Voting Of The Local Government Poll To Elect 3022 Representatives Began

Voting for electing representatives for 234 Local Government bodies began at 7 a.m today and due to conclude at 4 p.m .

A total number of  9,444,455 Registered voters are due to cast their vote at 7396 polling centres islandwide.3022 representatives are due to elected from this election.

Meanwhile President Mahinda Rajapaksha cast his vote this morning at the D A Rajapaksha College in Madamulana (Southern Province).

Sri Lankan Air Lines To Arrange A Special Flight For Returnees From Japan

Following the discussions held between the officials of  the Ministry Of External Affairs and Sri Lankan Air Lines ,it has been decided to operate a special flight from Tokyo to Colombo via UL 1423 Flight on 4.30 p.m tomorrow(17th) for those Sri Lankans who wish to return from Japan.

Ealier most of the Lankans lives in Japan directly requested from Sri Lankan authorities to bring them back from Japan as the aftermath Tsunami conditions worsens with the explosions occured in Fukushima Nuclear Plant.

Nepali Government Has Turned Down The Requests On Granting Refugee Status To 7 Associates Of Gen.Fonseka

Two Major News Papers published in India and Nepal have been reported that the government of Nepal has refused to grant Refugee Status to few close associates of the imprisoned former Army Commander Retired General Sarath Fonseka .

According to the "Katmandu Post " and "The Hindusthan Times " News Papers these associates were worked for General Fonseka during his presidential elections campaign in january last year and now staying in Semi Underground in Nepali Capital Kathmandu since past few months and seeking assylum there.

These people are reportedly as  been given an unofficial protection by the United Nations High Commission For Refugees(UNHCR) in Nepal.However the UN sources said that due to the illegal status of these persons they cannot called as refugees.

Around 14 associates of the Former Sri Lankan Army Commander who fled to Nepal in wake of the loss in the Election here reported as been in the unofficial protection under UNHCR and one of them died from heart attack and one fled to Canada while five are missing according to the papers.The remained seven associates are seeking assylum and the Nepali Government had turned down their requests the papers further said.

External Affairs Ministry To Bring Back Some Sri Lankans In Tsunami Hit Japan

The External Affairs Ministry  has said today that they are discussing with Sri Lankan Air Lines on bringing back some of the Sri Lankans lives in Japan following their requests for doing so due to the After shocks and Radiation problems occured in Tsunami hit Japanese Areas.

According to the Ministry there are around 20,000 Sri Lankans currently reside in various Japanese Cities including the Capital Tokyo and most of them who are in out side the Capital City and their realtives here wants  to bring them back home as soon as possible.

All Schools In Island Except In Two Districts To Be Closed During Local Government Polls

All Schools in the Island except those in Jaffna and Kilinochchi Districts will be closed three days from 16th to 18th of March due to the Local Government Elections scheduled to be held in 17th of March(Thursday) the Education Ministry has announced.

Three Private Schools in Colombo District namely Saint Bridget Convent in Colombo-07,Saint Peters College in Bambalapitiya and Saint Josephs College in Colombo-10 will also closed during these three days according to the Ministry.However other Private Schools is likely to be remain open as the authorities  did not announced they are going to closed them during the Local Government Polls.

100 Varieties Of Drugs And Injections Are Out Of Stock At Govt.Hospitals

 Around 100 varieties of essential Drugs,Injections and Surgical items are out of stock these days in Government  Hospitals as well as in the Medical Supplies Division(MSD) according to the Hospital Sources.

According to the sources "Paracetamol",Gentomycine Injections,Thiopenton Sodium Injections,Piriton and around 25 Cancer Injections are among the Drugs and Injections out of stock at the Hospitals and MSD.

Due to this Drug Shortage doctors prescribing patients to buy these Drugs from the Private Sector according to the sources.

The delaying of Drug Supplies to the Hospitals by the Drug Suppliers and supplying of low quality drugs have been identified as the main reasons behind this Drug Shortage.

Sri Lanka Postal Dept.Suspended Mail Deliveries To Tsunami Hit Japanese Areas

The Sri Lankan Postal Department had suspended all mail deliveries to the Tsunami hit Japanese Postal Code Areas of 00 to 09, 30 31 96 98 99 with immediate effect.This decision has taken after the Japanese Postal Department informed the Sri Lankan Posts that Mail Deliveries to the above Postal Code Areas have been suspended following the damage done by  Tsunami .

The Post Master General MKB Dissanayake has appealed the public to avoid of sending Posts or packages to above Postal Code Number areas until further notice is given.