Lanka Indian Oil Company Reduced The Price Of Diesel Liter

The Lanka Indian Oil Company (LOIC) has reduced the price of  Diesel Liter by Rs.3 with effect from today according to the LOIC sources.According to the new price reduction a Liter of  Diesel is reduced to Rs.82 from Rs.85.

Transport Ministry Estimated The Damage Done Due To Train Collision Yesterday As Rs.75 Million

The Transport Ministry has estimated that Rs.75 million worth damage done due to the Train Collision occurred in Alwwa yesterday(17).

According to the Ministry the Special Committee appointed to investigate on cause of the Collision still not reached definite conclusion in regard the Accident.However special attention has been forward towards the way which the Railway Control Room and the Signalling System operated at that time Ministry sources added.

Five Passengers were killed and more than Thirty got injured when Three Trains collided each other at Alwwa last evening.A Thai Buddhist Monk,Train Driver,Assistant Driver and a Railway Worker were among the deceased.

Foreign Passenger Died And More Than 30 got Injured Due To A Train Collision At Alawwa

One Person was killed and more than 30 injured  due to a collision of Three Trains  at Alawwa  this evening.The injured were rushed  to the Alawwa Hospital and around 15 seriously injured persons were transferred to the Kurunagala Teaching Hospital according to the sources.

The dead person identified as a Foreigner who was in the Kandy Bound Train which is one of the collided Trains.Few other Foreigners in side the Trains were too got injured due to the accident.The accident was occurred when the Rambukkana bound train from Colombo had stopped  near Alawwa for a repair  and it was being pushed towards Polgahawela by the Colombo-Kandy Intercity Express which arrived from the same rail way track. Afterweards A Polgahawela bound power set from Colombo had arrived on the same track and crashed on to the rear of the Intercity Express, causing severe damage to the Observation Saloon .

Meanwhile The Railway Authorities have appointed a special committee  to investigate  the incident.

FOREIGN -Out Of Use 6 Tonne NASA Sattellite To Hit On Earth By Next Week -NASA

NASA has announced that an out of use 6 tonne NASA Science Satellite will break in to pieces by next week  on it's way to  earth and the debris will land any continent except Antarctica.The Full details on this are as follows.

An out-of-use NASA science satellite will plunge back to the Earth in about a week, but there is absolutely no idea as to where it is going to fall.The 6.5-ton Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, known by its acronym UARS, will burn up in Earth's atmosphere when it finally falls from the orbit later this month or early October.

NASA says the 20-year-old UARS ran out of fuel in 2005. Pieces of the satellite could land anywhere in the six inhabited continents in a worldwide swath from south of Juneau, Alaska, to just north of the tip of South America.

NASA has estimated a 1-in-3,200 chance that a satellite part could hit someone. Most of it will burn up after entering the atmosphere. Only about 1,200 pounds should survive, scattered over perhaps a 500-mile-wide area, NASA said.

 

UARS was deployed from the shuttle Discovery in 1991 to study Earth's atmosphere and its interactions with the sun. The $750 million mission measured the concentrations and distribution of gases important to ozone depletion, climate change and other atmospheric phenomena. NASA says readings from UARS provided conclusive evidence that chlorine in the atmosphere, originating from human-produced chlorofluorocarbons, is at the root of the polar ozone hole.

The risk to public safety or property is extremely small. Since the beginning of the Space Age in the late-1950s, there have been no confirmed reports of an injury resulting from re-entering space objects.

The satellite's current orbit is 155 by 174 miles (250 by 280 kilometers), with an inclination of 57 degrees, said NASA. That means the satellite would have to descend into the atmosphere somewhere between 57 degrees north latitude and 57 degrees south.

NASA estimated that the debris footprint would stretch about 500 miles.

That means pieces could fall over most of the world's six inhabited continents as well as its three largest oceans.(INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES)

Importing Of Sub Standard Petrol To The Country-CPC Sent Dep.Finance Manger On Compulsory Leave

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) authorities have sent one of the Deputy Finance Managers of the Corporation on Compulsory Leave with effect from yesterday (16) regarding the importing of Sub Standard Petrol to Sri Lanka recently.He was sent Compulsory Leave on Disciplinary Grounds accrding to the CPC Sources.

Petroleum Minister Susil Prema Jayantha has instructed the CPC Chairmen to take Disciplinary Action against those who involved in import ing sub standard petrol to the country.

