Twenty Five Percent Of Sri Lankan Population Are Found As Overweight Or Obessed

Twenty Five Percent of the Sri Lankan Population found to be overweight or obesse According to the Latest Research Carried out by the Non Infectious Dissease Control Unit of The Ministry Of Health.

According to the findings in this Research 19.6 Percent of Males and 30.4 Percent Females are Overweight or Obessed Dr.Lakshmi Somatunga the Director Of the Non Infectious Disseses Unit said yesterday(21).

This Research is carriedout among the Age Group of 15-64 .4.8 Percent of the Population is reported as Overweight and Among this 3.6 percent are Male and 5.9 Percent are Females it has been revealed.Lack of Exercise,Low Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables and Large Consumption of Starch are the Main Reasons for this situation Dr.Somatunga stressed.

Army Captured The Vannerikulam Area

58th Division of the Sri Lankan Army Captured Vannerikulam are in the Kilinochchi District Last Evening Security Sources said.

Sri Lanka Among Top Three Countries Which Have Succesful Mental Health Programmes.

Sri Lanka are among Three Middle Income Countries Out of 152 Countries who has been Implemented Very Succesful Mental Health Programmes According to the Latest Mental Health Update Issued by the World Health Organaisation.Brazil and Chilie are the Other two Countries.

Sample Reports Of Another Fifteen Food Items Tested For "Malamine"To Be Received Soon

Sample Reports of Around Fifteen Milk Powder and Milk Products sent to Singapore for 'Malamine"Test have to be Received Soon Food Control Unit of the Health Ministry says.Milk Powder,Chocolates and Biscuits are among these Food Items.Director Of Health Services Dr.Ajith Mendis Last week Banned 59 Milk and Milk Products and Ordered Authorities to Remove them from the Market.All these Milk Products were made In Chinese Food Companies and they were Imported here from Other Asian and Western Countries.

Three CTB Buses Damaged due to a Bomb Explosion

Three CTB Buses were Completely Damaged Due to a Bomb Explosion inside a CTB Bus Parked at the Central Bus Stand In Pettah Few Minutes ago.According to the Police No Civilian Casualties were Reported.

Munche Lemon Puff Cleared From The Malamine Test

Munche Lemon Puff Biscuits Imported From Switzerland which Earlier Identified as Contaminated with the Chemical "Malamine"now Cleared from that Of fence and Removed It from the Banned List Of Food Items which Contained "Malamine" Director General Of Health Services Dr.Ajith Mendis says in a Press Release Issued on Last Friday.A Day Before Dr.Mendis Issued a Circular and Instructed Authorities to Remove Sixty Milk And Milk Products Which are Contaminated With "Malamine" including the Munche Lemon Puff Biscuits from the Market.Munche Lemon Puff with Real Lemon Flavor as it Mentioned in the Ad found not contaminated with the Chemical "Malamine" in a Test Carried out By the National Health Authority Laboratory in Singapore According to the Health Ministry Press Release.
It is not Clear How can a Food Item Earlier Identified as Contaminated with "Malamine"later Cleared in the Malamine Test.How ever EDNA Chocolate Company was Unfortunate in this as even their Chocolates which are made from using Chinese Milk Powder Cleared by the Ministry Of Health from the Malamine Test but faced a Temporary Ban for Issuing Chocolates to the Market.
Consumer Protection Authority has taken a Separate Sample from the Chinese Milk Powder which EDNA Company is using to Produce Chocolates and sent to Test whether they are Contaminated with "Malamine" and till Receiving the test Report Court has ordered the EDNA Chocolate Company to avoid of Issuing Chocolates to the Market.

"Importers Remove "Malamine" Food Items Before Food Inspectors Remove Them"

Importers had Removed most of their Imported Milk and Milk Products from Super Markets found to be contaminated with the chemical "Malamine" before Food Inspectors enter in to these places and remove them It has been revealed.Soon after the Circular issued Last Thursday (19)Evening by the Director General Of The Health Services instructing the removal of sixty food items identified as contaminating the "Melamine "from the Local Market Importers Removed these food Items Including Some Biscuits and Milk Powder says Chief Medical Officer Of the Colombo Municipal Council Dr.Pradeep Kariyawasam."when our Food Inspectors went to Inspect the Super Markets in Town Hall Last Friday Morning they were only able to remove Small Food Items Like Chocolates and Toffees and Most of the Snacks and Biscuits Included in the banned List had removed" he stressed.
Due to this Situation Food Inspectors at the Central Food Control Unit of the Colombo Municipal Council Currently Inspecting the Stores of these Importing Companies to remove these Banned "Melamine" Contaminated Food Items to prevent them from re issued to the Market Dr Kariyawasam further added.Sixty Food Items including Infant Milk Powder,Chocolates,Biscuits and Cereals are Identified as Contaminating the Chemical "Melamine" Known as "Fake Protien".All these Food Items were Manufactured in China and Imported here from Asian and European Countries.

