OPD And Clinics Of Ambilipitiya Hospital Re Opened

The OPD and the Clinics attached to the Ambilipitiya Base Hospital which shut down since the 07th of August due to the shortage of Minor Staff members re opened today after the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Health Authorities have provided around 20 Minor Staff members to the Hospital to fill the shortage  Hospital Sources said.

Grade Five Scholorship Exam Conducted To Day

The Annual Grade Five Scholarship Examination was held today in  2772 centers Island Wide.A total number of 321,427 candidates were sat for the examination according to the Examinations Department.

Out of the total number of candidates sat for the examination 241,610 were from Sinhala Medium and 79,817 candidates sat for the examination in Tamil Medium.There were 506 Coordinating Centers set up this year island wide for the Scholarship Examination.

The Prices Of Gas Cylinders Increased By Rs.156

The Prices of 12.5 KG Litro and Laugfs Gas Cylinders increased by Rs.156 with effect from Mid Night tonight(19th) according to the Ministry of Cooperatives and Internal Trade.Laugfs Gas Company earlier sought a price increase of Rs.570 per 12.5 KG Gas Cylinder however the Ministry has only allowed a Rs.156 price increase according to the Ministry Sources.

An American And Two Sri Lankans Detained Under Cocaine Trafficking Charges

An American and two Sri Lankans who were attempted to export 53 Grammes of Cocaine to  America were detained at Katunayake International Air Port today by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) .After produced them before the Colombo Fort Magistrate Court the Magistrate has ordered the PNB to detained the three suspects under Cocaine Trafficking Charges till 23rd of August.

The Detainees were an American National ,his Sri Lankan Wife and another Sri Lankan who tried to get   released  first two suspects.

Import Taxes On B Anions,Potatoes And Garlic Increased

Import Taxes on Big Anions,Potatoes and Garlic are increased according to the Ministry Of Finance.The Import Tax on Big Anions increased by Rs.10 per Kilo Gramme,Potatoes by Rs.5 per Kilo Gramme and Garlic by Rs.15 per Kilo Gramme the Ministry  has announced.

UNP Reformist Group Holds A Protest Campaign Demanding the Change Of Party Leadership

Thousands of United National Party (UNP)supporters gathered at the Viharamaha Devi Park in Town Hall,Colombo this evening for a protest demanding  current UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinha to step down from the Party Leadership and hand over the position for Deputy UNP Leader Karu Jayasuriya.

The UNP Reformist Group led by the leader MP Sajith Premadasa and MP Dayasiri Jayasekera organized this protest and "Satyagraha" which is earlier decided to held in front of the United National Party Headquarters "Sirikotha"in Pitakotte this morning.However the Protest in front of Sirikotha was challenged when the Gangodawila Magistrate Court has today ordered the Police not allow anyone to Protest.Public Gathering or Procession in front of "Sirikotha:'.

While respecting the Court Decision the UNP Reformist Leader MP Sajith Premadasa has announced that the planned protest and "Satyagraha " has been shifted to Viharamaha Devi Park.Addressing the Rally Deputy Leader of the UNP MP Sajith Premadasa has said that the current leader should end the contract he is having with the Government to retain his Party Leadership and should resign from the leadership with immediate effect."Party needs a Change he has pointed out."It doesn't matter if he holds the Opposition Leader Post,What really matters is his resignation" he stressed.

Meanwhile there are reports that a pack contains "Wasps" found in side the Park where the rally was held.

Three People Killed Due To A Van-Car Accident

Three People were killed due to a Van -Car Accident occurred in Mahawita .Yakkala this morning according to the Police.

Consumer Affairs Authority To Take Legal Action Against 910 Errant Cement Traders

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has today said that they will take a legal action against 910 Cement Traders who have committed various offenses in the Cement Trade. The Offenses including the selling of Cement more then the required maximum retail price. Hiding Stocks of Cement and selling Cement under conditions according to the CAA.

The Maximum Retail Price of a 50 KG Cement Bag is Rs.750 according to the Consumer Affairs Authority.CAA has continued raids to apprehend errant Cement Traders .
















