Cabinet Has Decided To Prohibit The Sale Of State And Private Land To Foreigners

The Cabinet has decided to prohibit the  outright sale of state and private land to foreigners Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has stated today(21).speeking at the cabinet press  briefing held in Government Information Department he has said the decision was taken during yesterday's Cabinet Meeting.

Government Has Recalled Sri Lankan Ambassador To Italy

The Government has recalled it's ambassador to Italy Mr.Asitha Perera with immediate effect following the complaints made against him by Sri Lankans living in Italy according to Sri Lankan Foreign Employment Bureau.

A large number of Sri Lankans living  in Italy are said to be  not happy over ambassador's  activities it has been reported..a group of Sri Lankans staged a protest campaign in front of Sri Lankan Embassy in Italy yesterday according to foreign media reports.

Government PSM'S To Launch Two Day Island Wide Strike This Week

The Professions Supplementary To Medicine(PSM's) attached to government hospitals have decided to launch two day island wide strike from 8 a.m Thursday(21) Morning till 8 a.m on Saturday(23) by demanding the implementation of circular issued by treasury on increasing their allowances.

According to Joint Council Of Professions Supplementary To Medicine although treasury has issued the said circular on 27th of January this year recommending increasing of overtime,on call and emergency allowances the  health ministry continuously delaying the implementation of that circular without a proper reason."therefore we have no other option then going for a strike action "the secretary of joint council Mr.Saman Jayasekere has said.

PSM'S compromising government pharmacists,radiographers,medical laboratory technologists(MLT'S),physiotherapists and occupational therapists are due to participate this strike action while only emergency services due to be maintained during strike period.

Due to humanitarian reasons PSM'S attached to Lady Ridgway Childrens Hospital,De Soyza Maternity,Castle Street Maternity,Cancer and Sirimawo Bandaranaike Childrens Hospitals are not participating this  strike jayasekere has stressed.

Large Number Of Drug Varieties Out Of Stock In Government And Private Sectors

Around 20 drug varieties  in Government Hospitals and more then 200 drug varieties  in government and private pharmacies are out of stock these days according to health sources.due to this drug shortage patients are facing numerous difficulties sources added.

 This drug shortage occurred due to the delay of importing these drugs to the country sources further said.

New Captains Of Sri Lankan Test,ODI And T2O Cricket Squads Have Announced

All Rounder Angelo Mathews has been appointed as Sri Lanka's new Test and ODI Cricket Captain while new comer Dinesh Chandimal has been appointed as T20 Captain Sri Lanka Cricket has stated today (14).

New T20 Captain Dinesh Chandimal has been appointed as deputy capatain of both Test and ODI Squads while fast bowler Lasith Malinga has appointed as deputy capatin of the T20 Squad.

100 Nurses Dashed 100 Coconuts Against a Hospital Matron'

Around 100 nurses attached to Mahamodara Teaching Hospital(Southern Province) dashed 100 coconuts in front of gatabaru temple in deniyaya area this morning against matron of the hospital who they alleged  as behaving in a wicked manner.the group of nurses dashed the coconuts while they are on their way to work hospital sources said.


Meanwhile The Public  Services Nurses Union has decided to launch a continuous strike from this Tuesday demanding the removal of  said matron however suspended  the strike action till this Friday after health ministry officials have intervened in to the matter.

5000 Metric Tonnes Of Substandard Diesel Imported By LIOC Found Contaminated

Around 5000 metric tonnes of substandard diesel imported by Lanka Indian Oil Company(LIOC) has been rejected by Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited(CPSTL) pending further tests it has been reported. laboratory tests conducted on diesel samples taken  from the shipment of fuel had confirmed that they are substandard according to spokesman of CPSTL .

The contaminated stock of diesel was imported from a Singapore based company the spokesmen has stated.altogether LIOC has imported 40,000 metric tonnes of fuel which contained contaminated fuel.

