Ninteen Districts Were Flooded Due To Heavy Showers-125,000 Were Displaced

Large number of roads,highways and houses in Ninteen Districts of the Country were flooded and around 125,000 residents were  displaced today due to the heavy showers prevails  throughout the country since last night.The Roads in Balummahara,and Mirissa Junctions in Kandy the hill capital of Sri Lanka were also closed due to the Floods today.

Colombo,Gampaha and Kalutara Districts are the worst affected areas and  four deaths related to floods are reported up to now according to the government officials.Meanwhile President Mahinda Rajapaksha who was in Iran to attend G-15 Meating has advised the Government officials to provide an emergancy relief to the flood victims with immediate effect.The Met Department has announced today that the Heavy showers prevails in the country will continue further due to the preasure growing  in the bay of bengal at present.

Heavy showers caused flooding in roads and houses

Team of specialists on a drug mission

A team of specialists is due to fly back to india today to air lift the essential drugs which are out of stock at government hospitals these days.

Saline Is Depleting From The Medical Supplies Division- Health Ministry To Air Lift A Stock Of Saline From India

The Medical Supplies Division (MSD) and the Government Hospitals are facing a shortage of the essential life saving medicine  Saline as the saline stock remains in the MSD is only sufficient for meating the demand of tomorrow. according to the Medical Supplies Division sources.There is a severe shortage of Saline in government hospitals and the government pharmacies these days.

Meanwhile Health Ministry sent an Air Force  Plane to India this morning to bring a stock of saline sufficient for 14 days according to the Ministry sources.The Health Ministry has decided last friday to air lift the saline by using Air Force planes.However due to the technical difficulties experienced by the indian authorities the mission was suspended earlier sources said.

Four new ministers and two deputies appointed

State of emargancy extended

Chief Opposition Whip Appointed

Opposition UNP Parliamentarian John Amaratunge is appointed as the Chief Opposition whip today.He is due to assume his duties tomorrow.

Court Of Appeal Issued Interim Order Against The Court Martial Trial On General Fonseka

The Court of Appeal today issued a Interim order restraining Army Commander to  conduct the first Court Martial Trial against former Army Commander  and the presidential Candidate Retired General Sarath Fonseka till 21st of May.

The Army Commander has conducting two court martial trials aginst General Fonseka who is now imprisoned since last March.

President Pardoned Journalist Tissanayagam

President Mahinda Rajapaksha has decided to pardon the Journalist J.S.Tissanayagam who was accused for supporting the LTTE.He was imprisoned in last few months and later released on bail.

Price Of The Bread Increased

Sri lanka bakers association has increased the price of the loaf of bread by one rupee with the effect from midnight to night.The new price of the 450 gramme loaf of bread is rs.39.

According to the bakers association this price increase was done due to the recent price increase of a kilo of wheet flour by rs.3.However the prices of other bakery products will not increased the association stressed.This price increase will effect the majority of the consumers in urban and rural areas who are getting use to consuming bread daily due to the prices of rice are higher.

Government Appointed The New Leader Of the House And The Organizer

Government yesterday  appointed the Minister of Irrigation and Water resources Nimal siripala de silva as the leader of the house in the new Parliament and Minister Dinesh Gunawardana as the chief Government whip .

Health Authorities Silance On Importing BTI Bacteria

Although the health authorities stressed that 30,000 litres of bti bacteria which is used to destroy dengue mosquito larvae is to be imported to sri lanka from cuba within last january,now seems passing the ball to other peoples hands without making a statement on their failure to import them.

Dengue Claimes 75 Lives Within This Year

From january to april this year 12,611 dengue patients reported throughout the island and there were 75 deaths according to the director of the epidemeology unit dr.paba palihawadana. Around 60 percent of these dengue patients were reported from 65 MOH divisions belongs to 14 districts dr.palihawadana stressed.

The majority of the patients were reported from the districts of colombo,gampaha ,batticloe,and jafna.People are advised to clean dengue mosquito breeding places in their houses and surrounding areas as the rainy season has begun.