The using of the Sub Standard Petrol imported by CPC damaged several vehicals in the Country and authorities have taken steps to pay compansation for the owners of those damaged  vehicals.

280,000 To 2.8 Million Lost Days In Sri Lanka Due To Mumps Disease To Be Saved Through MMR Vaccine ?- Dr.Sudath Pieris

Through the MMR (Measles,Mumps and Rubella) Vaccine which is due to be introduced to the National Immunization Programme from 01st of October this year it will expect  to save 280,000 to 2.8 million working days which are lost due to the people affected from Mumps in Sri Lanka according to the Senior Epidemiologist Dr.Sudath Pieris.

Dr.Pieris said that 0.1 to 1 percent of the Sri Lankan Population are affected with the disease Mumps every year and that is around 20,000 to 200,000 patients annually.Due to the symptoms of Mumps people have to keep away from their offices,schools and universities for long time and this  will affect the Economy badly he stressed.

As the MMR Vaccine is introduced to the Immunization Programme the Rubella Vaccine currently administered through the programme will be stopped as the protection against Rubella Disease too provided by the new vaccine.

Addressing a Media Seminar on MMR Vaccine held in Health Education Bureau today Dr.Sudath Pieris has said that the MMR Vaccine will be given to the Children aged One Year and Three Years and the Females 16-44 years with the effect from 01st of October this year.The Government will spend Rs.200 million for importing of one million doses of MMR Vaccines required annually he further added.

US Asst.Secretary Robert O Blake Proposed To Deploying Tamil Police In Northern Sri Lanka

Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert O Blake today said in Colombo that the deploying of Tamil Police in the Northern Sri Lanka is important so there is no need for Sri Lankan Police to carry out these functions there.

Addressing the Journalists in Colombo today (14th) Mr,Blake has said that he was always concerned on the Human Rights situation in North especially regarding Rehabilitation and Re settlement process.Also US is very much concerned on attacks against Journalists he stressed.

US Assistant Secretary has also said that the Government needs to put an end to the Grease Devil Situation as the People in North are going through an Insecurity Situation due to this.

Chewing Of Betel Leaves Caused The Increase Of Oral Cancer Amongst Sri Lankans

The Oral Cancer among Sri Lankans are in increase due to the habit of  chewing betel leaves according to the Consultant in Community Dentistry attached to the National Cancer Control Programme Dr.Hemantha Amarasinha .Tobacco Leaves,Arecanut and Lime  which are using as sub ingredients  when chewing   Betel Leaves are also acting as Cancer Agents he stressed.

Due to this situation Dr.Amarasinha has appealed to the Sri Lankan Public to avoid of chewing Betel Leaves and the related ingredients  to prevent of getting Oral Cancer.Oral Cancer has identified as the number one Cancer amongst Male Population in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile International Researchers have found that the Cancer Agent  "Safrole " substance is contain in Betel Leaves.

According to the latest statistics 14.1 per 100,000 Male Population  and 3.8 per 100,000 Female Population  in Sri Lanka are having  Oral Cancer.1617 Oral Cancer Patients are identified in the year 2005 according to the Dr.Amarasinha.Except the habit of Betel Chewing the other factors identified as causing  spreading of Oral Cancer amongst the Sri Lankan Population are Smoking,Liquor Addiction ,Viral Infections in side mouth and the Sun Light he stressed.

Kumar Sangakkara Won Two Awards At The ICC Awards Ceremony

Former Sri Lankan Cricket Captain Kumar Sangakkara became the first Cricketer to received two Awards at the ICC Cricket Awards Ceremony when he bagged both  ICC ODI Player of the Year Award and  LG People's Choice Award at the International Cricket Council(ICC) Awards held in London yesterday(12th).

However due to the ongoing Test Match Series held in Sri Lanka against the visiting Australian Cricket Team Sangakkara was not present at yesterday's Awards Ceremony.

11 Member Medical Team To Leave For Pakistan Tomorrow To Combat Dengue Epidemic There

A 11 member Sri Lankan Medical Team is due to leave for Pakistan tomorrow(14) to combat the Dengue Epidemic spreading in most parts of Pakistan including the state of Punjab according to the Health Ministry sources.The team compromising of 8 Medical Doctors including two Epidemiologists,2 Nursing Sisters and an Entomologist .

