Norwegian Diplomatic Staff In Colombo Secretly Aided 12 LTTE Rebels -Norwegian Paper Afterposten

The Norwegian Media has reported that the Norwegian Diplomatic Staff in Colombo had secretly helped around 12 LTTE rebels and provided them political asylum for years.

According to the Norwegian Paper "Afterposten" the Norwegian Diplomatic Staff in Colombo aided these rebels to purchase flight tickets,Driving some to the Air Port and issuing of visas with a short notice both from immigrants and those who are escaped from Sri Lanka..

While the Norwegian Opposition calling this move as quite unusual and "bordering on activism" by claiming this will strained the Norway's relationship with Sri Lanka the Norwegian minister of International Development Erik Solheim has defended the practice by saying that there is a long tradition in Norway for helping those people are at risk.

Government To Employ 30,000 Graduates And OL/AL Qualifiers

Government to employ 30,000 Graduates and Ordinary /Adavanced Level qualified applicants with effect from 01st of August this year Cabinat Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has announced during today's Cabinet Briefing.

Accordingly 15,000 graduates and equal number of O/L and A/L qualifiers scheduled to be recruited to the Sri Lankan Development Service.

3O Killos Of Rotten Kottu Roti were destroyed

The Public Health Department Of the Colombo Urban Council yesterday raided 15 Hotels in the Slave Island in Colombo and arrested 30 killos of rotten  kottu rotty and destroyed them according to the Public Health Department officials.

During the raid Another 35 samples of unhygienic food too taken in to custody by the officials and sent them to the laboratory for further tests the Colombo Chief MOH Dr.Pradeep Kariyawasam has said.

President Named Four Officials To the Bribary And Civil Services Commissions

President Mahinda Rajapaksha has today named Four  officials and members of the Commission  to Investigate Allegations On Bribery And Corruption And the Civil Services Commission.

The Retired Supreme Court Judge Jagath S Balaptabandi  has been appointed as the head of  Bribary And Corruption Commission while Professor Dayasiri  Fernando has been named as the head of the Civil Services Commission.

Retirement Age Of State Enterprise Employees Extended To 57 Years From 55 Years

The retirement age of State Enterprise Employees has been extended  to 57 years from 55 years with effect from 01st of May this year the The Policy And Research Unit of the Presidential Secretariat has announced today.

According to this decision an Employee in a State Enterprise can be in the service till  age of 57 without seeking a service extension.This new retirement age only applied for those employees in state enterprises whose retirement age has been specifically determined through a Parliamentary Act according to the Research Unit of the Presidential Secretariat.

Also the state employees who have reached the age of 55  are  permitted to retire voluntarily.If an employee retired voluntarily from the state service he/she will received the benefits of  Employees Provident Fund(EPF) and the Employees Trust Fund (ETF) the sources said.The circular regarding the new law has already issued by the Treasury Secretary.

Alleged Financial Misappropriation And Match Fixing On Sri Lankan Cricket Interim Committee Has Summoned

The Committee On Public Enterprises (COPE) has yesterday summoned the Sri Lankan Cricket Interim Committee on    Financial Misappropriations and Match Fixing allegations.The chairman of the COPE Senior Minister Dew Gunasekera has said that the summoning of Sri Lankan Cricket is due to the recent media exposures against the activities of the Interim Committee.

According to  the sources the Sri Lankan Cricket Interim Board lost more than  Rs.2 Billion since the present Interim Committee headed by former national cricketer D.S De Silva took over the administration.

Government Hospitals Faced Hardships Due To Short Drug Supply And Poor Quality Drugs

The Government Doctors informed the Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) that there is a short Drug Supply in Government Hospitals at present  and the Drugs supplied too is not in good quality and due to this both patients and doctors facing difficulties.

GMOA Spokesman has said that such a situation arise due to the non availability of  a National Drug Policy .Last year alone the Health Ministry had spent around Rs.15 billion for supplying Drugs to government hospitals but due to low quality and and a short supply of drugs it proved that the expenditure was totally a waste he further added.

During last few months the GMOA had raised the issue  at the discussions held in the  Ministry in several occasions but not received a positive response in this regard according to the GMOA Spokesman.The only solution for tackling this drug shortage and low quality drug problem is the implementation of National Drugs Policy he stressed.