Thirty Seven New Cabinet Ministers And Thirty Nine Deputies Appointed

Thirty Seven New Cabinet Ministers and Thirty Nine  Deputy Ministers were sworn in  before the President Mahinda Rajapksha at the Presidential Secretariat this noon.Almost every former Minister appointed to to the new Cabinet are given a New Ministry and the most talked about changes  are the new appointments to the Ministries of Health,Education and Media as Former Agriculture Minister Mathirepala Sirisena appointed as the New Health Minister,Former Consumer affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena appointed as the new Eduction Minister and Most controverial figure who involved in attacks on Private Media Institutions Former Labour Minister Mervyn de silva got the deputy minister post of Media as the President keeps the Media Ministry under his authority.

There are three female Cabinet Ministers in the new cabinet.Prime Minister of the new government is D.M Jayarathna.

Earlier yesterday the first session of the seventh Parliament was held and MP and President's elder brother Chamal Rajapaksha was appointed as the new Speaker and all the Government and Opposition MP's were sworn in as Parliamentarians afterwards.The most notable attandee at the occassion was the former Army Commander and the leader of the Democratic National Alliance(DNA) Retired General Sarath Fondeka who is under the military detention.He too take oaths as a MP yesterday.

Three essential injections are out of stock at hospitals

Three varieties of essential injections are out of stock at the government hospitals and government pharmacies these days according to the hospital sources. Calcium gluconate,dextrose and an injection given for vomiting are out of stock at the hospitals according to the sources.

Re Polling Of Two Districts Scheduled For Tomorrow

The Re polling of the Nawalapitiya and Trincomalee Districts which were anulled by the Elections Commissioner is scheduled to held tomorrow(20).The Ballot Boxes for the poll were already transported to the Voting centres according to the Election Commisioners office.

Sri Lankan Air Lines Cancelled Direct Flights To European Destinations

Sri Lankan Air Line authorities too canceled their direct flights temporarily to the European destinations London,Paris and Frankfurt with immediate effect following the thick ash cloud  spread throughout the Northern and Southern European sky due to the volcanic eruption occurred in Iceland yesterday.British Air Ways flying Colombo to London too  canceled their flights following the closure of British Air Ports

Due to the cancellation of Flights to Europe Thousands of Foreigners and Locals who are planned to fly European destinations have been seen today standard at the Bandaranaike International Air Port  in Katunayaka,Colombo

According to the authorities they cancelled the Flights till the situation has improved.

Sinhalese And Tamil Communities In Sri Lanka Celebrated Traditional New Year With Harmony

Sinhalese and Tamil Communities today jointly celebrated their Traditional New Year for the first  time after ending three decade old terrorism in the Country.Both Communities celebrated the New year which was dawn at 6.58 a.m today according to the astrologers.


Sinhalese and Tamils all over the world joined this Celebrations by preparing traditional Milk Rice along with sweet meats and taking the meal at a given auspicious time on 9.07 a.m Sri Lankan time.After taking meals at the auspicious time younger ones worship the elders and Exchange Money which was a part of the New Year traditions.

Exchanging meals with Neighbors was also taken place after wards.Large number of Traditional New Year Game festivals were organized throughout the country to mark the new year celebrations.

The Oil annoying Ceremony which is also a major part of the New Year Festival is due to be held tomorrow morning.

Sri Lankan Sinhalese And Tamil Community Celebrates Traditional New Year Tomorrow

Sinhalese and Tamil Sri Lankans all over the world Celebrates their traditional  Sinhala/Tamil New Year tomorrow(14) by taking meals at a single  auspicious time recommended by Astrologers.All Sri Lankan Sinhalese and Tamil People celebrates this new year as the First New Year with peace after the Sri Lankan Military crushed the LTTE Terrorists  who were fought for a separate homeland in Sri Lanka on 19th of May 2009.

People in North and Eastern Provinces who were subjected to harrasment when the LTTE  controled these Provinces too are getting ready to Celebrate this New Year with their Sinhalese Brothers and sisters in South.

Taking meals including the traditional Milk Rice and Oil Cakes in a given auspicious time,Exchanging meals with Neighbors ,Visiting relatives and applying special oil in the  given auspicious time are the main events in this Traditional New  Year festival.Meanwhile US Secretary of state Hilarry Clinton too issued a Greating message today on the Sri Lankan New Year Festival and praised  Sri Lankan Sinhalese and Tamil Communities for celebrating this new year  in a peaceful enviornment first time since three decades..

