President Has Cancelled The Gem Mining Licences Of Sixteen Foreign Companies

The President has cancelled the Gem Mining Licences issued for unidentified 16 Foreign Companies to search Blue Sapphires and other Gems in Sri Lankan Soil according to the President's Media Unit.President has cancelled these mining licences in view of protecting local gem miners the unit has said.

However the President's Media Unit has not mentioned clearly  whether these foreign companies whose gem mining  licences have been cancelled are already involved in  gem mining activities in the island  or prepar
ing to setup operations here.

Government To Sought Foreign Assistance For Investigating Financial Fraud Allegations Against Previous Regime

The Government has decided to seek assistance from three foreign countries to help investigate on  large scale financial fraud allegations against the previous government Prime Minister Ranil Wikaramsinha has said.According to the Prime Minister government is seeking the assistance of India ,Britain and United States for these investigations.

Government has already requested the assistance from the World Bank,US Justice Department and Major Fraud Investigations Unit in London regarding these investigations on fraud allegations against the previous government it has been reported.

Wearing Full Face Covered Helmets To Be Banned From 21st Of March

The Police have decided to impose a  ban of using full face covered helmets with effect from 21st of March in view of minimizing occurring   robberies and murders by using them.In the recent past most of the robberies and murders in the society have been occurred by men who were wear full face helmets it has been reported.

According to the Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana ,under this ban wearing of Helmets covering the face between eyebrows to chin would be prohibited.Those who are wearing such helmets covering full face will face a fine of Rs.1000 with effect from 21st of March he has said.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY FROM WORDS OF WISDOM

Drug Quality Assurance Laboratory Becomes A White Elephant -Pharmacists Union

The Government Pharmacists Union Of Sri Lanka has charged that the National Drug Quality Assurance Laboratory established to carryout tests on imported medicinal drugs to Sri Lanka which are suspected as in low quality has become a white elephant wasting millions of public money .

Around Rs.500 million has been allocated annually for the activities of national drug quality assurance laboratory through the annual budget but the laboratory officials have failed to carryout the drug quality check  tests in an effective manner the Union  has said.Due to the delay of issuing quality test reports  from the laboratory most of the times the suspected drugs have been  issued to the innocent patients which may be harmful to them the secretary of the pharmacists union Ajith Tilakeratne has said.

Indian External Affairs Minister To Visit Sri Lanka On 06th Of March

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is due to arrive Sri Lanka for a two day offcial visit on 06th of March prior to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Singh Modi's official visit to the country in mid March.During her Visit the Indian External Affairs Minister is scheduled to meet Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wikaramasinha and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to tour Sri Lanka on 13th of March for a three day official visit a first by an Indian Head Of State after 25 years .He is scheduled to visit Northern Sri Lanka,Kandy and Anuradhapaura during his visit.

Airport Customs Have Detected A Consignment Of Satellite Receivers Brought By A Group Of Pilgrims

The Airport Customs have today(01)  detected Rs.1.3 million worth 335 Satellite Receivers and 81 remote controllers inside the luggage of Pilgrims returning  to the island from Dambadiva,India.  The said consignment of Satellite Receivers was found inside the luggage of 11  Pilgrims returning the island  through Chennai ,India the Customs have said.

The Customs Officials have said that the Pilgrims have brought the said Consignment of Satellite Receivers and Remote Controllers per a request made by the leader of the pilgrims who had organized the Pilgrimage.