Health Ministry To Do A Health Check For Passengers Arriving From Swine Flu Infected Countries

As the whole world prepares to combat the deadly Swine Influenza Epidemic Sri Lanka too keep their International Air Port and Harbour on alert to do a Health Check to passengers who are arriving to country from nine affected countries."These checkings are carriedout 24 hours a day to prevent a possible outbreak of the Swine Flu in Sri Lanka "Ministry Of Health said.

A Special Team of Doctors and other Medical Staff are attched to the Air Port and Harbour in this regard.
Ministry also apealed to people to cut down any unneccassary Foriegn Trips as a precautionary measure to prevent the spreading of the Disease here.
Meanwhile the acting representative of the WHO in Sri Lanka Dr.Frigdosi Rustom Mehta praised Sri Lankan Health Ministry today for the precautionary measures taken by the Ministry to prevent the Disease outbreak.

British And French Missions On Ending Government Hostalities Against LTTE Failed

British and French Foriegn Ministers who are arrived Sri Lanka this morning failed to get a good response from their Sri Lankn Counterpart for their proposal on ending the offensive against the LTTE Rebels in the North of the country.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner hold talks with the Sri Lankan Counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama this noon but failed to received a green signal for their proposal."We were tried hard.Even we inssisted on that.Now It's upto to our friends to decide whether they are allow it or not"French Foriegn Minister Kouchner said.

Meanwhile British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the Media that they are proposing the Sri Lankan Government to end the Hostalities with LTTE in aspect of saving the lives of the civilians trapped in the No War Zone and not to save the LTTE Leaders .The duo are due to meat President Mahinda Rajapaksha this Evening.

Forces Rejected Stories On A Ceasfire With LTTE

Sri Lankan Army Spokesman Brigediar Udaya Nanayakkara today denies some International Media Reports about the government is declared a ceasfire with the LTTE in the No War Zone ."Sri Lankan Forces only halt by using heavy guns and Combat Air Crafts for the offensive launched in the No War Zone to prevent any Civilian Casualties Brigadier Nanayakkara said."Other then that Sri Lankan Government is not taken any decesion to going for a ceasfire with the LTTE" he stressed.
"The Humanitarian Mission to rescue the remained Civilians trapped in the No War Zone will continue" he said.
Meanwhile the LTTE announced a unilatteral ceasfire yesterday which was denied by the Sri Lankan Government. LTTE announced that that this ceasfire is declared as a requested by the Europen Union and some other Western Countries according to a statement issued by them on Sunday.
However responding to this announcement Sri Lankan Defense Secretery Gotabhaya Rajapaksha said that It was a joke and Sri Lankan Governmant not want a ceasfire with a group of terrorists who are running without facing the forces".LTTE is now restricted to a small strip of coastal area known as Pudumathalan "he further added.

Ministry Of Health To Allocate Five More Hospitals To Treating IDP Patients

Ministry Of Health to allocate another Five Government Hospitals to treating the growing number of In displaced Civilians arrived from the Rebel held area in the North.Ministry is also due to create two field hospitals next weak in Mannar and Vavuniya for treating the IDP Patients.

The Five Hospitals Ministry is decided to allocate for the IDP Patients are Kantale,Madwachchiya,Kabithigollawa,Dambulla and Kurunagala Hospitals.The Two Field Hospitals to be set up in the Districts Of Mannar and Vavuniya are funded by the United States Embassy in Colombo.

There are around Seven Government Hospitals now allocated for treating the IDP Patients.

Health Ministry To Closed Down Handala Mental Hospital

Ministry Of Health decides to Closed down the Handala Mental Health Hospital one of the three Major Mental Hospitals in Sri Lanka and the patients and the Staff of the Hospital is to recruit to another Hospital at Kandana in Colombo District.

Cabinet too approved this decesion Health Ministry Officials says.

Meanwhile The All Ceylon Nurses Union charged that the Ministry of Health is trying to restrict the Patient Care Facilties by closing down the Mental Hospital.The facilities provided at the New Hospital is not adequate to the Medical Staff including of the Toilet facilities says the secretery of the Union Mr.A Jayamanne."Our Union is already requested the Ministry to reverse their decesion on closing down of the Hospital" he stressed.There are around 180 patients receiving treatment at the hospital at the moment and the Medical Staff including the 3 Doctors and 14 Nurses.

