Consumer Affairs Authority Has Seized 200,000 KG Of Expired,Colored Coriander In Colombo

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has today(25) seized 200,000 Kilo Grammes of artificially colored, expired  Coriander stored at a retail store in Colombo which prepared to   be re -released to the market in Kalmunai Area.The said stock of coriander worth around Rs.10 million  is not suitable for human consumption and discolored as it has expired already CAA has revealed.

The stock of Coriander seized  was transported from Pettah to Kalmunai to add color through a chemical process it has been revealed.After the process the  colored Coriander stock than transported back to Colombo and distributed among retailers.. 

Several Concessions Given To The Public Through The 2015 Budget Proposals

The Basic Salary of the Public Service Employees have been increased up to Rs.15,000 and all the special allowances to be added to basic salary - Cost Of Living Allowance of Public Sector Employees  increased by Rs.2200 -  Water Bills reduced by 10%  for the first 25 units-  The prices of the Locally Manufactured Milk Powder Products have been reduced by Rs.100 per kilo gramme and local yogurts by Rs.3 -   The standard Price given to Milk Farmers for a liter of fresh milk  has increased  Rs.60 per a Liter-   A pension scheme to be introduced for Apparel Sector Employees       -Mahapola Scholarship fees for University Students to be  increased to Rs.4000 with effect from January 2015 -  are among key proposals made through the 2015 Budget Proposals presented to the parliament this evening by  President Mahinda Rajapaksha.

During his Budget Speech President Rajapksha has announced several other key proposals like Special Tax to be introduced for all Vehicle Imports to the country and US Dollars 100 to be charged for entrance to the casinos.The Fertilizer Subsidy of Rs.350 given to the local farmers will be continued further president has said.Also the guaranteed price for paddy to be increased from Rs.34 to Rs.40 per kilo gramme.

For the pre school teachers a monthly allowance of Rs.2500 will be granted and all the disabled persons in the country will be received Rs.3000 monthly grant according to the budget proposals.The monthly allowance given to the senior citizens of the country to be increased to Rs.2000 per month.

Among other proposals made through the budget speech are 25% electric tariff reduction for small and medium enterprises  that use below 300 units  and 15% reduction of electricity tariffs for industrial sector.

Taxes imposed on imported cars and vans  have been reduced through this budget.

President Rajapaksha To Present The Annual Budget Proposals-2015 To The Parliament Tomorrow(24)

President Mahinda Rajapaksha is due to present the 2015 budget proposals to the Parliament tomorrow(24) as the finance Minister.This budget is the 69th annual budget presented to the parliament and 10th of the present government.

The estimated government expenditure for next year is more than Rs.3053 Billion around 17% higher then this year The Finance Ministry Sources have said.The Ministry that highest amount of money allocated from this budget  is the Ministry Of State Security And Urban Development and the amount is Rs.285 Billion.An amount of Rs.200 Billion is allocated for the Ministry Of Highways,Ports and Shipping and Rs.139 Billion is allocated for the Ministry Of Health from the budget sources have added.

The annual budget proposals which usually scheduled to be presented to the Parliament in early November present to the Parliament tomorrow due to the Presidential Elections scheduled to be held early next year the government sources said.

Nurses Union Leader To Sue Media Spokesman Of Doctors Union Claiming Rs.500 Million Compansation

The President of the Public Services Nurses Union(PSNU) Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero is due to take legal action against the media spokesman of the Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) Dr Navin Soyza by demanding Rs.500 million Compensation for making Defamatory Statements against him.Ven.Muruththettuwe Thero who is also the Chief Incumbent of the Western Province had already instructed his lawyers to file a defamatory case against the GMOA Media spokesman who said to be used abusive language against the thero during  a press briefing held on last July.

Earlier Muruththettuwe Thero who is leading the Sri Lanka's largest Nurses Union(PSNU) has sent a legal notice to the GMOA Media spokesman Dr.Soyza to pay Rs.500 million as a compensation within two weeks time for making the defamatory statements against him.As the accused
has not responded to the notice Muruththettuwe Thero has instructed his lawyers to file a case in Supreme Court against the GMOA Media spokesman.

Two Men Drowned During Sea Bath At Galle Face Green-One Was Saved

One out of the two men who drowned during their sea bath at Galle Face Green this evening was saved while other has gone  missing  the Police have announced.The saved man WAS admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.

The Police and Navy Officers have launched a joint search operation to trace  the missing person.

Health Authorities Will Never Implement The National Drug Policy-Health Trade unions

The Health Authorities here will never implement the much talked about National Drug Policy at all due to the influence of multi national drug companies the Health Trade Union Leaders have stressed.The Drug Policy which the health ministers in the recent past have been pledged that they will implement it soon since 1991 has now become a white elephant according to the Health Trade Union Leaders.

The original National Drug Policy which is based on Professor Senaka Bibile's national drug policy was approved by the cabinet in the year 2005 but it has changed later by some health officials  which was highly criticized by many professionals in the country.Due to the heavy criticisms made against the changed drug policy Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena  has instructed the health ministry officials last June to amend it  and submitted to the Parliamentary Select Committee for the approval.

However since three and half months have elapsed  since the minister's direction the whereabouts on drug policy has gone with the wind the Health Trade Union Leaders have said.

Government Allied Party JHU To Forward Eight Resolutions To The Government

One of the allied parties of the Government Coalition the Jathika Hela Urumaya(JHU) Party has passed eight resolutions during their annual convention  held yesterday to be forwarded to the government in Colombo including the reducing the present Cabinet Of Ministers to 25 members  and  abolishing the executive presidency before the forthcoming presidential elections the party sources have said.

The 11th Party Convention of the JHU was held yesterday in Colombo .The passed resolutions were read to the gathering by the Western Provincial Councilor of JHU Udaya Gammanpila.

Reducing the number of Deputy Ministers in the government to 35 members ,President should be answerable to the Parliament and non career diplomats in the Sri Lankan Foreign Services should be comprised of  35 percent of the total are among the passed resolutions.