Recently state owned Ceylon petroleum corporation has also imported substandard fuel which a large number of vehicles got damaged after using it.

ICC World Cup Cricket-Sri Lankan Women Cricketers To Take Australians In To Day's Important Match

Sri Lankan Women's Cricket Team which stormed the women's cricket world last week by beating top two teams in a row at the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup Cricket Tournament will take Australian Women's Cricket Team in today's super six match.after lost the first super six match to New Zealand Team  last Friday today's match is very important for the Sri Lankans to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.

Sri Lankan Women's Cricket Team has defeated world number one England Team and Indian Team during preliminary stages and seal their place at  super six round of the tournament first time in team's  16 year old history.the match between Sri Lanka and Australia is scheduled to be commenced in 9 a.m local time  at brabourne cricket stadium in Mumbai.

Ten Drug Varieties Are Out Of Stock In Govt.Hospitals

Around ten essential drug varieties  are reported as not available in government hospitals including karapitiya teaching hospital these days the hospital sources said.drugs prescribed for diabetes ,hypertension and cholesterol are among these out of stock drug items hospitals sources further added.

Nursing Staff Of Mahamaodara Hospital To Launch An Island Wide Strike

The Nursing Staff attached to mahamodara teaching hospital (southern province) has decided to launch an island wide continuous strike from next Tuesday(12) demanding the removal of matron of the hospital who has  accused as harassing the nursing staff .

According to the nurses in  hospital there were 3 inquiries conducted by health ministry alone against the said matron during last year based on the complaints made by public services nurses union.however the authorities have failed to implement a single inquiry  report the nurses stressed.nursing staff attached to the mahamodera hospital launched a three hour strike last Tuesday demanding the removal of  matron.

Priavte Buses To Launch An Island Wide Strike After 15th Of February?

The private bus owners association has decided to launch an island wide strike without prior notice after 15th of february if the government failed to grant a price hike in bus fares else some kind of concession according to president of private bus owners association gamunu wijerathne.

Due to the  rising of fuel and motor spare part prices private bus owners needs  some kind of concession to avoid income loss he has stressed.

Supreme Court To Appoint A Fuller Bench On Case Of Chief Justice

The supreme court has today(06) decided to refer the case on challenging the appointment of Mohan Pieris as  chief justice to a fuller bench.supreme court has decided to appoint more than three judges to the fuller bench on this case according to the article 132(3) 11 of the constitution.

The case is scheduled to be summoned on 05th of March.

Medical Administrators Engaged In Private Practice Are In Increase

Around 25 Medical Administrators  are  reported as doing priavte parctice which is prohibited for them through a health ministry circular.a majority of these administrators are from southern province while some are attached to the health department sources added.

Some medical adminsitrators are reported as using their official vehicles for the  private parctice sources further said.

A Large Number Of Medical Officers Not Able To Apply For Annual Transfers ?.

Over 4000 medical officers island wide who are in the annual transfer list issued by the Ministry Of Health are facing severe difficulties due to the short period of time  given to them by  authorities to send applications.usually around  two month period has allocated 10 days are given for sending applications which is not enough at all according to provincial medical officers.

According to Helath Ministry Web Site medical officers entitled to this years's annual transfers should send their filled online applications by today(01) and a copy of that on line applciation should be  posted to the minsitry on or before 06th of February.however it's not possible for all medical officers to send these applications on line during the given period due to the lack of inernet facilities rural areas are having medical officers stressed.

A large number of medical offcers have phoned to the ministry today (01)and criticized the short period of time given to them for applying annual tarnsfers.

Severe Drug Shortage In Pharmacies

More than 200 medicinal drugs including life saving drugs are out of stock in both government and private pharmacies throughout the island these days causing severe hardships for patients purchasing drugs from pharmacies it has been reported.according to sources some of these out of stock drugs are not even available in government hospitals these days.

