Thursday, May 15, 2014

Fifteen Train Journeys Cancelled This Morning Due To Absence Of Drivers And Guards

The Railway Department has cancelled around 15 scheduled train journeys this morning due to the absence of Engine Drivers and Rail Guards following the two public holidays of Wesak Festival   the department sources said.

As many of the Engine Drivers and Rail Guards not reported to work this morning the General Manger of Railway Department has sent special request to all those absent to report for   work without any delay.meanwhile as some drivers and rail guards reported for work this evening per the request a number of train journeys have resumed without a delay railway department has announced.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Public Health Inspectors Have Thrown Out Unhygienic Food Prepared In 67 Alms Giving Centers

The Public Health Inspectors have today(14)  thrown out a large stock of   unhygienic food prepared and served in 67 Alms Giving Centers(Dansal) throughout the  island  which  are  set  up  to mark  Wesak Full Moon Poya Day the  Public Health Inspectors Association has said.the food that thrown out were unhygienic and not suitable for human consumption the association has stressed.

The Public Health Inspectors have checked majority out of the 4800 Alms Giving Centers situated Island wide according to them.

Buddhists Around The World Celebrating Wesak Festival Today(14)

The  Wesak Full Moon Poya Day which marks the Birth ,Enlightenment and Demise (Parinirvanaya) of the Lord Buddha the founder of Buddhism falls today(14).Millions of Buddhists around the globe including Sri Lankans  are celebrating the Wesak Festival through religious activities, giving alms and displaying colorful lanterns and pandals which are  portraying various life events of Lord Buddha .

Sri Lankan Buddhists have today celebrated this biggest religious event in their calender by attending religious activities in Buddhist temples island wide .a large number of alms giving centers too set up country wide to serve varieties of food including rice and local dishes for the people who are coming to see wesak decorations. a large number of colorful lanterns and pandals are seen displaying in the cities this year  to mark the event.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Government Medical Officers Forum(GMOF) Has Requested President To Remove Health Ministry Secretary

The Government Medical Officers Forum(GMOF) has made a written request yesterday (12)from President Mahinda Rajapksha to remove Dr.Nihal Jayathilake the secretary of Ministry Of Health from his post with immediate effect due to the malpractices and tender frauds he got  involved in.

According to the letter sent to the President by GMOF Dr.Jayathilake has been found guilty of several malpractices and tender frauds occurred in the health sector while he was in office as the Assistant Health Secretary few years back and as a result he was removed from the post and transferred to the ministry of Provincial Councils on 2008.

As an official who is having a corrupt background he  should not be appointed as the head of the responsible ministry like Ministry Of Health at all GMOF has stressed,it will be shameful act of the government to appoint a corrupt official as the health ministry secretary the GMOF has further said.


The Health Secretary has failed to fill around 100 medical administrator vacancies there in the health sector and to transfer  one of the most corrupted officials in the Health Ministry during last three years in his office  the GMOF has further said.









Monday, May 12, 2014

Court Of Appeal Has Permitted Health Ministry To Print Pictorial Warnings Covering 50-60% Area Of Cigarette Packs

The Court Of Appeal has today(12)  permitted  Health Ministry to print pictorial warnings on Cigarette Packs covering 50-60% of the pack's surface  indicating health hazards causes by tobacco. earlier government has seeking court to giving permission to print pictorial warnings covering 80% of the Cigarette Packet surface.

However the tobacco companies filed the case last year against the decision to print pictorial warnings that covering 80% of Cigarette Packet Surface .it has learnt that the health authorities too agreed with the tobacco companies secretly last year to print pictorial warnings on  cigarette packs covering  50 or 60% of the pack surface although they have told the media that they are expecting a court verdict for 80% coverage.

The Government has issued a special gazette notification on 08th of August 2012 by making compulsory to print eight graphic warnings on Cigarette Packs.the parliament too has unanimously passed three regulations under the national tobacco and alcohol act on 19th of February this year to print  pictorial warnings on Cigarette Packs covering 80% of the
area .

The Ceylon Tobacco Company a subsidiary of British American Tobacco has filed the case against the decision of covering 80% of Cigarette Pack area with pictorial warnings .


Sunday, May 11, 2014

Court Of Appeal To Give Verdict Tomorrow On Cigarette Packs Carrying Pictorial Warnings Covering 80% Of The Pack

The  Court Of Appeal is scheduled to be given the verdict tomorrow (12) on whether the Tobacco Companies should carry out pictorial warnings of health hazards caused by smoking covering 80% of the Cigarette Pack.

Although the government has decided that   cigarette packs should carry out  pictorial warnings covering 80% of the pack by  indicating health hazards of smoking, the  local Tobacco Companies have filed a court case against the given  percentage.The companies suggesting that the coverage area of Pictorial Warnings  appeared  in  a  Cigarette Pack should be less then 80%

The Parliament has recently unanimously approved a gazette notification which enable to implement a law to carry out  pictorial warnings covering 80% in Cigarette Packs.

According to the Ministry Of Health around 65 persons have died daily in Sri Lanka due to the illnesses caused by cigarette smoking.around 60% of the cancers among locals are caused by smoking it has
been revealed.

Four Suspects With "Kerala Marijuana" Got Arrested In Kalpitiya

The Police have arrested Four Suspects with 40 Killo Grammes of "Kerala Marijuana "(Ganja) today (11) at Kalpitiya Area .Kalpitiya Police have  made this arrest during a raid in the area.

The suspects with the stock of "Kerala Marijuana
" arrested are to be produced before the Puttalam Magistrate Court .the Kalpitiya Police are conducting further investigations on the incident.

Baltimore Port Closure May Hit US Coal Export Volumes

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/baltimore-port-closure-may-hit-us-coal-export-volumes