TB Deaths Are On Increase

Local  people should be in alert on Tuberculosis (TB) as  TB deaths are on the  increase in Sri Lanka   according to Dr.Susil Samaraweera the deputy director of National programme on tuberculosis and chest diseases.around 200-300 Sri Lankans  have died from the disease annually and the deaths have been increased by 3% since  the year 2000 he has revealed.

In last year (2012)around 46 TB patients have been reported per local population of 100,000 and the amount of patients lives with TB may be more than this as most of the patients have not been  identified  as suffering from the disease he said.

Around 23.4% out of the total TB patients reported from Sri Lanka during  last year (2012) numbering 1290 patients have been reported from Colombo District according to latest reports.due to the increased level of air pollution in cities,urbanization and overcrowded prison environment are identified as risk factors may caused the increase number of TB patients in the society according to Dr.Samaraweera.

People are advised to seek proper medical treatment soon after they developed symptoms of TB like dried cough lasted more than two weeks,chest pain,appetite problems ,low weight,fatigue etc.

Second International Air Port In The Country To Be Innaugurated At Mattala Tomorrow(18)

The second International Air Port in Sri Lanka ,Mattala International Air Port situated in Hambanthota(Southern Province) is due to be inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksha at 10 a.m Tomorrow (18).The newly built Air Port which was funded by China's  Export Import  Bank  has the capacity of handling a million passengers per year according to Air Port Sources.

The first flight to be operated from Mattala Air Port will be from the  national carrier Sri Lankan Air Lines and first foreign carrier is Air Arabia which has announced flights twice a week to Mattala From sarjah.

Mattala International Air Port is built near wild parks in the area and hoping to attract foreign tourists sources revealed.

Meanwhile the main opposition UNP has named the newly built International Air Port in Mattala as a white elephant and revealed that the  main international Air Port in Katunayaka-Colombo is in danger due to the shifting of high tech equipments belongs to Katunayake Air Port to Mattala Air Port .

GMOA To Strike Over Vacant Administrator Post At National Mental Health Institute

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) wants to appoint a suitable medical administrator for the  director post of National Mental Health Institute in Angoda which is vacant since last 10 years according to GMOA Spokesman Dr.Naveen De Soyza.if the health ministry has failed to appoint a suitable medical administrator for the vacant  post withing two weeks time government doctors will launched a trade union action he has stressed.

The director post at Angoda National Mental Health Institute one of the leading mental hospitals in Sri Lanka is vacant since year 2002 dr.soyza has said.

Most Of The Sri Lankans Are Prone To Non Infectious Diseases Due To Heavy Daily Consumption Of Salt

 Around 5000-6000 Sri Lankans  have died annually due to non infectious diseases like Hypertension,Heart Attacks and Stroke as a  result of heavy daily consumption of salt community physician Dr.Palitha Karunapema has revealed.according to Dr.Karunapema a Sri Lankan has consumed 16 grammes of Salt daily more than three times higher than recommended daily intake of 5 grammes of Salt per day.

Due to the heavy daily consumption  of Salt around 20-25% of Sri Lankan population has been reported as suffering  from hypertension and 38% of urban population too faced with this problem according to the latest survey conducted by Community Physicians of Sri Lanka.

Around 120,000 metric tonnes of Salt out of 150,000 metric tonnes  imported for Sri Lanka have using for human consumption he has stressed.Sri Lankans received the additional amount of Salt through pre prepared Meet ,Fish salted dried fish,various kinds of Sauces,soup cubes and fast foods like Pizza and short eats Dr.Karunapema has said.

If steps are   taken to reduced the daily consumption of salt of Sri Lankans to 5 grammes per day it will helpful to save lives of 5000-6000 people who are dying annually due to non infectious diseases as well as to reduced the risk of getting Strokes by 14% and  heart attacks by 9% community physicians said.physicians now named salt as white killer due to it's bad affects on human health.

In view of reducing the amount of salt taken by sri lankans daily, health authorities have declared this week as a national salt reduction week.

Former Chief Justice Has Asked To Appear Before Bribary Commission

Former Chief Justice Dr.Mrs.Shirani Bandaranaike was requested to appear before the commission to investigate allegations of bribery  or  corruption on 18th of March.she was requested to appear before the commission based on Parliamentary Committee's ruling  that Dr.Mrs. Bandaranaike was guilty of possession of unexplained wealth and misused of her powers which later lead her to an  impeachment on early January this year.

Former Chief Justice has denied the allegations.

Private Bus Fares To Be Increased By 7%

The Private Bus fares are due to increased by 7% with effect from 01st of April this year according to Private Bus Owners Association.however the minimum bus ticket fare of Rs.9 will be not increased the association has said.

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation To Investigate On LIOC Imported Stock Of Petrol

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation(CPC) has began a special investigation to find out  the standard of 16,000 metric tonnes of petrol imported by Lanka Indian Oil Company(LOIC) to the Tricomalee Harbor. the imported stock of petrol has arrived at Trincomalee Harbor yesterday  evening has sparked controversy on whether the stock is substandard or not according to petroleum corporation sources.

Meanwhile the trade unions have claimed that the imported stock of petrol confirmed as substandard during laboratory tests.