This Medical Team is due to stay in Pakistan around two weeks to engage in Dengue Control activities and providing treatment for the Dengue Patients according to the sources.The Team was selected after  Pakistani President Asif Al Zardari has requested from the Sri Lankan Government to send a medical team to combat Dengue menace in his country .

First Female Attorney General Of Sri Lanka Has Appointed

Solicitor General S.Eva Wanasundare has became the first ever Female Attorney General of Sri Lanka as  President Mahinda Rajapaksha  today  appointed her as the new Attorney General .

The new Attorney General was sworn in as Attorney At Law in 1977 and became State Counsel in 1979.She became the first female additional Solicitor General in 2005 according to the Government Information Department.Recently Senior Supreme Court Judge Shirani Bandaranayake was appointed as the first female Chief Justice of Sri Lanka.

Rainy Weather To Continue Till Tomorrow Eve?

The Meteorology Department has said today that the prevailing Rainy Weather Pattern experienced in most parts of the island will continue till Sunday (11) afternoon.Afterwards the wet weather conditions will gradually decreased according to the Department.

Most parts of the Country have experienced the Rainy Weather Conditions with strong winds today as well .

Sri Lanka Standard Institute Released The Stock Of Pakistani Cement To The Market

The Sri Lanka Standard Institute (SLS)today has given A green light to the consignment of Cement imported from Pakistan by releasing the consignment to the local market.Standard Institute recently suspended the releasing of this Cement Stock which was imported from the Lucky Cement Corporation in Pakistan by stating that the Company is supplying  sub standard Portland Cement.

However the Chairman of  Sri Lanka Standard Institute Mr.Kanchana Ratwatte has said that the consignment of cement was released to the market due to it met the required standard.

The Banning Of Sending Government Hospital Lab Tests To The Private Sector Not Implemented

Although the Health Minister had orderd to stop sending Laboratory Tests performed in Government Hospitals to the Private Sector three weeks ago authorities have not taken any step to implement that decision yet according to the Government Hospital Sources.

The sources added that still the majority of Laboratory Tests can be performed at Government Hospital Laboratories including Full Blood Count,Fasting Blood Sugar,UFR (Urnine Test) and many more tests are sending to the Private Sector per the request of the Doctors.Even the Ministry Of Health still not able to issue a circular banning of sending those Lab Tests to the Private Sector Government Hospital spokesman said.

Government already has spend Millions of Rupees for the Lab Chemicals and Lab Equipments available in Government Hospital Laboratories annually.But due to the sending majority of the tests to the Private Sector the mentioned facilities are going waste according to him.

Doctors Suspended Their Token Strike

Government Doctors have decided to suspend their 4 hour Island Wide Token Strike scheduled to be held tomorrow(07) to   oppose the Malabe- Private Medical College following the discussions held with the Health Minister Maithrepala Sirisena this eve.

During today's discussions the Health Minister has accepted that the Gazette Notification printed on granting legal status to the Malabe Private Medical College is having lapses and promised to correct those lapses soon according to the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) sources.The Minister has also promised to appoint a 5 member committee to investigate these lapses and made recommendations the sources further added.

Government Medical Officers Association has earlier decided to launch a 4 hour Island Wide token strike tomorrow from 8 a.m to 12 noon and afterwards hold  a special General Assembly meeting to decide the future course of action regarding the Private Medical College Issue."Now we are going to hold a special executive committee meeting tomorrow noon to review the situation" a GMOA spokesman has said.

Government Docs To Stage A 4 Hour Island Wide Token Strike in Wednesday

Government Doctors are due to launch an Island Wide 4 hour Token Strike on this Wednesday from 8 A.M to 12 Noon demanding the withdrawal of the Gazette Notification printed to give legal status to the Malabe Private Medical College according to the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA).

The Assistant Secretary of GMOA Dr.Sankalpa Marasinha has stated that their Union Members opposing the functioning of this fake private medical college and the decision of  authorities to allow the Private Medical College to award the MBBS Degree which is offered by the state medical colleges also.If the authorities take a blind on this issue a stern continuous action will be taken withing two weeks time according to Dr.Marasinha

Inter University Students Federation Condemned The Recognition Of Malabe Private Medical College

The Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) has today condemned the  Higher Education Ministry for giving legal consent to the Controversial Private Medical College locates in Malabe through a special Gazette Notification.The Federation said that it was a clear violation of right to get free education.

