Main Opposition UNP Has Nominated The Health Minister Maithripla Sirisena As Their Common Presidential Candidate Of The Opposition

The main opposition United National Party(UNP) has today (21) nominated the  Health Minister and the secretary of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Maithripala Sirisena as the common Presidential Candidate of the opposition for the forthcoming Presidential Elections.

Mr.Sirisena's appointment came by ending  weeks of speculations among the public and media over the  common candidate of the opposition .The new presidential candidate of the opposition has removed from his ministerial portfolio and the secretary post of the SLFP soon after his decision to accept the new appointment it has been reported.

After appointed as the common presidential candidate of the opposition for the presidential elections former minister sirisena has addressed the media at new town hall short while ago and said that he will bring a good governance for the country and also he has appealed to the public to give a clear mandate for him in the forthcoming presidential elections to abolish the executive presidency within 100 days after being elected.he has pledged to create a media freedom in the country  which he says has not seen  at present.Implementing the 17th amendment of the constitution ,abolishing  the 18th amendment and appointing the UNP Leader Ranil Wickramasinha as the prime minister of a future opposition government were among the promises that former minister has been  made during the media briefing.

Former President Mrs.Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge,The fisheries minister of the present government Dr.Rajitha Senaratne and MP Arjuna Ranathunge were among those present at the media briefing.

President Mahinda Rajapaksha has signed the proclamation yesterday(20) for holding the Presidential Elections -2015 which is expected to be held in early January next year.The elections commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya is to decide the date of the presidential elections soon.

The Administrative Work Of The Health Ministry Have Been Paralyzed As 12 Higher Officers Went Abroad For Seminars

The administrative activities of the Ministry Of Health have been paralyzed since last Tuesday(18) as 12 Higher Officers attach to the Ministry including the Health Ministry Secretary and the Director General Of Health Services went abroad at once to attend seminars and workshops the Health Ministry sources have revealed.

According to the sources the Health Secretary Mrs.Sudharama Karunathilake along with the Additional Secretary(Administration) and few other officers had left for Italy to attend a seminar on Nutrition while The Director General Of Health Services Dr.Palitha Mahipala had left for Switzerland to attend another Health seminar.Most of the other officials that went abroad including Deputy Director General of Health Services( Dental Services) are attending a seminar in Bhutan sources said.Two officials including the Deputy Director General Of Health Services(Laboratory Services) went Australia for a private tour it has been revealed.


Out of the seven Deputy Director Generals Of Health Services attach to the Ministry Of Health five have went abroad sources have stressed.

Due to the absent of most of the Higher Ministry Officials ,the weekly Public Day held for the  public at the Ministry Premises yesterday (19)was abandoned as there were only two higher officials to handle the activities.Now only three higher officials namely Deputy Director General Of Health Services(Medical Services-1) the Additional Secretary( Development) and the Deputy Director General of Health Services(Public Health-1) are there at the ministry to handle all the administrative work .

Sri Lankan Born British Citizen Was Arrested Over The Molesting Of A British Female Inside A Flight

The Police have arrested a  Sri Lankan Born British male this morning at the Katunayake ,Bandaranaike International Air Port for allegedly molesting a 27 year old british female inside of a  Sri Lankan Flight.The british female passenger was molested while she was onboard the flight.

This incident had occurred while the molested british female was flying Sri Lanka with her boy friend for a three week holiday it has been revealed.The man who got arrested regarding the molesting incident has been identified as a Sri Lankan born British Citizen
in late 40's who is a resident in Batticloe area.

The suspect was produced before the Negambo Court today .Police are conducting an investigation on the incident.

Kidney Transplant Surgeries Performed At Institute For Nephrology,Dialysis And Transplantation Have Been Suspended

The Kidney Transplant Surgeries performed at  the National Institute For  Nephrology,Dialysis and Transplantation at Maligawatte have been suspended since one month due to the post operative infections occurred in many  patients who were underwent surgeries there sources said.

Performing of  Kidney Transplant Surgeries at the institute  have been suspended as  the said patients were infected with "Acenobactor" Bacteria after the operations it has been revealed.

Due to this situation many kidney patients who are in the waiting list at the institute have faced severe difficulties and even their lives are at risk Doctors have said.

The National Institute For Nephrology ,Dialysis and Transplantations at Maligawatte which was built at a   cost of Rs.70 million was inaugurated in 2009 but the institute didn't perform any Kidney Transplant Surgery until last year(2013) due to human resource and logistics issues as well as due to the battle between doctors and nurses attach to the institute over a room there.

After these issues were settled to a certain extent the surgeries have began last year and around 2 kidney transplant surgeries have been performed there per week until the operations have been suspended. a month ago.

Around 350 People Have Evacuated From Koslanda Due To Landslide Threats

Around 350 people reside in and around Koslanda in Badulla District where the landslide has occurred in two weeks back have been evacuated last evening due to the possible landslide threat in the area the Disaster Managment Center has announced.

The evacuation has taken place after  people in the area have informed the National Building Research Organization(NBRO) that there are earth cracks in the area .The evacuated people are now reside in Ganesha College at Koslanda.

Fifty Nine HIV/AIDS Positives Have Been Reported From Sri Lanka Between July-September This Year

During the three month period July to September this year 59 HIV/AIDS Positives have been reported from the island according to the Director of the National  STD/AIDS Control Programme Dr.Sisira Liyanage.These HIV Positives are on the age group 25-45 he has said.

With the newly found HIV Positives 169 HIV/AIDS Positives have been reported from Sri Lanka this year up to now Dr.Liyanage has stressed.

The STD/AIDS Control Programme Director has said that due to the increasing number of ex marital affairs among youth and adults most of the HIV Positives reported have got the disease through heterosexual relationships."The STD/AIDS Control Programme has planned to launch a practical awareness programme on HIV/AIDS for the most vulnerable groups who are prone to HIV /AIDS including School Children,High School Students ,Tourist Guides,Beach Boys (Especially In beaches in the Southern Province  and Some beaches in Western Province) and Factory Workers " Dr.Liyanage has said.

Since the  first HIV/AIDS Positive case which  was reported from here on the year 1987 majority of the HIV Positives reported from the  island are males  but now the number of female HIV Positives in the country too are on the  increase STD/AIDS Control Programme has said.now the male to female ratio among HIV Positives here is 3:2.

Around 71 HIV/AIDS infected Infants and Children are currently receiving the treatment for the disease it has been reported.

Bribery Commission Has Filed A Court Case Against Former Customs Director

The Bribery Or Corruption Commission has filed a court case against the former director of Sri Lanka Customs Ranjan Kanakasabe for  not disclosing his assets for the 2004-2007 period.The court case against the customs director was filed before Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.

Bribery Commission has earlier filed a court case against him for accepting a Rs.1 million bribe from a person.