South And South East Asia Regional Health Ministers Summit Has Been Inaugurated

The South and South East Asia Regional Health Ministers Summit has been  Inaugurated this morning at Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo by the Prime Minister Ranil Wikramasinghe .

Eleven Health Ministers of the regional countries namely Sri Lanka,India,Bangladesh,Bhutan,Nepal ,Thailand,Myanmar,East Timore,Indonesia,Maldives and North Korea  are participating this five day summit scheduled to be held at Galle Face Hotel in Colombo up to 09th of September(Friday).


The Director General Of World Health Organization(WHO) Dr.Margaret Chan ,the Director Of South East Asia Region of WHO Dr.Poonam Kethrapal Singh and Sri Lankan Health Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne along with around 200 local and regional Health Officials were participated at the inauguration ceremony.

Sri Lankan Government Spending Rs.147 Billion Annually To Treat Patients Suffering From Non Communicable Diseases-Health Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne At The South And South East Asian Regional Health Ministers Summit

Sri Lankan government is spending Rs.147 billion annually to treat Patients hospitalized due to the Non Communicable Diseases and out of it Rs.72 Billion allocated for treating diseases caused due to smoking according to Minister Of Health,Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr.Rajitha Senaratne.

Due to this fact the Present  Government has taken steps to introduce new regulations to combat the spreading of Non Communicable Diseases in Sri Lanka and accordingly a cabinet proposal was submitted to the Cabinet to increase the  percentage imposed on Cigarettes from 72% to 90% the Minister has stated.Also a 15% VAT will be imposed on Cigarettes to further deter the smoking among Sri Lankan population he has stressed.

"I have made a proposal to the Government to impose taxes on Sugar,Oil and Salt which are identified as major risk factors for spreading Non Communicable Diseases in Sri Lanka.The Health Ministry has managed to introduce sugar coated traffic light system a color code to display contained sugar levels in soft drinks available in the market with effect from 01st of August"Minister has revealed at the Press Conference held for local and foreign media personal at the Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo yesterday(05) regarding the ongoing South and South East Asian Health Ministers summit.

As Sri Lanka has introduced a law to display pictorial warnings on tobacco related diseases by covering 80% of the Cigarette Pack Surface ,a proposal also has been  made to remain the 20% surface of Cigarette Packs blank it has been revealed.

Through these regulations Sri Lanka is expected to reduce the spreading of Non Communicable Diseases by 10% in the year 2020,By 20% in the year 2025 and more than 25% in the year 2030 the Minister has  further added.

HEALTH TIP

'SEATED WOMAN IN GREEN'(1901) A POPULAR ARTWORK OF YESTERYEAR SPANISH ARTIST PABLO PICASSO(1881-1973)

Air Port Customs Officers Have Arrested A Maldivian National With An Excessive amount Of US Dollars

Air Port Customs Officers have today (04) arrested a Maldivian National at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Air Port while Attempting to smuggle excessive amount of US Dollars to Maldives.

Accordingly the Maldivian National has been arrested While attempting to smuggle Rs.45,000 US Dollars (Rs.6.7 ,million) the Customs Officers have stated.

First Local Climate Change Summit To Be Held In Colombo On 07th And 08th Of September

The first climate change summit to be held in Sri Lanka  to ascertain the progress made when implementing the "Paris Climate Change Pact" will be held on 07th and 08th of September at Bandaranaike Menorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.

Around 200 local and foreign Environmentalists,State Officials and Representatives of  Civil Organizations are due to participate this Summit which is jointly  organized  by the,Environment Justice Center,The Climate Change Office Of the Ministry Of Environment ,United Nations  Development Programne and the Gene Technology Institute.

The German Embassy in Colombo sponsored this Summit.

At the end of the Summit all State Institutions are due to declare a Joint Statement  regarding the steps they are due to be taken to face  Climate Change it has been reported.

POPULAR YESTERYEAR SINHALA SONG SUNG BY NIRMALA RANATHUNGE & LAKSHMAN WIJESEKARE (1978)