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A Tense Situation Occurred After Police Arrested 25 People In Connection With Attacking Police Jeep

A tense situation occurred when a large number of people were surrounded the Government Agent's (GA) Office in Kinniya, Trincomalee this morning, demanding the immediate release of  25 individuals arrested by the Police in connection with attacking a Police Jeep today.

The crowd including the residents of the area who gathered in front of GA Office are demanding the release of the arrested people and the removal of the Navy Camp situated tin Kinniya.Arrests were followed after a Group of people attacked a Police Jeep Parked near the Navy Camp this morning wounding two of the Police Officers inside the Jeep it has been reported.

Police Jeep came there to control the tense situation occurred after a violent attack to the Navy Camp last night by a group of people after seeing an alleged "Grease Devil" roaming the area entered the Camp.

Laugfs Gas Ltd .Seeks A Price Increase Of 12.5 KG Gas Cylinder

Laugfs Gas Limited has requested  permission from the  Ministry Of Cooperatives and Internal Trade a Price Increase  of  Rs.570 per their 12.5 KG Gas Cylinder according to the Ministry Sources.

An Unidentified Group Damaged Popular Sinhala Cinema Actress Late Rukmani Devi's Grave Tomb

An unidentified group had damaged the Grave Tomb of the Popular Sri Lankan Actress Late Rukmani Devi who was the First Sinhala Cinema Actress at the Periyamulla General Cemetery located in Negombo last evening (12)causing damage to the Security Fence surrounded her tomb and the monuments including her biography Negombo Police said today.

Police have arrested seven suspects in this regard and produced before the Negombo Magistrate Court and the Court ordered them to be  remanded till 15th of August (Monday).All name boards and board including Late Rukmani Davi's Biography established at the Grave except her Memorial got damaged during this incident according to the Police.The reason behind this action has not yet identified .

Late Rukmani Devi was the First Sinhala Cinema Actress and Singer who castes the main role of the First Sinhala Motion Picture "Kadawuna Poronduwa"(Broken Promise) screened in 1947.Since then  Rukmani Devi  has acted in large number of films till her tragic death occurred in Ja Ela ,Thudella on 28th of October 1978  while on her  way home after attending a Musical Show .She died on the sport after her Vehicle collided with a Petrol Bowser.She has known as the Nightingale Of Sinhala Cinema as she was having a gifted  beautiful voice  which gave her fame as a one of the greatest singers  ever produced by Sri Lanka.If u need more information on Late Rukmani Devi visit
http://emanthi-cinema.blogspot.com/

Internal Trade Minister To Rewarded The Public Who Are Supplying Information On Hidden cement

The Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando has announced to day that those who are providing information tips to the Consumer Protection  Authority( CAA) on people who are  responsible for hiding Cement will be rewarded.Also Ministry has said that they will pay 25 percent out of the total value of the Cement that recovers to the people who are providing  Information in this regard.

40 Percent Of Ice Cream Varieties Available in Colombo City Are Not Hygienic

Around 40 percent of the Ice Cream Varieties available in Food Parlors, Super Markets and Mobile Vans within the City Of Colombo are harmful for human consumption due to not storing them in  required temperature level the  Chief Medical Officer In Colombo Dr.Pradeep Kariyawasam has said today.

Ice Creams should have stored in below  -18 degrees centigrade but most of the Centers where Ice Creams are  available are stored them in well over -18 degrees Dr.Kariyawasam has said.To save electricity these Centers are regularly switched off the power supply and Due to this the Ice Creams became a liquid and as a result  fungus and other germs will grow in that according to the Colombo Chief Medical Officer.

Therefore the  Public are alerted to check the status of an Ice Cream before  buying  it he said.Measurements are to be taken to go to courts against those who are selling unhygienic Ice Creams to the public  if necessary  he stressed.

