Canada To Take Tougher Measures To Curb Human Smuggling

Canadian Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said yesterday that his government will take tougher measures to curb human smuggling as the defeated LTTE Rebels in Sri Lanka are trying to regrouping in Canada.He also stressed the need to take a speedy action against Human Smuggling now before more boats with smuggled people entered the Canadian shores.

"A resident of Otawa has reported through a security intelligence sources that the defeated LTTE rebels are trying to re establishing their violent separatist group in Canada" the Minister further added.

Government Requested Farmers To Refrained From Tobacco Cultivation

In a bid to discourage Tobacco Cultivation Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has said today that Government will request all farmers in the Country to refrain from cultivating Tobacco and instead grow more fruits and vegetables to increase these food crops.

 Earlier government has announced that the prices of vegetables and fruits may goes up due to the recent flooding in many parts of the country.Even One Minister Ordered the people in his electorate not to buy or sell certain vegetable crops like tomatoes,lady's fingers,snake guard instead grow these crops in back yards of the houses to face the future hike in vegetable prices.

Newly Opened Indian Consulate In Jaffna Began Issuing Visas

The newly opened Indian Consulate  in Jaffna in the Northern Sri Lanka began issuing of visas yesterday (17) and planning to issue 50 to 100 visas per day for the applicants.To improve their services to the public the Consulate is planning to bring software and man power from India soon.

The applications received by the Consulate based in Jaffna will  be send  to the Indian High Commission in Colombo while the passports stamped with visas can collected from the Consulate in Jaffna.

Consumer Authority Ordered To Put Retail Prices Of Consumer Items When Advertised Through Media

The Consumer Affairs Authority(CAA) has announced today that all the consumer items advertised through Print and Electronic Media must mention their retails prices specifically in the Advertisement.This will come to effect from 01st of February this year according to the Authority.

Colombo Public Heath Dept.Informed Agriculture Dept.On Illegally Spraying Chemicals To Fruits

The Colombo Public Health Department has informed the Agriculture Department to take necessary action  against  the fruit traders in Manning Market Fruit Stalls in Colombo who are spraying Chemicals to Fruits in the view of ripe them soon which is an illegal  act here.Although the fruit traders are allowed to use vaporizing of  chemicals methods  in to fruits most of the traders are still getting used to spray chemicals to fruits the Colombo Chief Medical Officer Dr.Pradeep Kariyawasam has said.

A Warrant Was Issued To Arrest MP Arjuna Ranathunga

Galle Chief Magistrate today   issued a warrant to arrest Opposition Parliamentarian and former Sri Lankan Cricket Captain Arjuna Ranathunga for failing to appear before the court on trial  against him.

MP Ranathunge who is a member of the General Sarath Fonseka's Democratic National Alliance(DNA)  Party and few others of  his party members were charged on destruction of public property during a protest campaign held in Southern City of Galle  demanding the release of their party leader General Fonseka.Meanwhile when the arrest warrant was issued by Galle Chief Magistrate Thamara Tennakoon,  the Counsel of the MP Ranathunge was informed the Magistrate that his client was not appeared  before the court as he is out of the Country.

Indian Air Force Commander Visited Sri Lanka

The Indian Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasanth Naik arrived Sri Lanka today for a short tour and visited the flooded areas of Batticloe and few areas in  Eastern and North Western provinces by a helicopter.He also distributed  some food and essential items amongst the affected people in these areas.