GMOA To Launch An Island Wide Strike Against Attacking Student Protestors

Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has

decided to launch an island wide strike from 8 a.m tomorrow (22) in government hospitals as a protest against assaulting the university/Medical students who occupied the Health Ministry Building forcibly  today (21)

Accordingly the executive committee of the GMOA has decided to resort a trade union action regarding the incident,and the emergency general committe meeting  of the union which  scheduled to be held tomorrow noon (22)will decide the future course of  action GMOA has stated.

Due to the trade union action Treatment of Dengue patients in Hospitals and flood relief work will not be affected the GMOA has stressed.

Around 88 Including 05 Special Police Task Force Personal Injured And Hospitalized Due To The Clash In Health Ministry

Around 88 persons including 05 special task force

personal have been injured and hospitalized this evening (21)following the clash occurred between a group of University/Medical students and riot police when the police have used batons and water cannon to disperse the student protestors who occupied the Health Ministry Building forcibly.

The injured have been admitted To the Colombo National Hospital for treatment and around 50 are being warded in the Accident ward.

The student protestors lead by Inter University Students Federation and Medical Faculty Students Action Committe activists invaded the Health Ministry Building in "Suwasiripaya"in Maradana this evening by demanding a discussion with the authorities on SAITM Issue.

However as the protestors have behaved in a violent manner ,Riot Police have attacked them with batons and later fired water cannons at them to chased away the protestors from the Ministry.

During the clash several vehicles parked inside the Ministry premises have been damaged and windows and steel gates inside the Ministry building were broken it has been reported.

Today is the Public day of the Ministry and people who arrived at the Ministry for their work have faced enormous difficulties due to the situation .

QUOTES FOR LIFE

A Tense Situation In The Health Ministry Building After University/Medical Students Forcibly Occupied The Building

Around 10 University and Medical Students attached to the Inter University Students Federation(IUSF) and Medical Faculty Students Action Committee were injured and hospitalized this evening(21) due to a baton attack and firing of water cannon against them by the Police after the students forcibly surrounded the Health Ministry Building "Suwasiripaya" in Colombo-10 and occupied it during a Protest March held  against SAITM.

The injured students have been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital for treatment.

The group of University /Medical Students had forcibly entered the Health Ministry Building by breaking the security barriers in front of the Ministry and gates this evening and occupied all the  floors of the Building during their protest march which begun from Town hall it has been reported.

However as per the instructions of  Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake the Police had attacked the protestors through batons and fired them with water cannons  to chased them away from the Health Ministry Building .

A Person Was Killed Due To A Wild Elephant Attack In Vavuniya

A resident of Manikfarm in Settikulam area (Northern Province) was killed due to a Wild Elephant attack this morning(21) in Settikulam ,Vavuniya .

The deceased who was a fruit vendor had faced this incident while attempting to collect some fruits it has been revealed.

Gnanasara Thero Who Went Hiding Due To A Arrest Warrant Against Him Surrendered To The Court

The General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena Organization Venerable Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero who were in hiding from sometime and under an arrest warrant , had surrendered to the Colombo Fort Magistrate this morning(21) and later released on bail by the Magistrate.

The accused Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero and seven others of the Bodu Bala Sena Organization are  charged over forcibly entering  a press briefing conducted by the leader of Jathika Bala Sena Organization Vatarake Vijitha Thero in Colombo and threatened the Vatararake Thero and insulting the Quran.However as the Gnanasara Thero did not appear in the court to face the cases filed against him over these charges Court has issued a warrant to arrest him.

However he went in hiding for weeks before surrendered to the Court this morning.The Case against the Gnanasara Thero is due to be  taken up for hearing on 09th of August.

Fire Erupted In A Gas Store Had Doused Early This Morning

The fire that erupted in a Gas Store in Kanampalle Junction,Kosagama had been completely  doused by the fire fighters in wee hours of this morning(21) after battling hours due to the exploding of Gas Cylinders in the store.

The fire has occurred around 7.40 p.m last night(20) and spread to a nearby Building Material Shop  as well and due to it Police have closed the Awissawella -Colombo Hi level  road  from Kanampelle Junction .Heavy traffic had been prevailed in the  Hi level road due to this situation.