Medical Supplies Division And Health Ministry To Destroy Expired And Low Quality Drugs

The Medical Supplies Division (MSD) and the Ministry Of Health have  jointly decided to destroy the Rupees Millions worth quality failed and expired drugs/surgical/Surgical Equipment stored in  MSD Stores since few years .According to the MSD sources around 300,000 "Pethidine" Injections Vials which were expired on 2009  and Hypodermic 19G,24 G and 25 G needles are among the Drugs/Surgical items due to destroy the MSD Sources revealed.

Although the MSD and the Health Ministry has decided to destroy the said expired and low quality drugs no supplier neither an official were punished for importing low quality drugs according to the sources.One Fifth of the space in MSD Stores have been  occupied by these low quality and expired drugs according to the MSD

OPD And Clinics Attached To Ambilipitiya Hospital Shut Down Due To The Shortage Of Minor Staff

The Out Door Patients Department (OPD) and the Clinics attached to  the Ambilipitiya Base Hospital in Sabaragamuwa Province are closed since this Tuesday (09th) due to the severe shortage of Minor Staff in these Departments.Due to this situation around 20,000 registered patients of the Hospital OPD Clinics and around 1000 patients who are getting OPD Treatment faced severe hardships Hospital Sources said.

There is a shortage of over 60  minor staff personal at the Hospital OPD the sources have revealed.

After several requests made by the Hospital Staff and the Trade Unions the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Health Ministry has sent 12 new minor staff members to the Ambilipitiya Hospital yesterday but the hospital authorities said this amount is not sufficient.Meanwhile the Hospital Staff of the Ambilipitiya Hospital staged a protest in front of the hospital this noon urging the authorities to re open the OPD and the Clinics after overcome the shortage of minor staff.

Sri Lankan Medal Winning Weight Lifter Chintana Vidanage Banned For Four Years

Sri Lankan Weight Lifter Chinthana Vidanage who was also a Commonwealth Gold Medalist has been banned for four years by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) for using banned substances according to the Sri Lanka Wight Lifting Federation (SLWF) sources.This Ban will effect from 13 of May 2011 the sources have confirmed.

Chintana was found positive for the banned substance "Methylhexaneamine" During the recently concluded Asian Championships.He won a  Gold Medal in 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Australia from the 63 KG Category and became Sri Lanka's First Gold Medal Winner in Weightlifting .

Vacant Administrative Posts Of The Health Minsitry And Hospitals Created Chaos In Health Administration

Due to the vacancies of around 20 Administrative Posts attached to the Ministry Of Health and affiliated Institutions the Administration of the Health Sector has become stand still according to the Health Trade Union Alliance(HSTUA).c

The President of the HSTUA Mr.Saman Ratnapriya has said that 12 Administrative Posts both Medical and Non Medical and 8 Hospital Director Posts are among these 20 vacant administrative posts.Even the Ministry Of Health has informed the Secretary of  Ministry Of Public Administration to  fill these vacancies but still not received a reasonable response in this regard he stressed.

The Director Posts of the Colombo National,Lady Ridgway,Castle Street   Maternity,Karapitiya,Galle,Kegalle,Kandy and Badulla are vacant since some time back according to the HSTUA.

Government Medical Officers Association Condemned The Health Authorities Failure To Take Action Against Errant Suppliers

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has today claimed that the Health Ministry should have revealed the details to the Public  on whether the Ministry has  taken any action  against the errant Health Ministry/State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) Officers and the Suppliers of low quality Medicines worth Millions of Sri Lankan Rupees Imported for the Government  Hospitals.

Health Authorities are spending huge amount of money more than the allocated money to buy medicines of low quality GMOA has said.Although the Medical Supplies Division storing these low quality Drugs and Surgical s removed from the Hospitals in their stores still the authorities have failed to destroy these low quality Drugs and Surgical s or taken action against the errant suppliers according to the GMOA Spokesman.

Lasith Malinga And Upul Tharanga Recalled For The Sri Lankan One Day Sqaud

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has said today that the Sri Lanka's leading fast bowler Lasith Malinga and the Opening Batsman Upul Tharanga who was suspended for taking a banned substance during the ICC World Cup Cricket Tournament have been included for the Sri Lankan National One Day Squad for the ODI Series against the visiting Australians.

