Two Indian Nationals Arrested While Trying To Smuggle 48 Killo Grammes Of Wallapatta Herb

Two Indian Nationals were arrested this morning at Katunayake Bandaranaike International Air Port while trying to smuggle 48 Killo Grammes of Wallapatta herb which use for medicinal purposes and  to make perfumes out  of  the country.the two indian nationals were tried to smuggle the said stock wallapatta by hiding it inside three bags they carried with them the customs officials said.

The stock of wallapatta herb which suspects were tried to smuggle out of the country is worth over Rs.38 million customs officials have revealed.wallapaata herb is mainly using for medicinal purposes but western countries are using an expensive substance agarwood which fetches   from wallapatta herb to make perfumes  experts said.

The suspects were ready to board the Chennai bound flight UL-121 when they were apprehended it has been reported.

Three New Ambassadors For USA,Germany And India

The Ministry Of External Affairs has today(18)named three officials for the Ambassador Posts in United States,Germany and India .According to the ministry sources Present ambassador to India Prasad Kariyawasam   has been named for the ambassador post in United States ,the former secretary of External Affairs Ministry Karunathilake Amunugama as the ambassador to Germany and Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne for the ambassador post in India.

The high posts committee of the Parliament is due to meet next week to confirm these appointments the external affairs ministry sources said.

Fire Destroyed Six Stalls At Dambulla Economic Center

A sudden fire spread  few hours ago in Dambulla Economic Center  has destroyed around six market stalls in the center  it has been reported.the fire has been spread easily across the stalls as they were made out from wood and fire fighters who arrived the scene soon after the incident were  doused the fire before spreading it further .

The cause behind the fire has not been identified yet.

Midwives Have Suspended Their Island Wide Continuous Strike Action

 The Government Midwives have suspended their island wide continuous strike they launched on 02nd of April the government midwives union has announced.according to the president of the union Mrs.Devika Kodithuwakku ,the strike action has suspended following the promise made by Health Ministry Officials to suspend the midwifery training given to all newly recruited nurses in government hospitals.

Government Midwives last week vowed to launch death unto fast campaign in front of Health Ministry from next week if the authorities fails to meet their demand on suspending midwifery training given to newly recruited nurses.

The Health Ministry has promised the midwives union yesterday (16) that the written assurance regarding midwives demand will be issued shortly according to Mrs.Kodituwakku.

Nurses To Strike If Authorities Released Government Midwives from Nurses Administration

The Government Nursing Officers Association has announced that the government hospital nurses will launch an island wide strike if the health authorities have released the government midwives from the administration of nurses .if there is  such a move nurses will definitely launch a strike the president of Nursing Officers Association Saman Ratnapriya has said,

Unemployment Rate In Sri Lanka Is On the Increase-Central Bank

The Unemployment Rate in Sri Lanka has sharply increased by 0.4 percent during last year (2013) when comparing to the Unemployment Rate of  previous year(2012) according to the Central Bank Reports.the 4% unemployment rate reported from  2012 has been increased to 4.4% last year the report has indicated.

According to the Central Bank the main cause behind the increasing of country's unemployment rate is due to the  large number of new employment seekers who are entering  the job market annually
.the total number of  unemployed persons  reported  in Sri Lanka at the end of the year 2013 is 0.384 million a 0.048 million increase than  the previous year(2012) which stands as 0.336 million.

Immunization And Other Maternity /Infant Vaccines Are Not Supplied To Government Clinics As Promised?

Although the Health Ministry has announced that the immunization and other vaccines prescribe for mothers and infants can be injected through the  all maternity and infant clinics run by  government hospitals  due to the ongoing strike of government midwives ,up to now no vaccine has been supplied to these clinics as promised according to the hospital sources.

Usually these vaccines are injecting  to mothers and infants through the MOH (Medical Officers Of Health)Offices throughout the island by midwives.due to the island wide continuous strike launched by the midwives from 02nd of April   injecting  of  these vaccines have been  suspended in these offices as the midwives have locked the MOH Office Clinics and taken the keys with them health source said
.