Human Rights Commission Requested President To Reduced Severe Punishment Imposed On Criminals

The Human Rights Commission has made a request from President Mahinda Rajapaksha to convert the punishment of prisoners who have received death penalty  to the life imprisonment .according to the commissioner  of the human rights commission Dr. Prathiba Mahanamhewa around 627 prisoners who are currently in prison have received death penalty and majority of them are in old age.

As Implementing death penalty is subjected to human rights violation the commission has requested president to reduced that punishment he has further added.

Elections Department Has Received More Complaints On Election Violences

The Elections Department has received 41 complaints up to now  regarding illegal granting  of  new appointments,promotions and transfers to government officials of western and southern provinces where the elections are scheduled to be held next month.

Also 21 complaints regarding using government officials for election activities too received by department according to Elections Department sources.altogether 286 complaints regarding election violence s have been reported to the department sources added.out of these complaints majority which is  around 86 complaints have been received from the Colombo District.

Government Hospital Perfusonists To Launch An Island Wide Strike From Next Tuesday

The Government Hospital Perfusonists  have decided to launch an island wide strike action from 25th of February(Tuesday) by demanding fair solutions for three of their unsolved service demands.according to the government perfusonists union due to the scheduled strike of their members around 20 major heart surgeries including Bypass Surgeries performs in Colombo National,Kandy General and Karapitiya Teaching Hospitals will be stopped daily .

The perfusonists who are operating heart lung machines during major heart surgeries to keep heart and other organs in the body  functioning, have decided to extend their   strike action  to Colombo Lady Ridgway Children's Hospital where heart surgeries of children have been performing  from 27th of February if  the authorities are not able to meet  their demands then .

Around 44 perfusonists attach to government hospitals are due to join the said strike action.

Rs.22 Million Worth Stock Of Sandal Wood Has Deatined

Sri Lankan Customs has detained a stock of Red Sandalwood weighing  10,360 grammes and worth Rs.22 million which has imported to Sri Lanka illegally.the said stock of sandalwood which stored inside a suspicious container at   Orugodawatta Container Yard was preparing to transfer it to another country, when the customs officials have detained it.this stock  was believed to be imported from Dubai  a week ago.

However the authorities are still not able to find out the country that this stock of sandal wood prepares to export and  the identity of the person who has imported the stock  to Sri Lanka. investigations are underway on the incident.

Cabinet Has Approved A Paper Punishing Cricketers Who Involve In Match Fixing

The Cabinet has unanimously approved a Cabinet Paper on imposing   severe punishment for Cricketers  who are fixing Cricket Matches for money.under this Cabinet Paper new strict laws are scheduled to be introduced when punishing Cricketers who betray their game.

The Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has produced the said cabinet paper . according to him  the aim of this paper is to prevent gambling among local cricketers .

Northern Provincial Council Wants Direct Flights From Palaly/Trinco To India

The Northern Provincial Council has passed a resolution yesterday (18) calling for the  commencement of direct flights from Palaly and Trincomalee to India.the resolution has also requested to name Kankasanturai Port as a commercial port and recommencement of the ferry service from thalaimannar to Rameswaram port.

The resolution was presented to the council by M.K Shivajilingam and seconded by K.Sharweshwaran.

Parliament Unanimously Passed Resolution On Covering 80% of Cigerrete Packs With Picture Warnings

The Parliament has today(19) unanimously passed the resolution on printing pictorial health warnings covering   80% area of the cigarette packs .a foreign tobacco company went to courts last year opposing the health ministry's suggestion  to cover 80%  area of the  Cigarette Packs with pictorial health warnings.