Due to the delay of supplying these out of stock drugs to pharmacies the drug shortage has become worse  pharmacists said.the available variety of drugs too are in  short supply.

Surgeries Postponed Due To Non Availability Of Schools For Doctors Children

Around 100 surgeries and 200-250 clinical checkups in government hospitals have been postponed today (28) due to the absense of some 200 MBBS Doctors including around 25 consultant surgeons who were gathered Colombo this noon to discuss on non availability of schools for their children.these doctors representing government hospitals in 11 districts hold a special discussion with Government Medical Officers Association(GMOA) members on this issue.

Minor Cabinet Reshuffle Added Five New Ministers To The Cabinet

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakshe has made a minor Cabinet Reshuffle today(28) with ten  Cabinet Ministers,Six Deputy Ministers and two project ministers were sworn in at Temple Treas.Ministereal Posts of Power and Energy,Enviornment ,Investment Promotions,Eduction and Petroleum were changed and Parliamentarians  Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena,Jayaratne Herath ,Duminda Dissanayake ,Basir Segu Daud and Vijith Vijayamuni Soysa were newly appointed Ministers to the Cabinet.

The newly appointed ministers,deputy ministers and project ministers are as follows.


Ministers-
Susil Premajayantha – Environment and Renewable Energy Minister
Patali Champika Ranwaka – Technology, Research and Atomic Energy Minister
Pavithra Wanniarachchi – Power and Energy Minister
Anura Priyadarshana Yapa - Petroleum Industries Minister
Lakshman Seneviratne – Sugar Industries Minister
Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena – Investment Promotion Minister
Jayaratne Herath – Botanical Gardens and Public Recreation
Duminda Dissanayake – Educational Service Minister
Basir Segu Daud - Productivity Promotion Minister
Vijith Vijayamuni Soysa - Wildlife Conservation Minister

Deputy Ministers-
S.M. Chandrasena – Economic Development Deputy Minister
Susantha Punchinilame – Economic Development Deputy Minister
Faizer Mustapha – Investment Promotion Deputy Minister
M.L.A.M. Hizbullah – Economic Development Deputy Minister
A.R.M. Abdul Kader – Environment and Renewable Energy Deputy Minister
Sarath Kumara Gunaratne - Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Deputy Minister


Project Ministers-
Rohitha Abeygunawardena – Ports and Highways
Nirmala Kothalawala – Ports and Highway

A Cabinet Reshuffle Is Due Tomorrow(28)

A cabinet reshuffle is due to take place tomorrow(28) morning with several ministries are expected to be changed the presidential media has announced.several new ministers are also expected to be appointed during this reshuffle sources said.

A new Prime Minister is also expected to be named due to the poor health of current prime minister D.M Jayaratne sources added.the current cabinet comprises of  9 senior ministers,49 cabinet ministers and 31 deputy ministers.

Health Ministry Temporarily Suspended Use Of "Meropenam"Injections After Glass Piece Was Found In One Vial

The Health Ministry has yesterday (24) ordered to temporarily suspend the use of life saving anti biotic injection vial "Meropenam" in  all government hospitals and pharmacies island wide after a glass piece contained injection vial  was found from  Marawila Base Hospital .the glass piece contained "Meropenam" injection vial was found on Wednesday which is due to expire in June this year.

This is the second occasion that a glass piece contained injection vial has found during last few weeks since a glass piece was found in "Cloxacillin" injection vial stored in south colombo teaching hospital on last December.the contaminated injection vial was belongs to the batch number 170340 of the stock of "Meropenam" injection vials imported from an indian drug company .

The  contaminated injection vial was sent to the national drug quality assurance laboratory for further tests .

Meanwhile the  circular of suspending the said injection vials was issued last evening to all government hospitals and pharmacies according to health ministry sources.also the ministry officials have decided to inform on this glass piece contained injection vial to the indian government,health minister and drug authorities as soon as possible according to a mutual agreement reached between sri lankan and indian health ministries.