Prabhakaren May Have Retained Submarine To Flee From Island -Daya Master Revealed

LTTE Leader Valupillai Prabhakaren who is in the small area in the No War Zone with his son Charles Anthoney and few other Rebel Leaders may have retained a Submarine to escape from Sri Lanka "Commanding General Officer of the 58th division of the Sri Lankan Army Brigadier Shavendra De Silva said today.

This was revealed to the forces by the Surrendered LTTE Media Head Daya Master.Brigadier De Silva quoting Daya Master and says that the Prabhakaren is only getting the support of LTTE Intelligence Chief Pottu Amman and Sea Tiger Leader Soosei and other Leaders will leave him if they are having a chance.

Sri Lankan Navy already put a Naval Blockade around the Northern Mulativue Seas to prevent LTTE Leaders and Cadres by escaping the Island via Sea.
Meanwhile Sri Lankan Forces said 613 Militants were killed during the confrontation with the forces in the first weak of April.

Praabhakaren Is In The Southern Part Of No War Zone With 15,000 Civilians-Daya Master

LTTE Media head and Spokesman Dayathin allias Daya Master who surrendered to the Sri Lankan Army yesterday revealed to the Army Intelligence Officials that the LTTE Leader Valupillai Prabhakaren and few other Leaders are staying at the South of Pudumathalan Area in the No War Zone with around 10,000 to 15,000 trapped Civilians. The area where Prabhakaren stays is the only area remain to be captured
Daya Master says that he and the other Leader who was surrendered with him "George Master" came with their family members to Surrender to the forces.Army Intelligence Officials continuing the questioning of both the LTTE Leaders who were surrendered.

Meanwhile Sri Lankan Navy Spokesman said today that the Navy tighten their security in the Northern Seas to prevent Prabhakaren or other LTTE Cadres by fleeng from country."We are on alert around 24 hours and do not allow any LTTE Cadre to escape from the country via Boat " he stressed.

Sri Lankan Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka said that the Forces are now know where Prabhakaren is and efforts will be taken to destroy the remaining LTTE Cadres.

Two Senior LTTE Leaders Surrendered To The Sri Lankan Forces

Two Senior LTTE Leaders including their Media Spokesman Surrendered this afternoon to 58th division of the Sri Lankan Army Security Sources said.The Media Spokesman of the LTTE "Daya Master" and another Senior Leader "George Master "were surrendered to the Army at Pudumathalan Area in the No War Zone according to the Sources.

This is the first time that Senior LTTE Leaders surrendered to the forces since the launching OF Military Offensives against the LTTE to liberate the Rebel held North and the East.

Meanwhile the Defense Officials said that around 95,000 trapped Civilians returned to the Government controlled area since last Monday.

Specialist Doctor Was Killed In Vavuniya-Docs To Tight Their Belts

A Specialist Doctor attached to the Vavuniya General Hospital in the Northern Sri Lanka was killed last night by an unidentified Gunman.After this killing Doctors attached to the Hospital threatened the Ministry Of Health that the rest of the Doctors in the Hospital will returned to Capital Colombo if the authorities not taken steps to arrest the killer and tighten the security in all the Hospitals in North where IDP'S are getting treatment.

Addressing a Press Briefing in Colombo today the Assistant Secretary of the Government Medical Officers Association Dr.Upul Gunasekara said that the Health Minister and Health Ministry Secretery turned blind eye on towards the killing of the doctor.GMOA sent a written request to both the Ministries of Health and Defense today and urged them to look into this matter.

Government To Continue Rescue Mission Over Trapped Civilians In The North

Fourty Nine Thousand Civilians Crossed Over to the Government Controlled Area from No War Zone in Northern Sri Lanka upto noon today since yesterday.Out from this number Thirty Nine Thousand Eighty One (39,081) Civilians crossed over to the Government Controlled Area yesterday alone after ground forces broke an Earth Bund there and opened a safe passage according to the Government.

With this figure total number of civilians who are already returned from No War Zone now stands as One Hundred Eleven Thousand (111,000).

