Health Ministry To Introduce Cows Milk To The Government Institutions Instead Of Milk Powder

After months of heated arguments exchanged  between Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) and Health Officials on DCD Contaminated imported milk powder issue ,the Ministry Of Health has finally decided to  stop consuming  milk powder in government institutions including health ministry it self by promoting  using  cow's milk in these institutions ministry sources said.

During the meeting held with members of Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) last week health ministry secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathilake has informed GMOA delegation that the ministry has implemented the first step of the milking the nation with liquid milk programme   by introducing using of cows milk for nine general hospitals in nine districts and the health ministry it self.

All these Nine General Hospitals are now giving their patients Cows Milk instead of special Milk Powders and Health Ministry too switched on to use Cows Milk according Ministry sources.

Meanwhile Government Medical Officers Association has said that during their meeting Health Ministry Secretary he has appointed a four member committee to inspect the programme on promoting Liquid Milk In the country as well as the implementing ten proposal initiative handed over by GMOA to the Ministry.the committee has compromise with two Deputy Director Generals on Public Health Dr.Sarath Amunugama and Dr.Siyambalagoda ,GMOA representatives Dr.Nalinda Hearth and Dr.Thimothy Wickramasinha .

Government Hospital Doctors To Launch An Island Wide Strike Prior To The Budget

The Government Hospital Doctors have decided to launch an island wide strike prior to the budget next month by demanding solutions for three service demands related to salary anomalies  of government employees the Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) has announced today(22).

The media spokesman of   GMOA Dr.Naveen Soyza has said that the General Assembly of GMOA is scheduled to be held in Next Sunday (27) to decide the time frame of the proposed strike.addressing a press briefing held at GMOA Headquarters this noon Dr.Soyza has said that their service demands  including the increasing minimum salary of a Government Employee to Rs.20,000 and increasing salaries of government sector employees by 1:8 ratio .

Although the government has appointed the salary commission  it  has   fail to prepare the salary scales of government employees he has stressed.

Nurses,Professions Supplementary To Medcine And Para Medcis In Govt.Hospitals To Launch A Joint Strike

As cost of living is sky rocketing and salaries of employees have not been increased according to it ,the Joint Union Council of Nurses,Professions Supplementary To Medicine and Para Medics has decided to launch one day island wide token strike in government hospitals on 01st of November by demanding solutions for five of their service demands.

The biggest problem faced by employees in Sri Lanka nowadays is the high cost of living prevailing  in the country.especially health sector trade unions continuously saying that over the last few years their salary anomalies and revisions of allowances  remains unsolved.according to the Joint Union Council Of Nurses-Professions Supplementary To Medicine And Para Medics the Health Ministry has overlooked their demands over the years like increasing allowances and revising salary anomalies ."therefore we have no other option than going for a trade union action" says the joint convener of the joint council Saman Ratnapriya.

Except Nurses around 14 other health professions belongs to Professions Supplementary To Medicine and Para Medics have scheduled to be launched the one day island wide token strike on 01st of November if the health authorities not taking any steps to solve their demands before 30th of this month Ratnapariya has said.

GMOA Again Requesting Food Advisory Council To Reveal On DCD Contaminated Milk Powder

As the Food Advisory Council (FAC)attached to Health Ministry has keep on avoiding  making any announcement to the public whether the imported milk powders available in local market are free from DCD agro chemical ,the Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) has again requesting the FAC to reveal  the number of DCD Contaminated imported Milk Powder Packs removed from the market so far .

After DCD Contaminated Milk Powder issue came to the limelight during early August this year  Food Advisory Council headed by Director General Of Health Services Dr.Palitha Mahipala who is also the food authority of the country has only managed to remove 252 DCD Contaminated Milk Powder packs up to now according to GMOA.those milk powder packs were removed from the market during first week of August and since than not a single pack of imported Milk Powder proved as contaminated with DCD  has been removed from the market the Union sources said.

Former Australian Cricketer Greg Chappell To Be Appointed As Sri Lankan Head Cricket Coach-Sri Lankan Cricket Sources

Will former Australian Cricket Captain and present cricket commentator Greg Chappell able to deliver the goods for Sri Lankan Cricket if he get the  appointment  as next Sri Lankan Head Cricket Coach? that will be the million dollar question which should be  in the minds of Sri Lankan Cricket experts and fans  these days after hearing that former Australian Cricketer  is head on the list  of Cricket Coaches who are short listed to select Sri Lankan Cricket Team's next head coach .

Greg Chappell who was one of the best batsman s in World Cricket during 1970's is top on the list of coaches including former cricketers of Sri Lanka,India,New Zealand and England who are seeking the Sri Lankan National Cricket Coach Post following the exit of present Sri Lankan Cricket Coach Graham Xavier Ford according to Sri Lankan Cricket Sources.

However Sri Lankan Cricket Board has decided to extend the deadline for applying for the Sri Lankan Cricket Coach Post until end of this month.

The sources further revealed that among those former cricketers short listed for the head coach post are former Sri Lankan Cricketers Marvan Atapattu who is the current Batting Coach of the National Cricket Team,Romesh Kaluwitahrana ,Ruwan Kalpage the fielding coach,former Indian Cricketers Venkatesh Prasad, Lal chand Rajput,Mohit Soni,former England cricketer Paul Farbrace who is also the former Sri Lankan Assistant Coach,Ian Pont,New Zealand A Coach Grant Bradburn.

The Former Australian Cricketer Greg Chappell who has retired from international cricket on 1984
had a disastrous coaching career as Indian Cricket Coach during 2007 World Cup and also known for his differences with some senior Indian Players like Saurav Ganguly during his short coaching career in India.

Government Owned Bus Fares Too Have Increased

The government owned Sri Lanka Transport Board (Lan.ga.ma) bus fares too scheduled to be increased by 7%  with effect from 01st of November according to National Transport Commission.the amount of increase due to be announced on 24th of October the commission has said.

Earlier the Cabinet has given approval to increase Private bus fares by 7% with effect from next month.however the Private Bus Operators Unions have decided to go to courts against the decision stating that the bus fare increase is   not sufficient comparing to their expenditure.

Heavy Showers ,Strong Winds And Rough Seas Are Expected In Next Few Days-Meteorological Department

Due to the low pressure conditions prevails in atmosphere over the country at the moment heavy showers will occur most parts of the country during next few days according to Meteorological Department.thundershowers would be fairly widespread during afternoons or nights while the seas that circle  Sri Lanka are expected to be rough and dangerous with strong winds speed exceeds 68 kilo meters per hour met department has said.

Due to this adverse weather conditions including rough seas fishermen have been advised to  be an alert over the situation in sea areas.