Fifty Lorries Carrying Food Items To Mulathivu And Kilinochchi Returned After The LTTE Attack

Fifty Lorries Carrying Food items for the Civilians in Mulativu and Kililnochchi Districts returned to Vavuniya after LTTE attacked with Artillery's and Claymore Mines Government Sources said.

Ministry Of Health Instructed Authorities To Remove 60 Milk And Milk Products Containing Malamine From The Market

Director General Of Health Services Dr.Ajith Mendis today Instructed all Provincial Health Services Directors and Urban Council Authorities to Remove 60 varieties of Imported Milk and Milk Products from the Local Market which are confirmed to be contained the Industrial Chemical "Malamine" which is responsible for 4 Infant Deaths in China.Large Varieties of Chinese Made Biscuits,Cakes,Confectioneries,Liquid Milk,Yoghurt,Snack Food,Frozen Desserts,Powdered Milk,Cereals,Processed Foodstuffs,Products with Dairy Components including Infant Formula are banned and begun to remove from the Local Market from today Ministry of Health Says.

These Products are Imported from New Zealand, Singapore,Malaysia,Belgium,Germany,France,Korea,Japan,Netherlands
Hongkong,Austria,Australia.USA,Canada,Switzerland,Macau.Some of the Popular Brands Like Cadbury Chocolates,Snickers and Munchee Lemon Puff with real Lemon Flavour are among these banned products.Four Infants Died and more then sixty thousand infants suffering from kidney Stones in China due to the Infant Milk Powder Contained with "Malamine" which is use to increase protein Levels.

There Is A Shortage Of Qualified Nurses In The Public And Private Health Sectors -Prof.Lalitha Mendis

Even though the Ministry of Health has taken steps to train more nurses for the State Owned Hospitals there is still a shortage of qualified nurses in the public and private Health sectors says the President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association Professor Lalitha Mendis.Currently there are only 12 Nurses per 100,000 population she said.Ministry of Health recently recruited large numbers of students for Nurses Training but due to the Shortage of Nursing Tutors,Lack of facilities in the Nurses Training Schools including Library and Lecture Hall Facilities there is a problem to train Qulified Nursing Staff she stressed.

Supreme Court Rejected Court Case Filed By JVP Over Karuna's Appointment

Supreme court yesterday (13) rejected the Court Case filed by the Janatha wimukthi Peramuna (JVP) against the appointment of Karuna Amman as M.P from the National List of the Governing United People's Freedom Alliance(UPFA).JVP had filed this court case soon after the Karuna was sworn in as a M.P in last week.JVP Officials are saying that they are not opposing Karuna's appointment as M.P but Opposing of appointing him under the National List of the UPFA.

Execise Department Increases The Duty Of Local And Foreign Liquor

Excise Department increases the Duty Imposed on Local and Foreign Liquor by Fifty Rupees per Litre effective from 08th of October.Department also increases the Duty on Beer by Ten Rupees.

Higher Wages And Good Living Conditions Leed Sri Lankan Specialist Doctors To Stay In Western Countries

Higher Wages,Better Living and Satisfactory working conditions in Western Countries are the main reasons behind the decesion of Sri Lankan Doctors to migrate those countries after finishing their Specialists Training abroad said Professor Lalitha Mendis Today(12).Sri Lankan Doctors who are undergoing their Specialists Training in Countries Like United Kingdom,Australia and Canada Prefers to stay there after the training instead of returning to their Motherland Due to these reasons Professor Mendis stressed.
Delivering the Keynote Address at the Inauguration of the Third Conference on Asia and Pacific Action Alliance for Human Resources(AAAH) in Hotel Ceylon Continental today She pointed out that now in sri lankan Specialist Doctors Patient Ratio stands as 4.8 per 100,000 population and it is expected to improve by the year 2015 as 10 doctors per 100,000 population.Now sri lanka is having around 500 specialists she stressed.Professor Mendis also said that Postgraduate Institute Of Medicine is doing A great Job for training these Specialist Doctors.Psychiatrists,Dental Surgeons and Ophthalmologists are the main categories who didn't return home after receiving there Specialists Training Abroad due to the demand they have in those countries She said.According to the statistics there are only 55.2 doctors per 100.000 population in sri lanka.

