Treasurer Of Sri Lanka Freedom Party To Contest In The Parliamentary Election Under United National Party Ticket

The Treasurer of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party which is the largest party belonging to United Peoples Freedom Alliance(UPFA) and Labor Minister S.B Nawinne has decided to join the United National Party(UNP) and contest for the forthcoming election under UNP Ticket.

Minister Nawinne has decided to support President Maithripala Sirisene after the Presidential Election held on 08th of January this year and later he was appointed as the Minister of Labor by President.He is one of the Senior Politicians of  SLFP who possessed the  view former president Mahinda Rajapakshe should not give nomination from the UPFA.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Sri Lanka Air Port Custom Officers Have Arrested A Man Who Attempted To Smuggle A Stock Of Live Star Tortoises To Malaysia

The Sri Lanka Custom Officers have arrested a Sri Lankan resident at the Katunayake International Air Port last morning with 124 Live Star Tortoises when he attempted to smuggle the valuable Tortoises to Malaysia.

The Star Tortoises with a value of US Dollars 1000 per a Tortoise ,were recovered when the suspect was loaded them to a flight leaving Malaysia from the Katunayake Air Port.

The Custom Officers have imposed a fine of Rs.300,000 for the suspect and investigations are underway on the incident.

This was the biggest haul of Live Tortoises arrested by Air Port Customs since 1997 it has been reported.

President Has Finally Agreed To Give Nomination For Former President Rajapakshe To Contest From UPFA Ticket

The President Maithripala Sirisene has today (03) agreed to give nomination to the former president Mahinda Rajapakshe with conditions to contest from United Peoples Freedom Alliance(UPFA) in the fortcoming Parliamentary Election after meeting with all leaders of parties belonging to the UPFA.

Although the parties of UPFA want president to give nomination to former president rajapakshe to contest under the ticket of UPFA ,president sirisene had yesterday(02) refused to give him nomination .

However the meeting between UPFA Party leaders and president sirisene who is also the chairman of UPFA held this evening President has agreed to give nomination to former president to contest as a normal contestant under the UPFA ticket.The former president will not be name as the leader of the

UPFA nominees for this year's election and he can contest as a normal candidate President has stressed during the meeting.

Meanwhile still it's not clear whether the former president has accepted the offer to contest from UPFA for the forthcoming election as a normal candidate.Although president has agreed to give nomination for the former president, he didn't want to give nomination for some of the  former UPFA Parliamentarians  who are around former president since he was defeated at the last January's Presidential Election. 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

The National Drug Regulatory Authority Was Formed Under The Drug Regulatory Authority Act-Drugs,Cosmetics Devices Authority Was Abolished

The National Drug Regulatory Authority which is monitoring the future drug imports to Sri Lanka mainly through generic name was formed today(02)  under the National Drug Regulatory Authority Policy Act  .After the formation of National Drug Regulatory Authority the National Drugs,Cosmetic and Devices Authority functioned up to date was abolished with effect from today(02) the Health Ministry Sources have said.

Health Minister Dr/Rajitha Senaratne has appointed 13 intellectuals as members of the Board which controlling the National Drug Authority .The Authority is headed by Professor Lal Jayakody and most senior professor Krishantha Weerasuriya has appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority.

The National Drug Regulatory Authority Act based on Professor Senaka Bibile's National Drug Policy  passed by the Parliament on 19th of March was implemented with effect from yesterday(01).Under the act Doctors should prescribe Medicinal Drugs for the patients by generic name and Trade name can be used when prescribing special drugs within brackets according to the Health Ministry.

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Has Suspended Oil Contracts Worth Millions Of Dollars Signed By Last Year

The sate owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has suspended oil contracts worth Millions of Dollars which were signed last year during previous government  for fuel deliveries according to the Chairman of "CEYPETCO"  Ranjith Wikramasinghe..

The said oil contracts were suspended due to not following standard competitive guidelines the chairman has said.

CEYPETCO has suspended the contracts signed last year with companies namely Petrochina,Unipec,Swiss Singapore and Emirates National Oil Company for supplying Gasoline,Gasoil and Jet Fuel deliveries.