2.5 Million Worth Expired And Low Quality Drugs At SPC Stores

A large stock of Expired and Low Quality Drugs worth Around Rs.2.5 million are stored at the Storing Complex of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation in Rathmalana of the Colombo Suburbs at present according to the Health Sources.Majority of these Drugs are non essential items and those Drugs which were out of date Expired in December 2009 according to the Sources.

These Drug Items were imported for the use of Government Hospitals and State owned Pharmacies.The storage of these Items also blocked the storage space in the Storing Complex according to the sources.

Meanwhile more then 4 million non essential Hypodermic Injection Needles are also stored in the Stores pending approval of the Medical Supplies Division(MSD) Health Ministry Sources said.

DNA Party Appealed The Public To Stage Protests Against Court Martial General Fonseka

The Newly Formed Democratic National Alliance(DNA) led by former Army Commander and Common Presidential Candidate of the Opposition Retired General Sarath Fonseka who is under Military Detention at present, today appealed from the Public to stage Protest Campaigns Island wide on this Tuesday(16) against the Court Martial Trial scheduled to be held on that day against the General.

The DNA Party which is going to contest for the forthcoming General Elections under the Trophy Symbol also appealed the people to conduct Religious Observances including Bodhi Poojas on behalf of General Fonseka.

Addressing a Press Briefing held in Colombo today The DNA Spokesman Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said that the Officials failed to find any evidence on Major Charges filed against General Fonseka earlier on Involved in Conspiracy to assassinate the President and the Controversial Mig Air Craft Deal.Now He is accused on Seven Other Charges and tried to produced before a Court Martial Trial He stated.

Money Allocated For Purchasing Essential Drugs Goes Wrong Way

The Money allocated for purchasing Essential Drug Items required for Government Hospitals are decreasing rapidly due to the Purchasing of non Essential Drugs and Surgical Items in large scale according to the Health Ministry Sources.The Government has allocated around Rs.14 Billion for the Purchasing of Drug Items required by the Government Hospital for this year and Most of this money already have spent to Import these non economical Drug Items the Sources added.

Meanwhile Due to the Importing these Non Essential Drug Items The Storage Space of the Medical Supplies Division too blocked till August 2012 according to the Sources.The Non Essential Items like rarely used Hypordermic Imjection Needles are stored at the Supplies Division at large preventing storing Essential Drug and Surgical Items like Surgical Gloves and Disposable Syringes which are out of stock within the Government Hospitals at present.

General Fonseka's Lawyers To Challenge His Court Martial Trial

The Lawyers of Detained Former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka are due to appear before the Court Martial on next Tuesday(16) to challenge the Legality of trying Former Army Commander before a Three Member Penal compromising Army Officers ranked Junior to him Leftist Janatha Wimukthi Peramuna(JVP) said today.

General Fonseka is due to appear before the Court Martial on next Tuesday (16th)and Wednesday(17th).

JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said that there is no provision in the Army Act to Court Martial General Fonseka and such a trial is Illegal.JVP has already filed a case in the Court Of Appeal challenging this decision.

Meanwhile Director General of the Media Center of National Security Lakshman Hulugalle said that there is no valid reason for General Fonseka's Lawyers to Opposed the Court Martial Trial conduct against him and Even General opposed he will be produced before the Court.

General Fonseka To Face Court Martial Trial On 16th And 17th

Detained Former Army Commander Retired General Sarath Fonseka is due to face Court Martial Trial on 16th and 17th of March before a three member Panel.General Fonseka was taken in to custody on last February and is held in a Naval Base in Colombo since then.

Sri Lankan Army authorities collected evidence against him from 31 personals since then.

According to the Military Media will not allowed to cover the Court Martial Proceedings according to the law however if general requested then they will consider allowing media to cover the proceedings.

Elections Commissioner To Summon Political Party Secretaries

The Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dishanayaka is due to meet with the Political Party Secretaries on this Friday to discuss the Issues related to the forthcoming Parliamentary Elections it has been reported.

According to the Elections Commissioners Office there is a possibility of discussing on having Foreign Counting agents at the Vote Counting Centers in this meeting.

A Fire Broke Out In Norochchalai Coal Plant

An unexpected fire was broke out in the Ware House of the Norochchalai Coal Power Plant this morning causing extensive Damage to it's Property and to the goods.The Navy and the Army were called to control the Fire.

The Navy and Army took more then three hours to control the Fire according to the Sources.The Kalpitiya Police is conducting further Investigations in to the matter.