24 Health Sector Trade Unions wants President Rajapaksha To Consider Service Extension Of DGHS

The Health services Trade Union confederation has made a written appeal to president Mahinda Rajapaksha yesterday (03) by stating when giving  the proposed service extension to current Director General Of Health Services(DGHS) Dr.Ajith Mendis only consider the service performance of him not the false allegations leveled  against him by certain elements.

The DGHS is due to retire from his service next Monday (06) but due to a request of service extension to him made by majority of health sector trade unions the trade union confederation wants president to consider the service extension request.However few health sector trade unions have trying to block his service extension by leveling a fraud charges on him by stating DGHS has  responsible  for fraud activity taken place when  purchasing of  Rs.182 million worth surgical equipments to government hospitals in year 2009 .The accusers charged that  the sufficient stocks of that equipment were available  in stores then and stated it was an unnecessary deal to buy an extra stock at that time.

However the charges leveled against DGHS was cleared after an inquiry conducted by special investigations unit of Ministry Of Health last week.The report  of the inquiry was sent to secretary of president by the Health Ministry Secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathilake.However those elements who accused DGHS of wrong doing still refused to accept that inquiry report by stating that it was a biased  report.

The powerful 24 health  trade union alliance has stated through the letter sent to president yesterday that certain elements including a trade union leader backed by some NGO's are trying to block the proposed service extension of  Dr.Mendis by leveling false allegations against him which he was cleared through an investigations a week ago."Therefor President Rajapaksha should consider the yeoman service rendered by DGHS to the health sector during Tsunami and war periods when giving approval to his service extension" it said.

The letter signed by the president of Health Services Trade Union Confederation Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero and co secretary Harendra Kuruppu has said   that DGHS Dr.Mendis has earlier decided to retire from service with effect from next Monday (06) when his service period expired  but has decided to  request a  service extension only after Health Minister had urged him to do so in several instances.But since he made a written request for service extension under the influence of Minister certain elements withing health sector have trying to tarnish his image as well as his post through a media campaign which is turned out to be a pure mud slinging campaign .

Nurses Union Has Suspended Nurses Strike Scheduled To commence Tomorrow(03)

The Public Services Nurses Union has today (02) decided to suspend proposed Island Wide continuous strike action of government hospital nurses scheduled to be launched tomorrow(03) following a promise made by health ministry secretary on solving all nursing demands withing one month.

The officials of Public Services Nurses Union had met health ministry secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathilake this morning and hold discussions on 15 service demands of nurses which are not solved up to now according to president of nurses union venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero.Amending nurses constitution,granting risk allowance to nurses and increasing of uniform allowance among top demands that discussed with dr.jayathilake Muruththettuwe Thero said.

During the discussion health secretary has promised to give solutions for all 15 demands withing one month period he has added.

Government Hospital Nurses To Strike From This Friday (03)

Government Hospital Nurses have decided to launch an island wide continuous strike action on Friday (03) by demanding solutions for 7 of their service demands according to Public Services Nurses Union (PSNU).nurses will launch this continuous strike if the health ministry has not taken any steps to solve their demands during tomorrow's meeting with health ministry secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathilake the president of Nurses Union Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero has said.

The Nurses Union Officials are due to meet Health Secretary tomorrow morning to discuss on their demands Muruththettuwe Thero  has stressed. 


Amending Nurses Constitution and increasing Nurses Uniform Allowance are among  main demands of nurses he added.

National Cancer Control Programme To Oppose First Ever Are ca nut Factory In The Country

The national cancer control programme  has decided to oppose the  inaugurating  of first ever areca nut factory in Sri Lanka due to cancerous substance found in areca nuts, community physician attach to cancer control programme  Dr.Hemantha Amarasinha  has said.A proposal regarding inaugurating  of the said factory has been submitted to cabinet some time back dr.amarasinha added.

As areca nuts have proven as including substance caused oral cancer national cancer control programme had appealed to ministry of health to intervene in to this matter and pressurizing government to remove this proposal with immediate effect he stressed. Chewing of areca nuts is known as  one of the main causes for oral cancer.

According to cancer control programme India has now facing  oral cancer threat due to opening of 1000 areca nut factories throughout the country.Areca nuts are used when chewing betel leaves.

Oral Cancer Among Youth Is On Increae

Oral Cancer among Sri Lankan youth is on increase according to consultant attached to National Cancer Control Programme Dr.Hemantha Amarasinha.Chewing of betel leaves and are co nuts ,smoking and addiction  to liquor are identified as major risk factors that lead to oral cancer here.


Dr.Amarasinha has said that oral cancer is the number one cancer among sri lankan males while 6th  major cancer among females.even small children too are getting oral cancer he stressed.for an example a two and half year old child was became positive for oral cancer due to chewing of are co nut dr.amarasinha has said.

According to latest statistics available around 34 %  of Sri Lankan adult and youth population  addicted to chewing of betel leaves and majority are belongs to the age group of 35-44.

Four Provincial Councillors Lost Their Party Membership Of SLFP?

The Governing Sri Lanka Freedom Party(SLFP) has cancelled the party membership of 4 of their Provincial Councilors who are charged for rape and crimes with immediate effect the party sources said.There was a heated debate in  the country during last few weeks on  misbehavior of these accused Councillors.

The provincial Councillors who lost their party membership are Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman W.P. Sampath Chandrapushpa, Tangalle Municipal Council Member B.L. Anjana Kusum Ruwan, Akuressa Provincial Council Chairman S.H. Sunil and Akuressa Provincial Council Deputy Chairman Munidasa Gamage.

1500-2000 Oral Cancer Patients Reported Annually From Sri Lanka

Around 1500 to 2000 Oral Cancer Patients have been reported annually in Sri Lanka and daily 2 patients are dying due to this disease according to Oncologists.The main risk factors caused oral cancer in Sri Lanka are identified as Chewing Betel Leaves,Smoking and Liquor.

Oral Cancers among males are in increase in the country Oncologists have warned.According to them to avoid getting this cancer people should refrain from above risk factors.