In another development Sri Lankan Navy yesterday Rescued Over Two Thousand Civilians who were escape from the Rebel Area and came from One Hundred Fourteen Boats .Meanwhile Sri Lankan Defense Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says that Sri Lankan Government will continue the rescue mission while strategically focused on LTTE Leader Prabhakaren and his cadres.The 24 hour period Government offered to the LTTE Leader Prabhakaren to surrender was expired 12 noon today.

Seventeen Killed And One Hundred Injured From Suicide Bomb Attack In No War Zone

LTTE shown their cruelty again by killing Seventeen Innocent Children and Women and Injuring around One Hundred other Civilians through three separate Suicide Bomb Attacks this noon.These Civilians were tried to escape from the No War Zone when these Attacks occured Security Sources said.

According to the sources these Bomb Attacks targetting the trapped Civilians to prevent them from leaving to Government Controlled Areas through the Safety Passage.Despite of these Attacks large number of trapped Civilians still waiting eagerly to enter to the Government Controlled Areas Sources further reveales.

Meanwhile Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksha said that the LTTE is now Militarily defeated.

Sri Lankan Forces Rescue 50,000 Trapped Civilians In The No War Zone

Sri Lankan Forces Broke an Earth Bund built in Pudumathalan Area of the No War Zone and rescued around 50,000 trapped Civilians held by the LTTE this morning.The 58 th Division of the Army broke Three Kilo Meter long Earth Bund built by LTTE to prevent Armed Forces from entering to the Zone early this morning and opened a safe passage which will enable trapped civilians to enter into the Government Controlled Areas.

"This has been the World's largest Hostage Rescue effort ever recorded so far "According to the Defense Officials.

As soon as the Safe Passage was open Air Force had witnessed that more then 10,000 Civilians there waiting for enter into the Govt. controlled areas

LTTE fired around 200 gunshots last few days against the forces to prevent them by rescuing of trapped civilians.

Armed Forces Captured Two Sand Walls Built By The LTTE

Two Sand Walls built by the LTTE to prevent Armed Forces by moving towards the No War Zone were captured by the Forces in Eastern Puthukkuduyirippu Area in the Northern Sri Lanka today.These Sand Walls built across the A-35 Road between Paranthan and Mulativue.

According to the Defense Officials Forces are now moving towards the No War Zone through the Area of Nandakandal .One Battalion already in the Zone and another Battalion is 1000 Kilo Meters away from the No War Zone.

The System of building the Sand Walls was introduced by the late LTTE Leader Thepan who was killed by the Forces recently

Prsident Rajapaksha Made A Surprise Visit To Kilinochchi

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksha today made a surprise visit to once the "De Facto Capital "of the LTTE, Kilinochchi Town situated in the Northern Sri Lanka.He visited the House formely belongs to LTTE Leader Valupillai Prabhakaran,The Court House of the LTTE and the Peace Secretariat situated in the town and encouaraged the troops gathered to greet him.

He also witnessed the captured Missiles ,Bombs and War Tanks used by the LTTE.

As the Chief Commander of the Security Forces this is the first occasion that a Sri Lankan President visited the North since the war between Government Forces and the LTTE broke out Twenty Five years ago.Armed Forces captured Kilinochchi on 02nd of January this year.

Sri Lankans All Over The World Celebrated Traditional New Year

Sri Lankans belongs to the Sinhalese and Tamil Communities throughout the Globe were celebrated their Traditional Annual New Year or"Awurudu" Festival yesterday by consuming Especially prepared Meals including Milk Rice at a Auspicious Time of 5.55 A.M under Banner "United Sri Lanka" for the first time in more than two decades.

Wearing Cloths of one Colour Sinhalese and Tamil Communities of North to South of Sri Lanka consuming Especially prepared Milk Rice along with traditional Sweet Meets like "Oil Cakes" or"Kawum made with Rice Flour and Treacle ,"Kokis"made with Flour and Tamarind Powder,Milk Tofffes at one time in only such Occasion in the world.

The Civilians in the Camps of the liberated areas in the North like Kilinochchi and Pallali which wer under LTTE control recently celebrated this years New Year with Armed Forces as they supplied Sweet Meets for the Civilians.Sri Lankans prepared for this Annual Festival based on Astrological Planets since the beginning of April.

Although most of the Middle Class Families in Sri Lanka are facing Economic Hardships due to the impact of Global Economic Crisis they were performed traditions linked to the Festival atleast in small way.The New Year ends To Day with Oil applying Ceremony of to day.

