Cabinet Approved A Proposal To Control The Import And Use Of Asbestos And To Prohibit The Asbestos Related Products

The Cabinet has approved a proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena when he was the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment to control the import and use of Asbestos from 01st of January 2018 and to prepare an active programme to prohibit the Asbestos related products from 01st of January 2024.

Asbestos  which identified by the World Health Organization(WHO)as contained the substance "Carcinogen" which causes Cancer is used for many products like roofing sheet products,cement pipes,floor tiles,papers,break pads of vehicles and ropes and around 80% of the Asbestos imported to Sri Lanka are being used for roof sheet production it has been revealed.

Although WHO identified that  all kind of Asbestos  including white and blue Asbestos are  containing the Cancer agent "Carcinogen",Sri Lanka has prohibited the importing of Blue Asbestos to the country since 1987.

"BORDIGHERA"(1884) A POPULAR YESTERYEAR ARTWORK OF FRENCH IMPRESSIONSIT ARTIST CLAUDE MONET(1840-1926)

Eleven Health Ministers In South East Asia Region Reaffirmed Their Commitment To Control,Eliminate And Eradicate Negelcted Tropical Diseases(NTD) From Region

Health Ministers who are participating the ongoing World Health Organization's South East Asia Regional Health Ministers Summit have reaffirmed yesterday(06) their commitment to achieve time bound targets to control,eliminate and eradicate Neglected Tropical Diseases(NTD's) including Lymphatic Filariasis(Which already eliminated from Sri Lanka),Leprosy,Yaws,Schistosomiasis and Visceral Leishmeniasis  which continue to burden the marginalized populations in the region according to the Director of WHO for South East Asia Region Dr.Poonam Ketrapal Singh.

"In recently Sri Lanka and Maldives are being recognized as free from Lymphatic Filariasis and India free from the NTD Yaws ,But efforts must be scaled up against NTD's if we are to meet our targets " Dr.Singh has stated.

At least one NTD is endemic in each member country of the WHO South East Asia Region,While the region bears the second highest burden of these infections in the world she has stressed.The NTD's targeted for  elimination in the South East Asia Region by the year 2020 including Lymphatic Filaraisis,Yaws,Leprosy and Schistosomiasis and the NTD Visceral Leishmeniasis  known as "Kala-Azar" is targeted for eliminate by the year 2017 the South East Asia Regional Director has added.   

"Maintaining  political commitment,resource allocation ,strengthening surveillance,empowering and involving communities in elimination efforts and maintaining  a targeted approach are key to achieving our goals .Like any other disease elimination and eradication programme as we move towards the last mile of elimination,new issues and challanges are emerging that need to be carefully addressed to keep the  elimination process on track " Dr.Singh has further stated.

The Regional Director also expressed WHO's ongoing support to countries striving to lift the Neglected Tropical Disease burden,pledging the WHO's technical expertise in identifying barriers and finding innovative solutions,facilitating cross-border cooperation and working with partners to support efforts of the countries.

Cabinet Approved A Proposal On Recruiting 1500 Field Assistants For National Dengue Control Programme

The Cabinet has approved  a proposal on urgently  recruiting 1500  Field Assistants to the National Dengue Control Programme  for Dengue Control Activities.

Accordingly out of this number 700 field Assistants will be recruited for Dengue Control Activities in Western Province and 100 each will be recruited to other Districts the Ministry Of Health  has stated .

Meanwhile Health Ministry has  decided to implement a Dengue Control Week in North and East from 27th of September due to the forthcoming  North East Monsoon rains.

POPULAR YESTERYEAR SINHALA SONG SUNG BY T.M JAYARATNE

Two Youth Were Killed Due To A Car-Lorry Collision

Two youth were killed as the car they were traveling in collided with a Lorry this evening on the Puttalam-Anuradhapura Road it has been reported.

The deceased are identified as residents in Puttalam District.

Court Case Filed Against Former LTTE Media Spokesman Daya Master Has Been Postponed

The court case filed against the former Media Spokesman of the LTTE Organization Daya Master at Vavuniya High Court has been postponed today (06)until 28th of September as the Attorney General not yet submitted the report on allegation leveled against Daya Master.

The case was filed against Daya Master charging that the LTTE had used human shields during the war against Sri Lanka Army when he was a member of the organization.