Major Hospitals To Limit The Surgeries Due To Lack Of Staff

Major Government Hospitals decided to limit the  major surgeries performed in Hospitals during this weak as the majority of the Hospital Staff are on leave due to the forthcoming Sinhala and Hindu New Year.Most of the Hospital staff are on leave since last Thursday where the Sri Lankan Elections held.The only Government Children Hospital the Lady Ridgway Hospital-Colombo decided to suspend the routine heart surgeries during this weak due to the shortage of staff  sources said.

However the Emergancy Operations will be carriedout as usual according to the Ridgway Hospital Sources .

Civic Police Force To Protect Customers During The Festive Season

Sri Lankan Police Department deployed a  group of Police Officers with civilian cloths around  Colombo City and throughout the Island to protect customers and shoppers from crimes  during the Sinhalese and Hindu new year period according to the Police.These Police Officers will served around the Shops and Police Stations to protect customers from robbers and criminals Police Department has announced.

Names Of Newly Elected MP'S Gazetted

The names of the newly elected MP'S from the recently concluded General Elections except  those in Kandy and Trincomalee Districts where poll results annulled  are gazetted with the effect from midnight tonight.According to the Elections Department the names 117 newly elected MP's of Governing UPFA,46 members of UNP,12 members of TNA and 5 members of General Sarath Fonseka's DNA are gazetted.

The voting of the annulled polling stations in Kandy and Trincomalee Districts are due to held in 20th of April and the candidates of these Districts can hold their election campaigns till 17th of April according to the Elections Department.

New Faces Elected For The Sri Lankan Parliament As Several Former MP'S Defeated

New Faces including Actresses,Sportsman and Former Army Commander Imprisoned Retired General Sarath Fonseka were Elected  to the New Parliament with large number of Preferential Votes in the just concluded General Elections of Sri Lanka which has a low voter turn out.When these new faces entered to the Parliament few of the Former parliamentarians in the Government and Opposition Parties in including the former Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Justice Minister Milinda Moragoda were defeated due to lack of Preferential Votes they had received. President Mahinda Rajapaksha's son Namal Rajapaksha who was contested from the President's native Hambanthota District too got elected as a Parliamentarian.

The Imprisoned Former Army Commander Retired General Sarath Fonseka got elected to the Parliament from Colombo District with 98,456 Votes.He was contested under the Democratic National Alliance ticket.The Famous Tele Drama Star of Sri Lanka Upeksha Swarnamali who was contested from the Main Opposition United National Front was elected from the Gampaha District of the Western Province with 81,350 Votes  putting some of the Senior former Opposition Parliamentarians of the district to bottom of the Preferential Votes list.Sri Lankan National Cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya who was contested under the Governing United Peoples Liberation Front(UPFA) ticket too got elected to the Parliament for the first time and he secured 74,352 Votes.

Meanwhile The Popular Sri Lankan Sprinter Susanthika Jayasinha who won the Sydney Olympic Silver Medal for 200 meters and Popular Acctress Geeta Kumarasinha who were contested from the Governing UPFA were defeated from the Elections.

Issuing Of All Island General Election Result Suspended

The releasing of the All Island Election result including the Final Result of  Kandy District of the Sri Lankan Parliamentary Elections held yesterday was suspended by the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dishanayaka after Malpractices occurred in one of the areas in Kandy District.

There have been some incidents occurred during yesterday's polling at the Nawalapitiya Electorate in Kandy District which caused Elections Department to annulled  the Voting there.There will be a re polling in Nawalkapitiya and the Final Result of Kandy District and the All Island Result will be issued after wards, Elections Department has announced today.Meanwhile according to the Elections Department there have been some malpractices occurred during the Elections  at Trincomalee District too.

 According to the Results Issued so far  the Governing United Peopls Freedom Alliance(UPFA) who is leading the Results Issued so far was able to secure 117 Seats out of the 225 seat Parliament while the Main Opposition United National Front(UNF) won 46 Seats and the Tamil National Alliance(TNA) won 12 seats  while  Democratic National Alliance(DNA) won 5 seats .

