The Largest Haul Of Heroin Ever Found In Sri Lanka Had Been Seized At Orugodawatta Container Yard

Around 100 Killo Grammes Of Heroin stored in three Industrial grinding machines imported from Karchchi, Pakistan had been seized this evening by the Sri Lankan Customs Officials at Orugodawatta Container Yard in Colombo.The grinding machines which were declared as used ones were received  the Container Yard last week.

The said   stock of Heroin which estimated as worth Rs.700 million is known as the largest haul of Heroin ever taken in to custody in Sri Lanka.One suspect who had imported the machinery from Pakistan along with the two wharf clerks  who arrived the container yard to clear the  machines  had been  arrested in this regard Customs Sources said.As the two wharf clerks who were  taken to custody are fasting at present,officials have decided to question them regarding the stock of heroin after they breaking their fast.

The stock of heroin seized were stored  inside the cylindrical part of the machines as 1 gramme packs it has been reported.

Meanwhile the Customs Officials have been reported as dismantling the grinding machines imported from Pakistan after seizing the stock of heroin.  

Minor Staff Workers Strike Had Paralyzed the Patient Care Services In 34 Central Government Hospitals

Due to the Seven Hours Strike launched today(21) by the Minor Staff attach to 34 Central Government Hospitals island wide ,Patient Care Services including Surgeries have been cancelled during the striking period the hospital sources have said.Patient assistant services,carrying patient to Wards and Clinics,Surgeries ,collecting blood samples and Issuing Numbers to Clinical Patients are among the services paralyzed due to today's strike sources added.

Thousand of patients have faced enormous difficulties due to the strike action it has been revealed.
Around 25,000 minor staff workers have been participated the strike and during the strike period striking  workers have seen gathered in front of their working places and conducting  protest campaigns,

The Minor Staff has launched this strike in protest of not solving few of their service demands including not solving their salary anomalies caused under the 2006 Government Circular the organizers of the strike Joint Trade Union Council said.After the Discussions held between the council officials and the Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena this noon , the strike was temporarily suspended as minister has promised to solve the demands by next week.

However a large number of Minor Staff members have seen engaged in Fasting and protest Campaigns in front of the most Central Government Hospitals including Colombo,National Hospital today.The protests are to be continued till the demands are meet The Joint Trade Council has said.

Fourteen Sri Lankan Workers Trapped In Libya Returned

Fourteen Sri Lankan Workers who were trapped in Libya due to the recent war situation there have been returned to Sri Lanka this morning according to the Foreign Employment Bureau.

The workers who were trapped in Libya since long time   were bring back to  the island via Dubai by the Foreign Employment Bureau.

Portugal Prime Minister To Visit Sri Lanka Tomorrow(20)

The Portugal Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho is due to arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow(20) for a one day official visit according to the government sources.The portugal premier is due to hold bi lateral talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksha ,Prime Minister D.M Jayaratne and External Affairs Minister Professor G.L Pieris and due to visit two of the Portugal's Aid Projects here.

This will be the first visit of Porugal Premier to Sri Lanka. He is also  due to participate the signing ceremony  of the Memorandum Of Understanding(MOU) between Foreign Trade And Investment Agency(AICEP) of Portugal and it's Sri Lnakan Counterpart.

Health Ministry To Consider Allowing Private Practice For PSM'S After Their Working Hours

 The Ministry Of Health has submitted a Cabinet Paper regarding allowing Professions Supplementary To Medicine(PSM'S) to engage in private practice after working hours (after 4 p.m) in  government hospitals the Ministry Secretary Mrs.Sudharama Karunaratne has said.at present only Government Doctors and Nurses are given permission by the health ministry to do private practice after working hours

According to the Health Secretary,Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has submitted a cabinet paper per a demand made by Joint Council of Professions Supplementary To Medicine(JCPSM) to allow their professions namely Government Pharmacists,Radiographers,Medical Laboratory Technologits(MLT),Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists to do private practice after working hours in their hospitals.

The PSM's who were staged a two day island wide strike last Thursday and Friday also put the private practice demand among their  six demands which lead them to the strike.

Tooth Decaying Among The Age Group Between 35-44 Is On Increase-Dental Surgeons

Tooth Decaying is high among the Sri Lankans in the age group between 35-44 according to the Dental Surgeons .among the age groups the tooth decaying among the people belongs to the age group between 35-44 is 89.78%  it has been revealed.

The second highest rate of tooth decaying is reported among the age group between 65-74 with 71.1%  and children under 5 years old having   the third highest rate of tooth decaying in Sri Lanka with 68.31% .

According to the Dental Specialist Dr.Prasanna Jayasekera the tooth decaying among some age groups in Sri Lanka as mentioned earlier is on increase .The main reason for this situation is bad food habits including consuming too much of sweets and sugary drinks Dr.Jayasekera has stressed.sweets and sugary drinks should be consumed in between main meals he has said.

Meanwhile the Community Dental Specialist Dr.Iresha Perera has said that the tooth decaying in Sri Lanka is becoming a national disaster and the authorities should implement educational programmes  to avoid tooth decaying."Tooth Decaying is now becoming the worst disease among Sri Lankans more than Dengue" she has  stressed.

To avoid tooth decay everyone needs to pay special attention on their teeth and should get the necessary advise through the  Dentists she has revealed.

Health Ministry Secretary Has Got Caught To The False Alarm Of Opposition MP

The  new Secretary of the Ministry  of Health Mrs.Sudarma Karunaratne along with few health ministry officials had gone  to the medical supplies division (MSD) yesterday (15) evening per a false information received from the United National Parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa stating that a group has trying to rob two vehicle loads of medicine stocked at MSD  and returned to the ministry empty handed it has been reported. 

When the health secretary and the  group of ministry officials went to the MSD premises situated just near the ministry building to seal the vehicles if found that the medicines are going to rob.however they found   that the said vehicles are loading medicine to transport them to the State Pharamceutical Corporation stores and not that  anyone trying to rob the said stock of medicine.

After this incident The Medical Administrators attach to the Health Ministry are due to meet the Health Ministry Secretary withing next few days to advise her  not to trust the information received through out side persons including opposition MP;s and to consult medical administrators of the ministry before taking any action..