50KG Cement And Chicken Prices Increased

The prices of 50 KG bag of Cement and Chicken have increased with effect from today(13) according to Consumer Affairs Authority. a 50kg cement bag will be  increased by Rs.68-85 and a killo gramme  of chicken will be increased by Rs.30 .

Retirement Age Of Public Employees Raised To 60

The government has announced that the public employees can work till 60 years of age without requiring to obtain an extension after the age of 57 years. a circular regarding this decision has been issued according to government information department.

Earlier the retirement age of public employees was 57 and they need to get approval of their institution heads to obtain extensions.government had taken decision after considering  requests of public employees on extending the retirement age.

University Lecturers Suspend Their Strike And Report To Work On Monday

The University lecturers who are in strike since 04th of July by  demanding a pay hike and allocating more funds  for education sector have decided to suspend their strike action temporarily tomorrow(12) and report to work from next Monday(15th) according to Federation Of University Teachers Association (FUTA)after the discussions held with economic development minister basil rajapaksha and treasury secretary Dr.p.b jayasundara last Tuesday (09) FUTA this evening has decided to suspend their strike .

It has been reported that the government agreed to increase  salaries or allowances  of university lecturers from the budget proposals due to be presented Parliament in coming weeks.earlier it has been announced that FUTA officials will attend the press briefing held today (11) at higher education ministry on university lecturers salary issue ,but later today FUTA officials have announced that they will not attend that briefing .

Due to the long standing strike of University Lecturers all universities except medical faculties have been closed since 04th of July.the marking of this year's G.C.E Advanced Level  answer scripts too got delayed as university lecturers refrained from attending supervising those activities during the strike period.

Meanwhile government medical officers association (GMOA) has been announced today that they will launch an island wide strike action if the government has increased salaries of university lecturers alone.there should be a salary increment to all government sector employees without giving special increment to one category only the media spokesman of GMOA Dr.navin soyza said today.while addressing a press briefing at GMOA Headquarters in Colombo he had stressed that government doctors too should have given a salary increment similar to that of university lecturers  .

Increase In Depression Amongst Diabetic Patients

Around 11% of Sri Lankan population are suffering from some kind of depression and out of this number 1% are suffering from severe depression according to mental health specialists.out of the total number suffering from depression 15% to 20% are trying to commit suicide during their life time it has been revealed.

Also there's an increase on the people suffering from depression amongst patients ur long term illnesses and around 50% of diabetic patients are prone to depression sources said.15% of pregnant mothers are at risk of having depression after delivering their child.

Meanwhile mental health specialists have said that as there is a treatment available for the disease no need to be afraid for the disease anymore.if not treated properly 30% of world population will be suffering from depression during next few years.

Several Essential Drugs And Surgicals Are Out Of Stock In Government Hospitals

Government Hospitals having experience a severe  shortage of 50 and 20 mili liter syringes and several other essential drugs and surgical items these days according to hospital sources.due to this shortage the intensive care units,theaters ,labor rooms,emergency units and primary care units suffered mostly with disturbance to surgeries and treatment sources added.

The medical supplies division and government pharmacies too are not having stocks of said syringes and other surgical it has been reported. due to this situation patients need to buy these drugs and surgical from private pharmacies by their own expenses.

As emergency surgeries and treatment are in danger due to the shortage of drugs and surgical s  many government specialists have now holding discussions  to decide whether to continue admitting patients to those units or not .

Cough Syrups "Corex" And "Corex-D" Are Banned In Sri Lanka

The national drug authority has today (09) banned the sale and distribution of cough syrups "Corex" and "Corex-D in Sri Lanka with immediate effect after six people died during a short period due to taken overdose of these syrups.although both "Corex " and "Corex-D " syrups are related to prescribed drug category most pharmacies throughout  the island are found as issuing them to patients without a doctor's prescription according to  national drug authority .

It has been also reported that the  students and youth are using the syrups as an intoxicant the authority has stated.

Government Increased The Prices Of Liquor

The excise duty of liquor and ethyl alcohol has been increase with effect from last Saturday(060 according to finance ministry.according to new price revision 1 liter of alcohol will be increased by Rs.63 and a liter of bear by Rs.10.meanwhile Distilleries Company Of Sri Lanka has been decided to increase all varieties of their arracks by Rs.26-40.

Few days back the government has also increased the prices of cigarettes by Rs.2 .