters in Geneva,Switzerland.The WHO it self maybe inquire in the incident according to the Ministry of Health.

Rubella Vaccine Claimed The Life Of A Second School Girl This Year

A shocking Second Death of a School Girl occurred  after Received the Rubella Vaccine this year was reported last night from Wariyapola Area of the North Western Province.The School Girl is a 13 year old who was studied at the Minuwangate School in the area and another two of her School Mates  too were got themselves admitted to the Hospital  when they developed an allergic Condition after receiving the Rubella Vaccine on last Saturday.


Soon after receiving the news of the Girls Death the Epidemiology Unit had Suspended the Rubella Vaccine Campaign with immediate effect.This suspension will remain till the conclusion of the Investigations on Death of the School Girl Health Officials stressed.

The School Girl "Ashanthi Wasna' was not shown any other disorder before been Vaccinated for Rubella according to the Health Officials.Addressing a Press Briefing at the Epidemiology Unit in Colombo this noon A Vaccine Expert Dr.Omala Wimalarathne said that a Special Investigation Team comprising the Experts of Vaccination,Allergic Conditions,Child Care,Physiology  and Pharmacology was appointed to Inquire into the  Death of the School Girl.This Team is due to leave the Wariyapola Hospital tomorrow(!3) to conduct further Investigation into this matter according to Dr.Wimalaratna.

Besides this Team the Chief Judicial Officer in Colombo Dr.Ananada Samarasekera is too conducting a seperate Inquiry on the facts revealed at  the Post Mortem of  the Girls   Death.Another School Girl  13 year old "Pashala Hansani" of Matara District in the Southern Province was collapsed soon after receiving the Rubella Vaccine on last March and Died after received the ICU Traetment.With her another 29 of her School Mates  too received Hospital Treatment for Allergies after getting Vaccinated.The Rubella Vaccine was Temporarily Suspended on that occassion  too under the Instructions of  the President Mahinda Rajapaksha. However a Special Inquiry conducted by the Epidemeology Unit and the World Health Organization Experts on the incident had cleared the Rubella Vaccination Programme for holding responsibility over the Girls Death.

Deapatment Of Immigration And Emigration Introduced A New Regulation For Children

The Department Of Immigration and Emigration introduced a new Regulation  to obtaining the Both Parents approval when  issuing Passports to the Children under 16 years of age.According to the Immigration Emigration Controller T.B Abeykoon this new regulation was introduced to decrease the kidnapping of Children by their Parent.

In the case of that a parents are divorced or separated the Legal Guardians of the Children can approved on behalf of the Parents.

Ten Suspects Of The IT Student Assault Case Released On Bail

The 10 suspects remanded in connection with the assaulting IT Student Nipuna Ramanayaka including the Wife and the Son of SSP Vaas Gunawardena were released on a Bail by the Awissawella High Court today.These suspects were released according to the appeal filed by them.

Testing Of Melamine In Milk Products Began Locally

The Government Analyst Department has taken steps to test "Melamine" Chemical on the Imported Milk Powder and Milk Products to Sri Lanka becoming the first to do so locally.So far the the samples of the Imported Milk Products were sent to the Laboratories in Singapore and Malaysia for  Test "Melamine" levels which costs the Government Rs 50,000 for a Sample.

The Ministry Of Health made Testing of Melamine Levels of the Imported Milk Products compulsory and the Government Analyst Department charged Rs.5000 per Sample Check The Department is equipped with Melamine Testing Machine.According to the Health Ministry Sources."Melamine" is a Chemical known as Fake Protein which is used to increase the Protein Levels of the Milk Products.Thousands of Infants in China died due to develop Kidney Failure after drinking Melamine contained Infant Milk Powder on  last year.

Since then most countries in the world banned the importing of Chinese Milk Powder and Milk Products began testing of  Imported Milk Products for "Melamine".

Health Minister Failed To Submit The National Drug Policy Draft To The Parliamentarians

Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva failed to submit the The Draft of the National Drug Policy to the Parliamentary Selection Committee on last Thursday(08) as planned due to the absence of it's members.None of the 12 Parliamentarian members of the Committee who represents the All Political Parties in the Parliament were present at the meeting according to the Health Ministry Sources.

However the Health Minister along with other Health Ministry Officials were attended the meeting and left empty handed as the Meeting was not held due to the absence of it's members.The much talked about National Drug Policy which was approved by the Cabinet in  October 2005 is to be presented to the Parliamentary Selections Committee to get ideas of the Members and seeking to presented to the Parliament for approval.

Now Health Minister decided to Submit the Policy to the Committee on next weak when Parliament meets.