National Hospital Minor Staff Strike Crippled Hospital Services

Minor Staff of the Colombo National Hospital launched four hour strike this morning as a protest against the transferring of a union leader to another hospital leaving hospital work including clinic and surgeries to standstill.The four hour strike launched around 8 a.m ended at 12 noon after the acting Health Ministry secretary Dr.P.Mahipala canceled the transfer of the Union leader T.Somaratna according to the National Hospital sources.

Minister Weerawansha Ended His Fast After President Intervened

Housing and construction minister Wimal Weerawansha who launched an indefinite fast to death campaign last Thursday in front of the UN Office in Colombo  ended his fast this evening after president Mahinda Rajapaksha visited him and offered him a glass of water to drink.Fasting Minister drank the water and ended up his fast and afterward s he was taken to the Army Hospital for treatment.

This noon Minister Weerawansha made a special statement for  the media and said that he will not giving up his fast even if President intervenes, till UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon abolished the three member Advisory Panel he appointed to inquire on the alleged war crimes against Sri Lanka.

Before president Rajapaksha visited the fasting  Minister Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksha and several Ministers and Government MP'S visited the fasting minister.

UN Secretary General Again Urged Sri Lankan Government To Bring Back Normalcy At UN Offices

United Nations Secretary general Ban ki moon again urged to Sri Lankan authorities to bring back  the  situation around UN Offices in Colombo to normal  to ensure the continuation of the UN work in Sri Lanka.Sri Lankan Minister of Housing and Construction Wimal Weerawansha is involved in fast to death campaign in front of the UN Office in Colombo since Thursday morning demanding the abolition of the three member advisory panel appointed by the UN secretary look in to the alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.

 How ever the UN secretary Moon said that he appointed the three member advisory panel to advise him on Sri Lanka according to the joint statement signed with the SL Government and it is not a panel to investigate on Sri Lanka according to the UN News .

Budget Passed With Majority Votes

The Budget for the year 2010 was passed today at the Parliament with 68 majority votes.139 MP's including of the  opposition United National Party (UNP) MP Abdul Carder voted in favor of the budget 71 Opposition MP's voted against the Budget.

Fasting Minister Weerawansha Sent His Resignation Letter To The President-President Refused To Accept It

Adding fuel to the ongoing drama in front of the UN Office in Colombo, Minister Wimal Weerawansha who is involved in fast to death campaign since yesterday morning sent a letter to the President Mahinda Rajapaksha indicating his resignation from  the Housing and Construction  portfolio.It has been reported that this letter was sent to the President yesterday and  President today refused to accept the Minister weerawansha's resignation letter.

Minister Weerawansha who is also the leader of the National Freedom Front which is an allied party of the Governing coalition began a fast to death campaign yesterday demanding the abolition of the special three member advisory committee appointed by UN Secretary Bank Ki Moon to inquire in to the alleged war crimes leveled against the Sri Lankan Government.Addressing to the media on his campaign Minister weerawansha said he will continue his campaign till abolishing of the above panel and requested from the public and from his fellow cabinet members to join with him.

Meanwhile UN officials in New York says that they are monitoring the situation at the UN Office in Colombo closely.However UN Secretary Moon yesterday shut down the United Nations Development Program me (UNDP) Office in Colombo and recalled it's director and UN Residential Representative here Mr.Niel Buhne to New York.

UN Secretary General Moon Shut Down The UNDP Office In Colombo

As the Cabinet Minster Wimal Weerawansha is involved in fast to death campaign in front of the United Nations Office at Colombo UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon today decided to shut down the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) Office in Colombo and recalled the head of the mission Mr.Niel Buhne to New York.UN Secretary General Decided to shut down the UNDP Office in colombo due to the government's handling of the security of the UN Office in Colombo it has been announced.

Cabinet Minister Wimal Weerawansha Began A Fast Un to Death Campaign In Front Of UN Office

Cabinet Minister of Housing and the leader of the Allied party of the Government coalition the National Freedom Front(NFF) Wimal Weerawansha began a fast to death campaign in front of the United Nations Office in Colombo this morning demanding  abolishing of  the three member Advisory Panal appointed by the UN Secretary general Ban Ki Moon on an alleged war crimes against the Sri Lankan Government.

 Minister Weerawansha who was with some other leaders of his party marched towards UN office yesterday morning  and hold a protest in front of the UN Office  blocking  the gate of the office began his fast this morning after taking blessings from the Buddhist Bhikkus  present at the occasion.Just minutes before he began his fast three other leaders of the National Freedom Front who were in fast since yesterday broken their fast to pave the way for mr.weerawansha to begin his fast to death campaign.

Several Opposition parties including the main opposition the United National Party(UNP) and the Democratic Peoples Alliance led by former army commander General Sarath Fonseka criticized the fast campaign of the Minister stated it as an unnecessary act of conduct.