The (IUSF) stated through a Press Release issued today that through giving recognition to the Malabe Private Medical College the Higher Education Ministry has disgraces the Prestigious Medical Profession in the Country.

Meanwhile the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has already decided to take a stern trade union action if the authorities give legal consent to the proposes Malabe Private Medical College.Due to the opposition of the GMOA the Medical Students registered with   the College still not able to find a place in Government Hospitals to conduct their clinical training it has been reported.

Elephant Census Report Has Issued

There are 5879 Wild Elephants in Sri Lanka at present according to the National Elephant Census Report issued today(02).

According to the report there are 122 Tuskers and 1107 Baby Elephants amongst these Wild Elephants.

Government Doctors To Launch An Island Wide Strike If The Malabe Private Medical College Has Given Legal Status

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has yesterday warned that they will launched an Island wide Strike if the University Grants Commission (UGC) make the controversial Private Medical College in Malabe (City)legal.

Addressing a Press Briefing held yesterday at the GMOA Office in Colombo the Assistant Secretary of GMOA Dr.Upul Gunesekera has said that the authorities in UGC with the help of some of it's members are trying give legal status to the fake institute  like Malabe Private Medical College.Even the authorities already have appointed a female professor attached to University Of Peradeniya who is also a member of the UGC he stressed.

If the authorities tried give legal status to the Malabe Private Medical College the Government Doctors will launch an Island Wide Strike opposing the move Dr.Gunesekara added.

Muslims Celebrated Eid Ul Fitr Today

The Muslim Community of Sri Lanka and around the world have  celebrated "Eid-Ul-Fitr"today after ending the fasting month of Ramadan.As the new moon has been sighted in Thoppur in Trincomalee yesterday (30) the Colombo Grand Mosque has announced that the Eid Ul Fitr will be celebrate today.

I WISH ALL OF MY BLOG READERS WHO ARE CELEBRATING RAMADAN A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS "EID-UL-FITR".

Water Levels Drastically Reduced At Kotmale Due To Dry Weather

The Water Levels of many reservoirs throughout the Island have reported as drastically reduced due to the dry weather conditions prevails in  hill country  including the areas surrounding Water Tanks.

According to the Engineers the Water Levels at Kotmale have reduced to 24% which has caused the reducing of water level used to generating power by 13%.The Engineers said that the Kotmale Power Plant has generated 455 Million Units of Power each year and the current level of Water there only be sufficient to generate power for ten days.

Excise Dept. To Closed Down All Liquor Shops Tomorrow

The Excise Department has decided to closed down all Liquor Shops tomorrow(31) in view of  the Ramazan (Id-Ul Fitr ) Festival a relegious festival celebrate by the Muslim Community .The Department will crack down any Liquor Shop or Taverns that are opened tomorrow by adhering the decision.

The Committee Inquiring Importing Of Low Quality Petrol Recommends Compansation For The Damaged Vehicles

The Committee investigating in to the Import of low quality Petrol recommends to pay a compansation of up to Rs.50,000 per Vehicle which got damaged due to the inferior petrol a Spokesman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said today.

 Those who lodged compaint directly through  the CPC hot line on damaged vehicles will received the compansation after submitting a written complaint with reference number handed to them  and those who lodged Complaints directly to the CPC and received written validations will also eligible to received the compansation according to the spokesman.He also stressed that around 2500 public complaints have been received by CPC so far on their   vehicles got damaged after using low quality petrol.

No Sri Lankans In United States Affected From Hurricane Irene-Sri Lankan Embassy In Washington

No Sri Lankans are  affected by massive deadly Storm Hurricane Irene which currently traveling through United States according to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington D.C.The Deadly Hurricane which came through Eastern Coast hit New York City  today causing large number of people to vacate their houses.

However The Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington D.C open a Hot Line to provide information on Sri Lankans living in Eastern Coast.The Hot Line Number is 0012023520355).

The 500 mile wide storm with winds around 80 Miles Per Hour (129 KM/H) is slowly moving towards northwards according to the Foreign Media.

Consumer Affairs Authority Began Collecting Cement Samples To Check Their quality

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has today began collecting the Samples of all type of Cement available in Market to check the quality of them.Minister Of Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs Johnston Fernando has instructed the CAA to conduct research on  Cement due to the recent controversial situation regarding inferior cement.