Sri Lanka To Host Asian Cup Cricket Tournment 2010

The Asian Cup Cricket Tournament 2010 is scheduled to be held in Colombo,Sri Lanka between 15th-24th of June this year the Secretary of the Sri Lankan Cricket announced today.

Voting For The Election Finishes With A Low Voter Turnout

The Voting of the Sri Lankan Parliamentary Elections ended this afternoon at 4 p.m.However the Election Monitors PAFFERAL says  low turnout of Voting has been reported throughout  the Island and it stands around 50 to 52 percent in the evening.

Soon after the Voting has ended the  sealed ballot boxes were transported to the Counting Centers for Vote counting.More then 7000 Candidates were contested for the 225 Member Parliament which only 196 are elected throught the Elections.29 Members are elected from the National List and this number has been distributed among the Political Parties according to the number of Preferential Votes they have received.

Government Hospital Nurses To Launch A Strike

The Public Services Nurses Union(PSNU)today announced that the Government Hospital Nurses will launched an Indefinite Island Wide Strike if the Ministry Of Health failed to implement the Six Month Maternity Tarining for the Nursing Students within Next two weeks.The president of the Nurses Union Ven.Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero said that the Health Ministry Officials and the Treasury Secretary Dr.P.B Jayasundara too promised to Implement the proposed Maternity Training however due to the preasure of the Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) officials are delaying the Implementation process.

Sri Lankans Goes For Vote Tomorrow

Sri Lankan Parliamentary Elections is scheduled to be held tomorrow(08) to elect 225 Members to the  Parliament .Voting will begin at 7 A.M and will ends at 4 P.M.

 Several Film Stars and Sportsman too are contesting for  the Elections this time mainly from the Governing Party.Governing United Peoples Freedom Alliance(UPFA),Main Opposition Parties The United National Front(UNF) and the National Democratic Alliance(NDA) are the main contenders of the Elections.

Meanwhile the Elections Monitoring Team CAFFE said that still there are  Ilegal ways of Election Canvasing taking place in most parts of the country

National Cricketer Sanath Casts His Vote Before The Elections

Sri Lankan National Cricketer and the Candidate of the Governing United Peoples Freedom Alliance(UPFA) Sanath Jayasuriya today cast his vote for the Parliamentary Elections scheduled to be held tomorrow(08)at the Deputy Election Commisioners Office at Matara under the special permission of the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dishanayaka.

Sanath who is contested for the Matara District is currently involved in palying the ongoing Indian Premier League 20-20 ODI Series held in India.

Sri Lanka's General Election is scheduled to held tomorrow.

State Of Emergancy Is Extended

The  State Of Emergancy was extended  for   another one month by the Parliament today as 58 voted in favour and 5 voted against it .TNA and JVP Members voted against it and the UNP Members were absrnt at the occasion.

Court Ordered Slave Island Police To Produce Show Cause

Court today ordered the Slave Island Police to produce show cause on 29th of April on  their Failure to appear before the Court on removing of  protesting  Buddhist Monks at Fort yesterday.The Slave Island Police earlier filed a case against the Protesting Buddhist Monks saying that these Monks are obstructed  the Public by setting  a a stage and starting a Hunger Strike at a popular place.

Police yesterday forcibly removed  the Stage set up by the Monks and detained  few protesting Monks.

Government Declared This Friday As A Special Holiday

Government today declared this Friday(09) a day after the General Elections as a Special Public and Bank Holiday.The Ministry of Public Administration has issued a Special Circular regarding  the Holiday.

Government has also declared a Special Public and Bank Holiday  a day after the Presidential Elections held in 26th of January this year

Police Removed Buddhist Monks Protests Demanding The Release Of General Fonseka

Police today forcibly removed a group of Buddhist Monks who were staged a Fast Into Death Campaign in front of the Fort Station since yesterday noon demanding the release of Imprisoned Former Army Commander and the Common Presidential Candidate Retired General Sarath Fonseka .

Police also removed the Sheds used by these Monks to stage the protest.