The Restricted Military Operations in the North against LTTE resumed today.President Mahinda Rajapaksha ordered to restrict the Military Operations on 13th and 14th to enable the Civilians and the Forces to celebrate the Traditional New Year Festival.

Army Launched The Largest Humanatarian Hostage Rescue Operation Of The World In No War Zone

Sri Lankan Army who are launched the Largest Humanatarian Hostage Rescue Operation of the World in the No War Zone of Northern Sri Lanka are now heading further to Rescue the trapped Civilians there under LTTE Control.Over One Thousand Trapped Civilians return to the side of the Forces this morning from Pudumathalan Area where the No War Zone located after Army requested them to do so through the Loud Speekers.

Five LTTE Rebels who tried to attack forces were killed during the operation this morning Army Sources said.Troops have identified the Best Safe accesible routes for Civilans to escape from No War Zone and already established the Rescue Points on these routes according to the sources.
Defense Ministry said some of these Rescue Points are located just 150 meters short of the Earth Bund Built by the LTTE on No War Zone Border to prevent Civilians by escaping from there."Troops continuousley informed the Civilians about the Safe Routes to escape to the cleared areas and open more such Routes for the Civilians by removing the Terrorist Blockades" Defense Ministry stressed.

Meanwhile Defence Officials said this is the World's First Such Humanatarian Hostage Rescue Operation launched by a Security Force against a Guerilla Organization.Rescuing the trapped Civilians and Liberating the area from the LTTE is the aim of this Operation.
According to the Security Sources 58th Division of the Army now moving ahead within the No War Zone in the Puthukkuduyirippu Area where the remaining LTTE Cadres including their leaders are occupying. It has been reported around 300,000 Civilians trapped inside the 20 Square Meter No War Zone due to the LTTE using them as Human Shields.
Army already opened Few Gates around the No War Zone,Fixed Loud Speekers on these Gates and requesting trapped Civilians to escape from there.
Sri Lankan Forces captured the entire Puthukkuduyirippu Area the final Strong Hold of the LTTE on last sunday restricting the Rebels to the No War Zone.

An ICRC Member was Killed Due TO LTTE Shell Attack

A Staff Member attached to the International committee Of The Red Cross(ICRC) was killed today by hitting a Shell in the LTTE held area of Ampalavanpokanai in Northern Sri Lanka while he was trying to fetch Water for his family.

He was the Second ICRC Member to be killed due to LTTE Attacks in recent months and another ICRC Water Technician involved in Medical Evacuation was killed recently in the Coastal Area North of Valayanmadam Area.
Meanwhile the Head of the delegation of ICRC in Colomco Mr.Paul Castella Issued a Statement and said that they are deeply saddened by the death of their Colleague.

Government To Control Dhal And White Sugar Prices

Government today issued a Special Gazette Notification by Declaring the Maximum Retail Prices of Dhal and White Sugar .According to this Notification the Maximum Price of the One Kilo of Dhal is Rs 175 and a Kilo of White Sugar will be Rs.75.

Thia action is taken to prevent errant traders from increasing the Prices of these Consumer Goods on their own Interests.

Loud Explosions Heard From No War Zone After The Army Announcement

According to the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry some loud explosions were heard this evening from the No War Zone in the Northern Sri Lanka after Army made the final announcement through Loud Speakers for the LTTE leader Valupillai Prabhakaran to surrender and let the Civilians free .

Defense Officials believed that it may be some sort of attack launched by the LTTE against the Civilians who are tried to escape from the territory.

LTTE Rebels held large number of civilians under their control within the No War Zone and it is the only remaining area in the North Ground Forces need to liberate now.Forces captured entire Puthukkuduyirippu Area the final rebel stronghold last Sunday restricting Rebels to the No War Zone.

Health Ministry To Take Legal Action Against Misleading Food Labels And Ads

Ministry Of Health decides to take legal action against the Food Importers and Manufacturers here who are misleading the consumers through the labels of their products and from Advertisements Deputy Director General Of Health Services(Public Health) Dr.Palitha Mahipala said today.