President Appeled To The LTTE to Lay Down Arms

President Mahinda Rajapaksha today(11) appealed from LTTE to lay down their Arms and Surrender."By doing this LTTE Should enter the Democratic Process" He said in his address to the All Party Conference held at the Presidential Secretariat."Our aim should be to ensure the Democratic rights of the Tamil People in Sri Lanka" he further added.Representatives of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Communist Party of Sri Lanka, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Jathika Hela Urumaya, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, and Ceylon Workers Congress. Up Country People's Front, National Unity Alliance, United National Party Democratic Group, Eelam People's Democratic Party, All Ceylon Muslim Congress, National Congress, Western People's Front, Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal, National Freedom Front attended this conference.

Funeral Of Major General Janaka Perera Taken Place With Full Military Honours

The Funeral of the Major General Janaka Perera and His wife took place this Evening with Full Military Honours at the Borella General Cemetery.Major Perera and his wife were killed due to a suicide bomb attack in Anuradhapura last Monday.Large number of people including political and military personal attended his funeral.he was offered 13 gun salutes at the Funeral.Major Janaka Perera was the Opposition Leader of the North Central Provincial Council at the time of his demise.He survived with four children.

Deputy Leader Of The Sea Tigers Killed From An Explosion

Deputy Leader of the Sea Tiger Squad" Chelian"died due to a Claymore Mine Explosion this morning Security Sources Revealed.

Dixon Dala Bandara Appointed As The New Governor Of The Northern Province

Dixon Dala Bandara has been Sworn In as the New Governor of the Northern Province today(10).He was sworn in before the President this morning Government Sources said.

"Sri Lankan Children Are Consuming 80 Metric Tonnes Of Chewing And Bubble Gums"

It has been revealed that the Sri Lankan Children are Consuming 80 Metric Tonnes of Chewing Gum and Bubble Gum per Month Chief Food And Drug Inspector of the Ministry Of Health Mr.P. Madurasinha said today(10).Consuming large Quantity of Gums is not suitable for a Third World Country like Sri Lanka he said.Because of the low prices Parents get used to buy these sweets instead of fruits for their children Mr.Madurasinha further added.

Final Inquiary Report On Expired Blood Kits To Be Handover Before 15th

The much waited final report of the Inquiry on Expired Blood Kits found from the National Blood Center in Narahenpita and Four other State Hospital Blood Banks will handover to the Health Secretary Dr.Athula Kahanda Liyanage before 15th of this month Ministry Sources said today(10).Supreme Court Ordered the Health Ministry on 15th of september to conclude the ongoing probe on the Expired Blood kits Within a month and the deadline will be in 15th of this month the sources further added.Supreme Court Issued this order on a request made by the United National Party Parliamentarian Dr.Jayalath Jayawardana.If the Ministry has failed to act according to this order they have to face a court case.

Therefor the Final Report of the Inquiry on Expired Blood Kits will be handover to the Health Secretary either 13th or 15th of October Ministry official said.The Special Investigations Unit of the Ministry Of Health is conducting this Inquiary.Former Director of the National Blood Centre Dr.Mrs.Mangalika Bindusara and another Doctor attached to the Centre were already faced suspensions regarding this case .

Doctors And Other Medical Staff Left From The Kilinochchi Hospital Citing Security Reasons

Majority of the Hospital Staff attached to the Kilinochchi District General Hospital Left from the Hospital due to Security Reasons sources revealed.Only one MBBS Doctor the Medical Superintendent and few from the other Medical Personnel remain in the Hospital According to the sources."One Doctor attach to the Hospital return to Colombo Few days ago but we recruit him to the Jafna Hospital" A Ministry Official said.There are no Indoor patients at the Kilinochchi Hospital at present it has been revealed.

Most of the Doctors and other Medical Staff who left from the Kilinochchi Hospital went to the Mulativu and Jafna District Hospitals Sources said.