General Fonseka who was Imprisoned since last February is due to face the Second Court Martial Trial against him by tomorrow at the Naval Headquarters in Colombo.President Mahinda Rajapaksha appointed a three Senior Army Officers to conduct this trial against the ilegal Arms Procurrement.

NDA To File A Contempt Court Case Against Appointing Second Court Martial

The Democratic National Alliance(NDA) led by Retired General Sarath Fonseka who is imprisoned decided to file a contempt of court case against appointing of Second Court Martial to conduct an Inquiry on General regarding Freud Activities.

According to the Spokesman of the NDA and former JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointment of second court martial clearly violated the court order issued last week to statuesque regarding the General. President Mahinda Rajapaksha has already appointed a fresh Court Martial compromising three senior Army  Officers to conduct an inqury against the General Fonseka.

Slight Delay In Distributing Petrol Among Consumers

There was a slight delay in distributing Petrol among the consumers throughout the Island today.According to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation(CPC) this delay was caused due to a new Soft Ware introduced to the distribution system and the problem is due to ractify soon.

Incompatible Catheters Caused A Confusion Among Hospital Docs

A Confusion arisen among the Doctors of the Major Government Hospitals as the Medical Supplies Division supplied the" Central Venous Double Lumen" Catheters labeled as "Central Venous Single Luman Catheters to the Government Hospitals Hospital sources revealed.A stock of Around 1050 such Catheters worth Rs.800,000 were distributed to the Hospitals like this it has been reported.

Due to this situation Doctors at the Theaters are not able to use these Catheters for their purposes Hospital Sources said.Central Venous Catheters are placed in the Large Vein of the Patients Chest,Neck or Groin Area to adminster Drugs,Fluids, and to obtain Blood Tests and Cardiovascular Measurements.

EU To Delay GSP Concession To Sri Lanka

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband today made a controvertial Statement on granting GSP Plus Concession to Sri Lanka by saying that the European Union is ready to open Trade Ties with Sri Lanka but not willing to extend the Requested GSP Concession to the Country.This is due to the key Human Right Violations in the Country He further added.

World's First Project On Petrol Made From Plastic Waste Opened

World's first Pilot Project on Producing Petrol from Plastic Waste was innaugurated at Yatiyanthota District by today.The Ministry of Enviornment organized this event.

Police Sought Assistance Of The Military Personnale For The Elections

The Police has sought the Assistance of Three Armed Forces to maintain the Security for the forthcoming General Elections according to the IGP Mahinda Balasuriya.Around 7000 Candidates are scheduled to  contest for the General Elections scheduled to be held in  06th of April 2010.

According to the IGP in addition  59,000 Police Perssonnal are deployed for the Election Duty at present and the Police is seeking assistance from around 20,000 Army Personnale.

Media Ministry Requested News Paper Editors To Declare The Journalists Assets

The Media Ministry is sent Letters to the Editors of  all News Papers stating to declare the Assets of the Journalists before end of April.According to the Secretary to the Media Ministry Mr.W.Ganegala under the terms of 1988 Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act Media Ministry has requested the Proprietors,Editors and other Editorial Staff of all  News Papers in Sri Lanka to submit a Statment declaring their Assets.

Elections Commisioner Requested To Re Instate Conumer Authority DG

Elections Commissioner Mr.Dayananda Dishanayaka today requested the Chairman of the Consumer Protection Authority Rumi Marzook to re instate the Director General of the Authority Mrs.Ramani Jayasuriya Immediately as this Removal violates the Election laws .Elections Commissioner made this request after the Director General of  Consumer Protection Authority Mrs.Jayasuriya informed the Elections Commissioner on her removal.

She said that her removal was a result of her refusal to carryout Election Propaganda work ordered by the Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena.However denying this allegation the Minister Gunawardena says that Mrs.Jayasuriya was removed from her post as her term of Office expired and it is not a Political move.

Colombo Shanty People Are the Main TB Cariers

The People lives in Shantys in the Middle Of Colombo are the Main Carriers who are  spreading the  Tuberculosis(TB) in the Country according to the National Tuberculosis Programme of Sri Lanka.In View of this Situation the Programme already recommended the Government to shift these People who are living in Shanty's to a Urban Housing Scheme  as Immediatly  as possible as a Meassure of preventing the  spreading of the  disease.