"Ministry will first request them to correct their faults and if they are not willing to doing so legal action will be taken against them "Dr.Mahipala stressed while delivering the key note Address of a Media Seminar on "Food Labeling and Advertising " held in Colombo this morning.According to him there are lot of irregularities in Milk Powder Industry especially the way they are Advertising their Products and the Ministry has already appointed a Twelve Member Sub Committee to examine these Irregularities and report them to the Food Control Unit.
Some Milk Powder Companies Advertising their product by saying their Milk Powder help to developing the Human Body including the Brain and it will help avoid from Diseases which is banned under the Food Act..But they can't prove it he said.Even some Companies are not supportive and not willing to change their Advertising Pattern which is clearly misleading the consumers Dr.Mahipala further Added.
Sri Lankan consumers are stll mostly depend on the Milk Powder rather then the Liquid Cow's Milk which is restricted to Rural Areas .Government already begun a Program me to popularize the Liquid Cow's Milk but still it's in an initial stages.

Three Senior LTTE Leaders Among Those Killed DuringTheir Last Battle Against The Forces

Three Senior Leaders of the LTTE Theepan,Nagesh and the leader of the LTTE'S Womens Wing Vedusha confirmed as killed during the confrontation with the Sri Lanakan Ground Troops when capturing the final Rebel Stronghold of Puthukkuduyirippu Area this noon.

Over Two Hundrad bodies of the rebels were recovered from the Area according to the Securty Sources.Remaining LTTE Leaders are now gathered to the No War Zone along with the trapped Civilians.LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is believed to be hide in a Bunker located within the No War Zone along with his son Charls Anthony who was injured during the Confrontation with Armed Forces a weak ago.

G.C.E Ordinary Level Exam Results Released

G.C.E Ordinary Level New Syllabus Examination Results were out this noon According to the Examinations Department.The results of the Examination released to the Schools in Colombo and the Jayawardanapura Zones after 12 this evening and Outstation Schools will received the Results Sheets by Monday.

G.C.E Ordinary Level Examination was conducted last December.

LTTE Lost More Boats As The Fall Of Their Final Stronghold Is Nearing

Sri Lankan Navy destroyed Five LTTE Boats on yesterday and today in the Northern seas and rescued seven bodies of LTTE members and Two weapons Security Sources said.Out of this Navy and the Army destroyed Three LTTE Boats on yesterday at the Mulativue Seas and Two at the Alampil Area.

Forces also recovered a Limousine used by the LTTE Leader Valupillai Prabhakaran as they encircled the entire One Square Kilo Meter area of the LTTE'S heartland .The final stronghold of the LTTE Puthukkuduyirippu Area is going to fall in to the hands of the Government Forces at any time Sources further said.

In the latest confrontation between Government Forces and the LTTE in Northern Sri Lanka Leader of the LTTE'S Charles Anthony Brigade Amithab and the Deputy Leader Kobith were killed by the Forces yesterday.In another development Thirteen LTTE Cadres including an Explosives Expert were killed by the Special Task Force at the Lahugala in the Eastern District of Ampara.

Two Hundrad One Dengue Patients Reported From Colombo In First Three Months

Two Hundrad One Dengue Patients were reported and Four Patients died from the Disease in Colombo City during the first Three Months of this year(January to March) Chief Medical Officer of Colombo Pradeep Kariyawasam said."This number is shown a slight increase when compared to the number of Dengue Cases reported during the first Three Months in last year He stressed.During January and March last year One Hundred Seventeen Dengue Patients were reported from the City.

According to Dr.Kariyawasam out of these Dengue Patients reported this year One Hundred Five reported in January,Sixty Five in February and Thirty One in March.There were Two Dengue Deaths reported in January and One each in the Months of February and March he stressed.Majority of these Patients were Children or Youth he pointed out.

A "National Dengue Prevention Weak" is declared in the Colombo City during 20-26th of April to keep people in the City aware on the Disease he further said.

Prabhakaran's Son Got Injured During Confrontation With Forces

Eldest Son of the LTTE Leader Valupillai Prabakaran , Charles Anthony(24) was Injured last weak during Confrontation with Sri Lankan Ground Forces at Puthukkuduyirippu Area in the Northern Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Army Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said today.

"Charles Anthony was sustained with Injuries. But the Forces stll not received any information on how serious they were" according to Brigadier Nanayakkara.Anthony and his Father Prabakaran an Internationally wanted War Criminal are believed to be hiding in a Bunker located in the No War Zone of the Northern Sri Lanka.