PSM'S Attach to Colombo National Hospital Are To Launch Half Day Strike Tomorrow(19)

The Professions Supplementary To Medicine (PSM'S) attach to Colombo National Hospital are due to stage a 4 hour strike action from 8 a.m to 12 noon tomorrow(19) in protest against assaulting allied health sciences degree students and reducing the study period of health allied science degree.

According to the Joint Council of Professions Supplementary To Medicine(JCPSM) compromising with Government Pharmacists,Radiographers,Medical Laboratory Technologists,(MLT),Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists Unions due to this half day strike services like issuing drugs to patients through the OPD Dispensaries,Radiography Tests including X Ray and C.T Scan tests ,Laboratory Tests and Physiotherapy Treatment will be affected during the strike period.

The PSMS's attach to Colombo National Hospital has decided to launch this strike against assaulting of University Students who protested against reducing the study period of health allied sciences degree and discrimination faced by health allied sciences degree students the secretary of the JCPSM Saman Jayasekera has said.

The Police has arrested 17 University Students attach to Inter University Students Federation
(IUSF) last Friday who were protested against reducing the study period of health allied sciences degree of PSM'S and Nueses.although several health trade unions and university students federation accusing higher education ministry and the government on reducing the study period of health allied sciences degree  from four years to three years, the authorities have  pointed out that it is the Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) which is behind the decision. 

Police Has Arrested A Child Smuggle Smuggling Children To Australia

The Police has today(18) arrested a man who is alleged as involved in  a Child  Smuggling Racket at Udappuwa in Mudalama Area.the suspect was known as smuggling Sri Lankan Children to Australia via boat and has arrested on a court order given by the Colombo Fort Magistrate.

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has informed the details on suspect to magistrate and the court order was given to police afterwards.the national child protection authority is due to be   produced the suspect before the court .

University Teachers Condemned The Arrests Of Sixteen University Students

The Federation of the University Teachers Associations(FUTA) has today(17) condemned the arrest of sixteen university students attach to the Inter University Students Federation(IUSF).according to the FUTA this kind of arrests will only provoke the students further than solving their problems.

 Demands of University students  like increasing the duration of all health sciences degree to 4 years and increasing the mahapola scholarship fees  accommodation and quality of their academic courses are fair and justified the president of FUTA Dr.Chandraguptha Thenuwara has said.

He has urged the authorities to release the arrested students and resolve their  grievances .

Kirulapona and Slave Island Police have arrested sixteen university students yesterday and the Inter University Students Federation has stated that these arrests are abductions .

Fifteen Inter University Students Federation Members Got Arrested

Around 15  Student members of the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) were arrested today(16) by Kirulapona and Slave Island Police on false charges according to the convener of IUSF Najith Indika.according to him four student leaders including the student rajitha prasad attach to the all health sciences faculty  were arrested by Kirulapona Police and the rest were arrested by Slave Island Police.

The IUSF has claimed that these arrests were made without a proper warrant ,but the police said they are having a warrant for the arrests  it further said.
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Cabinet Has Sent A Warning Letter To The Health Secretary On Involving Tender Fraud

The Cabinet has sent a warning letter to the Dr.Nihal Jayathilake the current secretary of the Health Ministry on his involvement of providing false report to the Cabinet Committee by recommending a regional pharmaceutical company which   not even applied  for the tender of purchasing  "Desferioxamine Mesylate "Injections prescribe for Thalasemia Patients ,as a suitable company to purchase those injection vials.

The Health Ministry Secretary who have received a similar warning letter from the Cabinet few weeks back over another tender fraud like this  has said to be received Rs.10 million as commissions from the said company for recommending them for the tender,

The Rs.3,230,928 worth tender "MSD/P/018/13-DHS/C/P/346/2013-SR Number:160305" was opened in view of purchasing  360,000 "Desferioxamine Mesylate" Injection Vials for Thalasemia Patients in government hospitals.  the health secretary was charged for trying to change the successful bidder company submitted the suitable bid for the tender with another company which not even applied for the tender the government sources said.

The Ministry Of Finance has instructed the Health Secretary to provide a fully detailed report on explaining the reasons  for changing the successful bidder of the tender.

Earlier this week the Government Medical Officers Forum (GMOF)has requested President Mahinda Rajapaksha to remove the Health Ministry Secretary with immediate effect over the corrupted tender deals he got involved in.meanwhile government sources said that the Health Ministry Secretary Dr.Jayathilake is scheduled to be removed from the post by next week and a senior lady administrative officer attach to the Finance Ministry is due to be appointed as the new health secretary
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Fifteen Train Journeys Cancelled This Morning Due To Absence Of Drivers And Guards

The Railway Department has cancelled around 15 scheduled train journeys this morning due to the absence of Engine Drivers and Rail Guards following the two public holidays of Wesak Festival   the department sources said.

As many of the Engine Drivers and Rail Guards not reported to work this morning the General Manger of Railway Department has sent special request to all those absent to report for   work without any delay.meanwhile as some drivers and rail guards reported for work this evening per the request a number of train journeys have resumed without a delay railway department has announced.

Public Health Inspectors Have Thrown Out Unhygienic Food Prepared In 67 Alms Giving Centers

The Public Health Inspectors have today(14)  thrown out a large stock of   unhygienic food prepared and served in 67 Alms Giving Centers(Dansal) throughout the  island  which  are  set  up  to mark  Wesak Full Moon Poya Day the  Public Health Inspectors Association has said.the food that thrown out were unhygienic and not suitable for human consumption the association has stressed.

The Public Health Inspectors have checked majority out of the 4800 Alms Giving Centers situated Island wide according to them.