Around 14,800 Vehicles Using Colombo-Katunayake Express Highway Daily- Road Development Authority

Around 14,800 vehicles are being using  the newly built Colombo-Katunayake Express Highway daily and an average revenue earned from vehicles per day is around Rs.4.7 million according to the Road Development Authority(RDA)since the inauguration of the express highway on last Sunday(27) around 90,000 vehicles have used the highway the authority has stated.

The Last Surviving Sinhalese Cinema Personality Of Late Rukmani Devi Era Has Expired

The Veteran Sinhalese Cinema Actress and Singer Letcia Pieris who was the last surviving member of famous Minerva Drama Group which created the first Sinhalese  Film 'Kadawuna Pronduwa(Broken Promise) in 1947 ,has died last Thursday(31) according to cinema sources.Mrs.Pieris (80) has died after  prolonged illness sources said.

Mrs.Leticia Pieris was also  related to    veteran Sinhalese Actor Eddie Jayamanne, veteran Director/Actor late B.A.W Jayamanne who was the founder of famous Minerva Dance Group and the first actress of Sinhalese Cinema Late Rukmani Devi. "Kadawunu Poronduwa" stage drama made her an actress and later  she has made her debut in the Sinhalese Cinema from the   film "Hadisi Vinischaya ' screened in 1950 with a comic role . afterwards she has  acted more than 30 Sinhalese Films including the famous ones  directed by late B.A.W Jayamanne like "Sangawunu Pilithura",Peralena Iranama",Weradunu Kurumanama",Umathu Wishwasaya"and "Siriyalatha".Late Rukmani Devi was the heroine of all these films.later she has acted in films like"Duleeka" and "Bicycle  Hora"

Mrs.Pieris has also a versatile singer who sang songs like "sanasanu ma" with late susil premaratne,"na na dan " and "parane wage ale" songs with Eddie Jayamanne(film-"Sangawunu Pilitura"). she has  also acted in few Tele Drama's like 'Asalwesiyo" and "Hingana Kolla"until   lost her memory  partially few years back.her funeral is scheduled to be held  this evening at Wettewa Cemetery .

Her songs can be heard through the given link-http://www.siyapatharana.com/view.php?id=618#.UnToRxk7lGk.email
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Patients Have Faced Severe Difficulties Due To The Strike Of PSM/ Paramedics And Nurses

A large number of patients throughout the island has faced severe difficulties to undergo path lab tests like blood/urine/stool tests,C T Scan/MRI/EEG/ECG tests,Physiotherapy treatment and getting  drugs from government hospitals  today (01)due to the island wide one day token strike launched by Professions Supplementary To Medicine(PSM's),Para Medical Officers and Nurses attach to all government Hospitals.a large number of patients who  went  government hospitals today expecting to undergo   path lab tests,and getting drugs were  went home empty handed  due to the strike hospital sources have said.

While the main hospitals in the country have sent their urgent patients who need to undergo blood/radiography tests  and getting drugs to  private hospitals, small hospitals  prescribed their patients to get drugs and undergo tests from the private sector with their own expenses according to the hospital authorities.

However as the  main nurses union Public Services Nurses Union has not participated the strike a majority of nurses have seen reported to work in hospitals.

Health Workers belongs to Sixteen categories  have participated  this strike launched by demanding solutions for six of their service demands according to Joint Council On PSM'S,Para medics and Nurses .the strike is due to be concluded at 7.am tomorrow(02).

Joint Council Of Nursing,PSM'S And Nursing Officers To Launch An Island Wide Token Strike Tomorrow(01)

The  Professions Supplementary to Medicine(PSM's),Para Medical Officers and Nursing Officers numbering 45,000 attach to government hospitals are due to launch an island wide token strike tomorrow(01) by demanding solutions for six of their service demands the Joint Council of Nurses-Professions Supplementary To Medicine(PSM's)- and Para Medical -Services has said.

However the  health professionals in  the Lady Ridgway Childrens,De Soyza Maternity,Castle Street Maternity,Maharagama Cancer,Mahamodara Teaching and Peradeniya Children's Hospitals are not participating the strike due to humanitarian reasons the Joint Council has stressed.

The strike will begin 7 a.m tomorrow(01) and concludes 7 a.m on Saturday(02) and emergency services of hospitals will be maintained during the strike period the striking health professional have said.

National Transport Commission To Deploy Private Buses On Colombo -Katunayake Express Highway

The National Transport Commission(NTC) has decided to grant permission to run private buses on the newly built Colombo-Katunayake Express Highway .according to the Commission ,Minister Of Private Transport Services C.B Ratnayake has instructed authorities to deploy 18 private buses including 9 luxury and 9 semi luxury buses on the express highway.

Tenders are due to be called on deploying private buses on the highway soon NTC has said.the fares for private  bus service on express highway are Rs.125 for Luxury and Rs.180 for semi luxury buses.

37 Heads Of States In Commonwealth Organization Have Confirmed Their Participation To The Colombo Meeting-Government

From the 53 member countries  belongs to the  Commonwealth of Nations ,heads of states in 37 member countries have been so far confirmed their participation to the Colombo edition of Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting(CHOGM) scheduled to be held in Colombo from 10-17th of November according to government sources.

This number of heads of states participating the Commonwealth Meeting is higher then the previous meeting held in Perth,Australia on October 2011 where 36 heads of states have been participated sources have added .the heads of states in other countries are scheduled to be confirmed their participation to the meeting in coming days government sources have further said.

Train Services Paralyzed Due To The Strike Of Railway Drivers

The Train Services of almost all routes in the island have been delayed today(31) due to the strike action launched by  Sri Lanka Railways power set drivers according to the sources.due to the strike lot of commuters including School Children and Office Workers were faced severe difficulties as several trains have been cancelled sources added.

The strike has been launched due to the dispute among railway staff  sources further said.