All Imported Milk Products To Sri Lanka Tested Before Releasing

Food Control Unit of the Ministry of Health is taken steps to Tested the Samples of every Brand of Powdered Milk and Milk Products imported to Sri Lanka from other Countries before releasing them to the Importing Companies Ministry Sources said.Ministry has taken this decision after Taking in to Consideration the incidents of using Industrial Chemical "Malamine" to improve Protein Levels of the Milk Powder in China and Other Countries too Export the Chinese Milk Powder and their Milk Products sources revealed.Already Three Officers of the Ministerial Food Control Unit are functioning at the Ports Authority in this regard and every sample that have taken will be send to the Industrial Technology Institute for Quality tests.

Milk Powder Importers too have taken a keen Interest to Test their Imports ever then before Higher Official Of the Ministry said.

Supreme Court Ordered To Return Waters Edge Land To UDA-Chandrika and Ronnie To Pay Compensation

Supreme Court yesterday(08) ordered to return the 224 Acres of Hotel Waters Edge Land in Battaramulla to the Urban Development Authority within a Month.Court also Ordered Former President Chandrika Bandaranayaka Kumaratunga to pay Rs.3 Million and Business Tycoon Ronnie Pieris to pay Rs.2 Million as compensation to the government for involved in this Illegal Land deal.Also ordered three others to pay Rs.1 million each.The disputed Land which is belong to the Urban Development Authority was sold to the Asia Capital Holding to built a Hotel when former President was in power.The land will be use for relocating government offices.

Karuna Amman Elected To Parliment-JVP Boycotted the Parliment

Vinayagamurthy Muralidaran Allias Karuna Amman the leader of the TMVP(Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pukkal) today elected to parliment under the National List of the Ruling United People's Freedom Alliance(UPFA).He took oath as a M.P before the the Speaker W.J.M Lokubandara this morning while the opposition Janatha Wimukthi Peramuna (JVP) boycotted the parliment proceedings as a protest against his appointment.Karuna Entered the Parliment through a Vaccancy created by the former J.V.P Parlimentarian Wasantha Samarasinha when he resigned from his seat to contest for the recently concluded North Central Provincial Council Elections as a Chief Ministerial Candidate.Even Though lost his bid he secure to enter the Council as a member.
JVP requested government to re apoint him for the vaccant National List Seat but government is not responding for their request. JVP today (07)filed a complaint in the Supreme Court challanging the Appointment of Karuna Amman from the UPFA National List.
Karuna Amman was responsible for training the Suicide Bomb Squad of the LTTE which became a threat to the country and also known as a person behind the recruiting of Child Soldiers to the LTTE in the Eastern Province.He and few people including Sivanesathurei Chandrakanthan Allias Pillaiyan who is the deputy leader of the TMVP and The Chief Minister of the Eastern Province split from the LTTE few years ago over a problem with their leader Prabhakaran.Karuna who went to England with a freud passport arrested by the British Immigration Authorities and later expelled him to sri lanka.

Major Janaka Perera and 28others Killed From A Suicide Bomb Attack In Anuradhapura

Twenty Eight People including the Opposition Leader (UNP) of the North Central Provincial Council Major General Janaka Perera , his wife Vajira,and United National Party's Chief Organizer for Anuradhapura Dr.Raja John Pulle were killed and nearly Eighty Six others got Injured due to a Suicide Bomb Attack occurred Near the Anuradhapura Bus Station Yesterday Morning(06).this bomb attack occurred around 8.45 a.m when the opening ceremony of the new United National Party Office in Anuradhapura was taken place.A young man believed to be a handicapped person ran towards the Major and remove his shirt to explode the bomb it has been revealed. Injured were admitted to the Anuradhapura General Hospital.According to the hospital sources 15 were in critical condition.18 Died at the spot and 10 others died after getting admitted to the hospital.Among those killed by the bomb attack were North Central Provincial Councilor Sunil Dissanayaka,former Councilor Shantha Punchihewa,Former Deputy Mayor of the Anuradhapura Urban Council Kumar Pathirana and the lawyers A.C.S Hameed and Thanuja Rajapaksha.Deceased A.C.S Hameed was the owner of the house where the New UNP Office is located.
Traditional Sweet Meets Brought for the occasion including Milk Rice seen disperse throughout the place.Meanwhile Health Ministry has sent Essential Drugs required and a Neuro Surgeon from a special flight to Anuradhapura Hospital under the instructions of the Health Minister Nimal Siripal De Silva Ministry sources said.
Major General Janaka Perera involved in several major security operations including the "Rivirasa" Operation which saw Armed Forces captured the Jafna town from the hands of the LTTE.He got most number of preferential votes during the recently concluded North Central Provincial Council Elections out numbering the Chief Minister Elect Berty Premalal Dissanayaka of ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance.He is also served as a Sri Lankan Ambassedor to Australia and Indonesia.