Both Players missed the concluded two 20 over matches held in Pallekale Stadium between Sri Lanka and Australia.

The First One Day International between Sri Lanka and Australia is scheduled to be conducted tomorrow (10) at Pallekale International Cricket Stadium of  Kandy District.

Speaker Was Facilitated In Parliament Today

The Speaker Chamal Rajapaksha was facilitated in Parliament today on his appointment as  Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association .

Meanwhile Government hands over a letter to the Speaker  requesting to setup a Parliamentary Select Committee to Draft a Political Solution to the National Issue.

State Of Emergency Passed With Majority Of 80 Votes

The State Of Emergency was passed today in Parliament with majority of 80 votes while 110 voted for and 30 voted against it.

Meanwhile  Prime Minister D.M Jayarathne has told Parliament today that the Government is considering on lifting  Emergency Regulations soon after  consultation with the National Security Council.

Only Blue And Black Pens Allowed For This Years A./L Examination

The Students who are Sitting for this years Advanced Level Examination are only allowed to use Blue and Black pens when  answering the Papers . Using of any other colored Pens and Pencils as well as highlighters ,Calculators and Mobile Phones with Blue Tooth facility are strictly prohibited according to the Education Ministry.

A Drug Banned By World Health Organization Issued To The Government Hospitals?

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has said today that a Certain Drug banned by the World Health Organization(WHO) and refused to accept by the Health Ministry Technical Evaluation Committee has been issued to the Hospitals last week despite the ban by Some of the Ministry Officials.An action will be taken against these errant Health Ministry Officials who are violated the Tender Procedure by issuing a Banned Drug for the use of Patients the Minister has stressed.

Addressing a Media Seminar held today at The Medical Research Institute (MRI) Auditorium in Colombo ,the minister has said that when there's a shortage of Drugs or a low quality drug  available in government hospitals everyone blames him and stressed that he's not an expert on Drugs ."The Experts who are sitting for the Drug Tender Board Meeting are responsible for this situation " the Minister has said.

160,000 Low Quality Intra Venous Sets Issued To The General Hospitals-Health Services Trade Union Alliance

Around 160,000 low quality Intra Venous Sets which are use to fix to the Saline Bottles were local purchased and distributed among majority of the General Hospitals throughout the island by the Medical Supplies Division (MSD)according to the Health Services Trade Union Alliance.The president of the Alliance Saman Ratnapriya has said today that  these Intra Venous Sets worth Rs.3.5 million were locally purchased by the MSD from a Chinese Medical Supplier on 2011-06-22 and Distributed among General Hospitals with a hole in every Intra Venous Sets pack  covered by a White Sticker.

As a product which manufactured through a Sterilization process the Intra Venous Sets pack cannot be with any hole as every pack should be free from all germs to ensure the safety for using for the patients Ratnapriya has stressed.However these packs are having holes which covered by a white sticker and when the sticker is removed the big hole was appeared he further added.

Some of the Doctors and Nurses already have informed to their Hospital Administrations that these Intra Venous Sets are not suitable for using for patients however still most of the hospitals received these low quality Intra Venous Sets still using them to give Saline for the patients Saman Ratnapriya has revealed.While  saying that there is a great health Risk created by  using of these low quality Intra Venous Sets for Patients,Ratnapriya appealed from the Health Minister to investigate on the Locally Purchasing of these Low Quality  Sets and revealed the findings to the public as soon as possible.

Nominations For 23 Local Government Councils To Be Gazetted Today

The Notification calling nominations for the 23 remained Local Government Councils to be gazetted today according to the Elections Department.Nominations are due to handover between 18-25 August the Department has said.

The Second Term Of Government Schools Ends Today

The Second Term of all Government Schools ends today (04)according to the Ministry Of Education.Schools will reopens on 05th of September except 41 schools which are the centers for marking Advanced Level Examination Papers.