Special Dengue Task Force To Combat Dengue Menace

A Special Task Force to Control the Spreading of Dengue was setup today at the Health Ministry Auditorium with the Participation of a number of Ministries and State Department Officials.The Cabinet Approval for the setting up of this Dengue Task Force was received two weeks ago.

The newly formed Task Force will Implement an Island Wide Programme to Combat the Spreading of Dengue which already claimed 63 lives within this year according to the Ministry Of Health.

State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation To Issue 2 Million Thyroxine Tablets

Local Drug Manufacturer The State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation(SPMC) is to issue 2 Million Thyroxine Tablets used for Patients with Iodine Deficiency to the Market  on 01st of April according to the Health Ministry.These Tablets are so far Imported To Sri Lanka from Foreign Countries  and Sometimes Due to the Short Supply of the Drug Patients of the Government Hospitals faced enormous Difficulties.

This Problem will be solved As SPMC supplying the required amount of Thyroxine Tablets to the Hospitals and Market  begining from Next Month Ministry Sources further added.SPMC already conducted six pre Clinical Trials on the Thyroxine Drug they made and the Samples of the Drug already sent to the World Health Organization(WHO) for approval.

International Indian Film Acadamy Awards To Be Held In Sri Lanka

International Indian Film Academy Awards 2010 is decided to be held in Sri Lanka on 02nd to 04th of July Sri Lankan Tourism Minister Achala Jagoda has announced today.The International Indian Acadamy Awards is organized by the Indian Film Acadamy for the Artistic and Technical Excellence of the Artists in Hindi Film Industry known as Bollywood.

This Annual Awards Ceremony is held in different parts of the world since the year 2000 and known as Indian Oscar Awards.

Somalian Pirates Hijacked A Ship Carrying 23 Sri Lankan Crew Members

Somalian Pirates Hijacked a Cargo Ship yesterday in the Coast of Oman carrying 25 Crew Members which 23 are Sri Lankans Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry has been announced.
According to the Foreign Ministry Sources the Health Condition of The Sri Lankan Crew who are in Custody is Very Good and efforts are underway to secure their release.


The Foreign Ministry has been instructed the Sri Lankan Missions in Oman and Kenya to look in to this matter.The 11,000 tonne Ship Hijacked by the Pirates is headed to Egypt from Iran with Bermudan Flag also have Two Crew Members from Syria and Philliphenes.

Over Ten Thousand Dengue Patients Reported Within Three Months

The total number of Dengue Patients reported throughout the Island from first three Months of this year now stands as 10,781 and 63 Deaths were reported so far according to the Sri Lankan Epidemiology Unit.

Most number of Patients were reported from the Colombo District.Last year(2009)alone 35,010 Dengue Patients were reported throughout the Island.Epidemiologists appealed the people to clean their household and surrounding these days as the prevailing rainy weather Conditions will cause the increase of Spreading Dengue.

CID Questions Former JVP MP Over General's Son In Law

Sri Lankan CID today questioned the Former MP of the leftist Janatha Wimukthi [eramuna(JVP) Anura Kumara Dissanayaka how can the Mother of General Sarath Fonseka's Son In Law Danuna Thilakarathna received large Sum of Money to deposit in her Account.

Former MP Anura Dissanayaka responded to the CID that maoney may be received as Funds for the General's Presidential Election Camapign.

Government Hospital Nurses To Wear Civilian Cloths From 01st Of April

Twenty Four Thousand Sri Lankan Government Hospital Nurses are due to report to work by wearing Civilian Cloths from 01st of April if the Ministry Of Health failed to provide them the Annual Uniform Allowance by 31st of March according to the Public Services Nurses Union.

The President of the Nurses Union Ven.Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero said that the Ministry Of Health still not able to provide the Annual Uniform Allowance of Rs.9000 to the Government Hospital Nurses this year.Although the Nurses will not be given the Uniform Allowance added to their Salary of this Month as usual the Additional Health Secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathilake promised the Union Officials to provide the Allowance to the Nurses before 31st of this Month Muruththettuwe Thero further added.