Sudden Fire At Kelanithissa Power Plant Has Been Probed

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has began an investigations on what caused the sudden fire erupted in Kelanithissa  power plant early this morning according to CEB Chairman Professor Wimaladarma Abeywickrema.A sudden fire erupted at the power plant around 4.30 a.m this morning has destroyed the main switchboard of the power plant's power generation machinery he said.

Due to this the machinery has currently been shut down but it will not effect the power supply the chairman has stressed.

Severe Syringer Shortage At Karapitiya Hospital

The Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Southern Province has faced a severe shortage of Syringes these days according to Hospital Sources.Due to this shortage Doctors of the hospital  have recommended both indoor and out door patients to purchase these syringes from private pharmacies the sources further said.

PSM'S Suspended Their Trade Union Action Till 28th Of April

The Executive Committee of the Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine has decided to day (19th) to give Health Ministry till 28th of April to provide solutions for their three service demands according to the Secretary Of the Council Saman Jayasekera.

Due to this the island wide work to rule and sick note campaigns which they have earlier decided to launch withing next few days are suspended till 28th he added.A meeting was held yesterday (19th) between Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena at the Health Ministry and during that meeting Minister has requested the PSM Union members to give him till 28th of April to solve  demands it has been revealed.

Ex-Co Of Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine To Finalized The Dates Of Their Trade Union Action Tomorrow(19th)

The Executive Committee of the   Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine (JCPSM) is to meet 12 noon tomorrow(19th) to finalized the dates of  Future trade union action of Government Professions Supplementary To Medicine(PSM'S), the secretary of the Joint Council Saman Jayasekera has said today (18th).

The Executive Committee  prefers to launch a continuous work to rule campaign and sick note campaign demanding solutions for three of PSM'S service demands he has stressed.The PSM'S have decided to resort trade union action as Ministry Of Health failed to meet their demands the secretary has further added.

The PSM'S compromising Government Pharmacists,Radiographers,Medical Laboratory Technicians(MLT'S),Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists involved  in an  island wide continuous strike action last month till an enjoining order issued by Colombo District Court prevents them by continuing the strike.

417 Injured Children Hospitalized During Sinhalese And Tamil New Year Holidays

Around 417 injured children including those injured due to put their hands in  to the  heated  Oil Pans were received treatment from Lady Ridgway Children's Hospital during Sinhalese and Tamil New Year Festival Season  from 12th to 15th of April according to Hospital Sources.Out of this number 296 Children were received OPD Treatment for their injuries and 121 were  hospitalized for further treatment.

Around 12 children  who have  received burn injuries after they put their hands in to heated oil pans prepared for making traditional new year sweet meats like Oil Cakes (Konda Kawum) and Kokis are currently receiving further treatment from Burns Unit of the hospital it has been reported .These Children are reside in Colombo and Suburb Areas and this is the first time  that a large number of children with such injuries got admitted to Children's Hospital.

Except Burn Injuries most other children who are  hospitalized were due to bruises and cuts received through accidental falls hospital sources further said.

223 Injured Persons Got Admitted To National Hospital During Last 24 Hours

During the new year day from 7 A.M  yesterday(13th) to 7 A.M today (14th)around 223 persons who got injured due to accidents have been admitted to Colombo National Hospital according to hospital sources.When compared to New Year day last year there's a 4 percent increase of accidents during this year's new year festival the sources added.

During 24 hours from 7 A.M on last Thursday (12th) to  7 A.M on Friday (13th)   228 injured persons got admitted to National Hospital sources have further revealed. Meanwhile according to reports there's a sharp decline of fire cracker injuries this year.

Traditional Sinhalese And Hindu New Year Falls To Day (13th)

The traditional Sinhalese and Hindu New Year falls today (13th).The new year marks the moving of Sun to the house of Aries (Mesha) from the house of Pisces (Meena).According to Sinhalese Calender this new year day also marks the end of Harvest and Spring and this season calls as Bak Season.

The new year will be dawn at the auspicious time of 7.20 p.m today while lighting of hearth is  at 7.42 pm .The auspicious time for exchange of money and gifts and per taking meals including traditional Milk Rice and sweet meets is at 10.28 p.m.Afterwards the worshiping of elders with traditional Betel Leaves and exchanging of meals among neighbors will take place.

After today the  oil anointing ceremony which is a part of the traditional Sinhalese New Year will take place  on 15th of April (Sunday). The final part of  New Year the leaving for  work falls on 16th of April (Monday).

Sinhalese and Tamil New Year Day and day prior to New Year are public,bank and mercantile  holidays in Sri Lanka. It is generally celebrated on 13th or 14th April every year while this year it falls on 13th of April.The timing of the Sinhalese New Year coincides with the new year celebrations of many traditional  calendars of South and Southeast Asia. The festival has close semblance to the Tamil New year Thai New year, Bengali New Year, and Oriya New Year festival in India.

"WISHING YOU ALL A  HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS SINHALESE AND HINDU NEW YEAR  2012"