Security Forces Are Two kilo Meters Away From Kilinochchi Town

Security Forces are two kilo meters away from Kilinochchi Town and Government declared a 10 kilo meter Strech in "Vishvamadu" and "oddusudan" as no war zones to ensure saftey of the civilians there Minister Keheliya Blackwells said.

Office Of A Senior LTTE Leader Nadesan Attacked

Sri Lanka Air Force Jet Air Crafts Attacked an office situated in 500 kilo meters of Dri Arukulam area used by the Senior LTTE Leader Nadesan Security Sources Said.

Sixty DSI Employees Admitted To The Ragama Hospital After Food Poisioning

Sixty Employees of the DSI/Ranpa Show Room at Kadawatha admitted to the Ragama Teaching Hospital Yesterday(03) after developing Fatigue and Stomachache believed to be a Food Poisioning The Director of the Ragama Teaching Hospital Dr.Mahanama Rajamanthri Said.Out of this Thirty were discharged after receiveing treatment and others are still in the ward he said.Most of them are female employees Dr.Rajamanthri Added.

Air Force Fighter Jets Attacked The LTTE Headquarters

Air Force Fighter Jets Attacked the Main LTTE Headquarters in Kilinochchi two kilo meters North of Kilinochchi Town this noon around 12.40 p.m Security Sources revealed.

Doctors To Stage A Walkout On This Saturday To Tribute The Slain Doctor

All the Doctors attach to the Government Hospitals will stage a walk out on this saturday(04) as a mark of respect to the Assassinated Lady Doctor of the Bandagiriya Hospital in the Hambanthota District Dr.Lakshmi Indunil .Her funeral is scheduled to be held on this saturday and due to the walkout of the Docs Out Door Patients Department Clinics and the normal duties of the Doctors in the Government Hospitals will not functioning as usual in this saturday Dr.Upul Gunasekara the Assistant Secretary of the Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) said yesterday(02) at a press briefing.Also All the Government Doctors have decided to refrain from engage in Private Practice this saturday Dr. Gunasekera Said.However the Doctors of the Lady Ridgway Children's Hospital,Castle Street Maternity,De Soyza Maternity,Cancer Hospital and the Accident Service of the Colombo National Hospital not join this action he stressed.
The Assassin of the Lady Doctor got Arrested this morning at Tangalla by the Army Police.GMOA also requested the Health Ministry yesterday to pay Rs.5 Million as a Compensation to the family of the slain Doctor.GMOA Executive Commitee met yesterday decided to form a fund to help the family of the slain Doctor and to the Doctors who are facing harassment in the future.GMOA also decided to Temporarily Suspend the General Strike over the Assassination of the Doctor after the Assassin got arrested.

Security Forces Captured A LTTE Runway

Security Forces yesterday captured a five hundrad meter long LTTE runway located seven Kilo meters North West of Mankulam in the Panikkankulam Area.

Standard Commitee Appointed to Prepare The Patients Charter

Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva yesterday(30) appointed a Ten Member Standard Commitee to prepare the Proposed Patients Charter.The Director General of The Health Services Dr.Ajith Mendis is Chairing this Commitee and Professor Colvin Gunarathna and the Deputy Director General Of Health Services Dr.Wimal Jayantha are among the other members.This Commitee will examine the areas identified as important when preparing this Charter.The Common Facts included in the Patients Charters of Thirteen Countries which are relevent to Sri Lanka will take into consideration when prepring the Patients Charter Dr.Wimal Jayantha Said.

Doctors Threatening to Strike If The Assasin Of The Doctor Is Not Bring To Justice

Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) today(01) threatend to launch an Islandwide Strike If the Authorities failed to bring the Army Officer responsible for killing Dr.I Lakshmi attached to the Bandagiriya Hospital in Hambanthota.The Executive Comittee of the GMOA is due to meat noon today to decide the future course of action Dr. Upul Gunasekara the assistant Secretary of the GMOA said.All Government Doctors attached to the hospitals in Hambanthota is on strike over this killing since yesterday(30) noon. Dr.Laksmi was Shot and killed by the Army Officer at her Quarters over a dispute between them from sometime which also lead to a court case.
Meanwhile Authorities not able to arrest the suspect of this killing till yesterday noon.Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday sent Senior Director of the Ministry of Health Dr.Piyasena Samarakoon to Hambanthota to investigate in this matter and to take neccesary action.