President And Health Minister To Submit A Cabinet Memorandum On Increasing Of Cigarette Taxes

President Maithripala Sirisena and Minister Of Health,Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr.Rajitha Senaratne are due to jointly submit a Cabinet Memorandum regarding increasing of taxes imposed on Cigarettes  from 72% to 90% to the Cabinet next week according to Health Minister Dr.Senaratne.

This move will be taken in view of further reducing the smoking rate in the country to prevent spreading of non communicable diseases like Heart Disease,Cancers and Strokes which all caused due to smoking the Minister has stressed.

The government is also planning to introduce a plain white Cigarette Pack like in Australia and to stop cultivation of Tobacco in the country by the year 2020 to further reduce the smoking rate in the country he has stated.

The measures will also be taken to minimize the use of liquor and narcotics in the society  in view of reducing the spreading of non communicable diseases Health Minister has said during a ceremony held to hand over the appointment letters to 1034 Post Intern Doctors at BMICH in Colombo yesterday(26).

The government has spend around Rs.200 billion annually to treat patients suffering from non communicable diseases which mainly caused due to the Smoking and Liquor Use the Health Ministry has revealed.

Kandy Chief Magistarte Has Issued A Restraining Orders For Joint Opposition MP's and Government Ministers To Avoid Commencing Protest Marches Within Kandy

The Chief Magistrate in Kandy has issued a restraining order today(27) against four MP's of the Joint Opposition Group not to launch it's proposed protest march(Paadha Yathra) withing the Kandy City Limits tomorrow(28) which is due to commence under the patronage of former President Mahinda Rajapakshe.

The restraining order was issued against four Joint Opposition MP's Lohan Ratwatte,Mahindananda Aluthgamage,Keheliya Rambukwella and Dilum Amunugama who are the organizers of Protest March in Kandy.

The Kandy Chief Magistrate has also issued a restraining order to Government Ministers Lakshman Kiriella and Kabir Hashim of United National Party who are planning to conduct a programme attached to their Party at the same time  the Joint Opposition organized a protest march.

These retraining orders were issued per the requests made by the Police.

Lotus Road In Colombo To Be Closed Down For A Two Hour Period Tomorrow

The Lotus Road in Colombo will be temporarily closed down for two and half hour period from 7 -9.30 a.m tomorrow (27) for a Bicycle Race according to the Police Headquarters.

The Bicycle Race will start from Lotus Road tomorrow morning and go along Sir Baron Jayathilake Road,Chatham Street,Ceramic Junction,left of N.S.A Roundabout ,Duplication Road ,Saranankara Mawatha and through Galle Road  Mathara.

Air Port Customs Officers Have Detained A Bangladeshi National Who Had Attempted To Smuggle Gold Biscuits And Chains To Bangladesh

The Air Port customs officers have today (26)detained  a Bangladeshi National at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Air Port who had attempted to smuggle 11 gold biscuits and 08 gold chains to  Dhaka,Bangladesh.

The stock of gold biscuits and gold chains recovered  have been concealed in the suspect's luggage and shoes  and it weighs 1150 kilos according to the Air Port customs   officers

Out of the 11 gold biscuits which  found in the possesion of the Bangladeshi National  08 of them were  stored inside his  luggage  and three hidden inside  his shoes it has been reported.

POPULAR YESTERYEAR SINHALA SONG SUNG BY LATE RUKMANI DEVI AND DHARMADASA WALPOLA

Gampaha High Court Has Today Granted Bail For Eight Kelaniya University Students Who Were Remanded Over A Ragging Case

The Gampaha High Court has today(26)  granted bail for eight students attached to the University Of Kelaniya who were remanded in connection with a ragging incident in the University.

The suspected students were released on two personal bails of Rs.100,000 each when the bail application filed behalf of them was taken in to  consideration today by the High Court

These students were detained following a complaint made by a new female student who alleged that she has been subjected severe ragging  in the hands of the suspected students at University Premises over wearing a long trouser to to University.

Health Ministry To Implement A Special Three Day Dengue Control Programme In Western Province

The Ministry of Health.Nutrition and Indeginous Medicine has planned to implement a special three day Dengue Control Programme in Western Province from 29th to 31st of July by targeting construction sites and Schools which are identified as major Dengue mosquito breeding places  in the province.

Around 520 teams comprising of Armed Forces personal and Health Officials are due to participate this three day Programme for Dengue Control Activities including house to house inspection,Destroying Dengue Mosquito Breeding Places and fumigation the Health Ministry has stated.

Meanwhile per the requests made by Educational Authorities the Health  Ministry has instructed the all provincial health services directors in the island to fumigate the fifth grade scholarship and Advanced Level examination centers situated in schools on 30th and 31st of July.