More Then 100 Drugs And Surgicals Are Out Of Stock In Hospitals And MSD

More than 100 essential Drugs and Surgical Items are out of stock in Government Hospitals and in Medical Supplies Division(MSD) these days accroding to Hospital Sources.Among the Drugs and Surgical Items that are out of stock are Drugs prescribe for Diabetes,High Blood Preassure,Heart Diseases,Cholesterol ,Eye Diseases and Respiratory Diseases as well as Surgical Item Surgical Gloves sources have revealed.

Taking benefit from the situation most of the Government Hospital Doctors are getting used  to local purchase  Surgical Gloves which is out of stock at the moment for higher prices according to Hospital Authorities.

Meanwhile more than 100 quality failed Drugs and Surgical Items were withdrawn from the Government Hospitals during last 12 month period and that was one of the major causes for   current Drug Shortage prevails in the Country Medical Supplies Division(MSD) sources stressed.Health Minister Mailthripala Sirisena and few of the Health Ministry officials are currently in India to discuss on buying Drugs indirectly from the Drug Manufacturers in India.

37 percent Of The 65-74 Age Group Are Toothless.

Around 37 percent of the   Sri Lankan Population's   65-74 age group are not having a single tooth in their mouth according to the latest dental survey results issued by the World Health Organization(WHO).According to Dr.Jayasundara Bandara the Deputy Director General of Health Service (Dental Services) when the Sri Lankan population reached 60 years of age 25 percent of  the said age group are not having a single tooth in their mouth ..

Due to not protecting their teeth since child hood by brushing the teeth  twice a day,most of the above age group people are suffering from Tooth Decay due to not brushing their teeth properly Dr.Bandara had stressed.

GMOA Claimed That Sri Lanka Medical Council Ruining The Medical Education

Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) has today condemned the activities of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) by  stating that the members of SLMC ruining the Medical Education System in the Country.

Addressing a Press Briefing held at GMOA Office in Colombo this noon the Assistant Secretary Dr.Upul Gunesekera has said  that the Sri Lanka Medical Council has taken few wrong decisions including trying to give the Registration to some 60 Assistant Medical Officers(AMO) who got completed short post graduate training and concerning to reduced the pass mark of ACT-16 Exam faced by Foreign Medical Graduates from 45 to 40.

GMOA along with a special committee appointed to amend the Medical Services Act in a view to changed the SLMC Structure will work to change the face of SLMC Dr.Gunesekera stressed.

Sri Lankan Muslim Community To Begin Fasting For Ramazan Tomorrow

The Colombo Grand Mosque has announced today that the Fasting period for  Sri Lankan Muslim Community  in the view of Ramazan Festival will begin tomorrow as the new moon has been sighted .

State Pharmaceutical Corporation Need Rs.50,000 Million Additional Money Annually To Purchase Drugs Due To Corruption

Due to the Corruption and Fraud activities occurred during the  Tender Procedure and Technical Evaluations, The State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) need to spend an additional Rs. 50,000 Million annually besides the allocated funds when  purchasing of  Pharmaceuticals,Surgical s  and Laboratory Chemicals for the Government Hospitals according to the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation sources.

The sources further say that the Ministry Of Health has given the amount they allocated last year to purchasing the required Drugs,Surgical s and Lab Chemicals for the Hospitals as Rs.15 Billion ,But due to the Corrupt Activities the real amount spending over this has multiplied.As the SPC need lots of money to spend on purchasing Drugs for the State Hospitals they have taken the Bank loans and as a result the SPC have to pay Rs.450,000  daily to Two of the State Banks as a interest which they are having over draft it has been revealed.

Meanwhile as a step to stop corruption and Fraud activities occurred in Tender Procedures and Technical Evaluations when purchasing of Drugs  the Ministry Of Health is planning to purchase the required Drugs directly from the Governments of India and Bangladesh the Ministry Source said.However the Pharmaceutical Experts have stated that the Ministry should have acted more responsibly than this when com batting against the Corruption in Pharmaceutical Industry as most of the Drugs imported from India and Bangladesh are facing quality failure problems.

These experts are also in the view that the Health Ministry Officials should try to stop these Corrupt practices occurred in Tender Procedures and clean the Tender System in whole without giving interim solutions to the problem.