The Cement Samples collected today  are  due to  send to the Foreign Laboratories  to test their quality.

Presedent Rajapaksha Has Proposed The Parliament To Lift The State Of Emergency

President Mahinda Rajapaksha has said today  at the Sri Lankan Parliament  that the  State Of Emergency will be lifted soon .While commenting that there is no longer need to impose emergency regulations within the Country the President has proposed the Parliament to lift the State Of Emergency which has imposed in the Country since the terrorism emerged.

Meanwhile the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramsinha has welcomed the President's announcement on lifting the long run State Of Emergency.He added that this decision will pave the way to laying the  foundation for Proper Democracy in Sri Lanka.While the Leftist Janatha Wimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has said that the lifting of State Of Emergency regulations which currently imposed in the country is a victory for the people who valued Democracy.

The US Government also welcomed the decision to lifting the State Of Emergency regulations in the Country by stating it as a significant step towards normalizing life for the people in Sri Lanka after defeating the decades old terrorism from the country two years back.

Cabinet Approved Annual Transfer Scheme

The Cabinet has approved Annual Transfer Scheme for all Services where no such schemes in Public Service exists according to the Government Sources.

Two Anti Biotic Injections Have Temporarily Suspended At Colombo National Hospital After Patients Developed Critical Symptoms

Local Health Authorities temporarily suspended the use of two Anti Biotic Injections available in Colombo National Hospital after two of the patients getting treatment at the male accident ward have developed critical symptoms and one has died after receiving above Injections .

The stock of two Injections "Cefuroxime" 750 mg (belongs to the batch number Ep 735) and "Amoxacyllin Clavunic" Acid 1.2 g(batch numbers 2263444 and 2278449) were temporarily suspended at National Hospital few days back according to the Hospital Sources.The samples of these Injections were sent to National Drug Quality Assurance Laboratory for the Quality Tests sources have further added.

While commenting on the latest finding of quality failed Injections the President of the Health Services Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA) Saman Rathnapriya has said that although the Ministry Of Health has temporarily suspended the using of above Injections at the National Hospital the authorities have failed to suspend the use of the two Injections belongs to the certain batches which are still using  in other Hospitals.

The Health Minister  should make a proper investigation on importing low quality drugs such as above Injections to Sri Lanka he stressed.

Wild Life Department To Released the Report On Elephant Survey Soon

The Wild Life Department is to release the Report on Elephant Survey next  week.The Survey was carried out in 11th and 13th of this month by covering  all Wild Life Zones.At present the Digital and Computer Science Department of University Of Peradeniya sorting out the Data gathered during the Survey.

Ministry Of Health To Restrict Referring Govt.Hospital Medical Lab Tests To The Private Sector

Ministry of Health  today has instructed Government Hospital Directors to restrict referring  Hospital Patients to get Medical  Lab Tests done from the Priavte Sector .According to the Ministry Sources although Government has spent Rs.300 million for the Laboratory Equipments this year Government Hospital Doctors still referring Ward and Clinic Patients to get done their Lab Tests from the Private Sector such as Full Blood ount Test (FBC),Fasting Blood Suger (FBS),Serum Creatiine and Blood Urea tests which are available in Govt.Hospitals

Under the Free Health Care system of Sri Lanka every citizen is eligible to get Free Treatment And Drugs from a Government Hospital.If a Go
vernment Hospital refer a paient to the Private Sector for a Lab Test it
 will be a violation of the Patient's right to received free Treatment and Medicine according to Ministry Sources

Sri Lanka Beat Australia In Their Last One Day International Match

A Superb All Round Performance by the Sri Lankan Cricketers guided the Sri Lanka Team to a 4 wicket win over the Australians today in their last  One Day International match  played at R.Premadasa International Cricket Stadium,Colombo.However the Australians won the One Day series with 3-2.

Australians who were batted first scored 212 all out while Sri Lankan Pace Bowler Lasith Malinga has taken a hat trick,Sri Lankan Batsman reached the target of 213 runs with the loss of  6 wickets .Mahela Jaywardena has top scored with 71 runs and Chamara Silva scored 63 runs and the pair has put on a 111 run partnership for the fourth wicket,

With the hat trick taken today Lasith Malinga has became the first Bowler to get 3 hat tricks in One Day International Matches.