Health Minister To Increase The Taxes Imposed On Locally Made Cigars And Beedi

Sri Lankan  Government has to spend Rs.147 billion annually to treat the patients who fall sick due to tobacco related diseases according to the Ministry Of Health,Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine.

Due to this situation The Minister Of Health Dr.Rajitha Senaratne has decided to increase the taxes imposed on locally made "cigars 'and 'beedi' similar to the increase made on taxes imposed on cigarettes to further deter the smoking in the country the ministry has stated.

Health Minister has already submitted a cabinet memorandum to the cabinet to increase taxes imposed on imported cigarettes from 72% to 90% and the cabinet is due to discuss the memorandum  during tomorrow's meeting

According to the Health Ministry the Minister is planning to increase the cigarette taxes by further 50%  next year.

Director General Of Civil Aviation Had Suspended The Licence Of The Alcohol Test Failed Pilot

The director general of civil aviation has today (22) suspended the license of Sri Lankan Air Lines pilot who had failed the Alcohol Test(Breathalyzer) at the Frankfurt Air Port in Germany.

The pilot who is the captain of the Sri Lankan flight UL-554 which delayed 15 hours to take off on Friday at Frankfurt Air Port due to his absence was earlier suspended from the service by the Sri Lankan Air Lines Authorities.

Due to the long delay of the flight Sri Lankan Air Lines had provided food and accommodation for the 259 local and foreign passengers who were standard .The Air Lines is due to compensate the flight's passengers according to the European Unions regulations.

If the Air Lines has made an arrangement to compensate the passengers as per the European Union's regulations one passenger should be paid around 600 euros based on the distance between Frankfurt and Colombo according to sources.

Sri Lankan Air Lines has launched an investigation on the flight delay.

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Health Officials In Kaththankudy MOH Had Detained Four Traders Who Have Sold Food Items Not Suitable For Consumption At Kaththankudy

The health officials attached to the Kaththankudy (Eastern Province)MOH Office  had today(22) detained four traders who have sold food items which are not suitable for human consumption to the consumers during a raid carried out in Kaththankudy Area.

During the raid the Health Officials have taken into custody a stock of sweets and soft drink bottles which are not suitable for consumption at the trade centers belonging to the suspects.

The suspects are due to produce before Batticaloa Magistrate Court tomorrow(23).

One Person Was Killed And Another Injured Following A Car-Train Collission Occurred At Palaviya Railway Crossing

One person was killed and another injured and hospitalized following the car they were traveling in collided with a Engine of A Train at Palaviya Railway Crossing on Puttalam-Kalpitiya Road this morning.
 
 The deceased who was the driver of the car has been identified as a resident in Uva-Paranagama Area .The injured person was admitted to Puttalam Base Hospital for treatment.

The Accident has occurred due to a fault of the Car Driver the Puttalam Police have stated.Puttalam Traffic Police are conducting an investigation on the accident.

Imprisoned Hambanthota UPFA MP Namal Rajapakshe And Three Others Released On Bail

Hambanthota United Peoples Freedom Alliance(UPFA) MP Namal Rajapakshe and three others who were detained and remanded last week over the purchasing of shares worth Rs.125 million from Hellocorp Company had been released today(22) on bail by the Colombo Magistrate .

The four suspects were produced before the Colombo Magistrate Court today  and  the Magistrate has granted  them bail  although the officials of the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID)  opposing it.While  opposing the granting bail to MP Namal Rajapske and three other suspects  FCID Officials had informed the court that by releasing the suspects it may have affect the ongoing investigations on the case filed against them.

The four suspects were released on a cash bail of Rs.100,000 each and a personal bail of Rs.4 million each by the Colombo Magistrate.The Colombo Magistrate has also imposed a foreign tour ban for all four suspects and advised them to appear before FCID on first and last Sunday of every month.