Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Health has instructed the officials to immediately remove a batch of locally produced Aspirin from use in hospitals, following reports of a quality defect identified.
The production company in question has been notified and requested to provide relevant information about the incident, said Dr. Saman Ratnayake, Additional Secretary to the Ministry.
Measures have been taken to seize the imports of this batch, and despite the action, there will be no shortage of Aspirin, he added.
Colombo (LNW): The government will be taking measures to make the employees of the local government bodies whose employment statuses remain uncertain permanent permanent soon, said Provincial Councils and Local Government State Minister Janaka Wakkumbura.
Accordingly, those employed on contractual-basis, freelance-basis and others at the LG bodies will be made permanent, and the process of collecting information in this regard has already commenced, the Minister revealed.
As of now, about 12,000 vacancies are available in LG bodies, and the permanent appointments will be granted to fit these vacancies, Wakkumbura assured.
Currently, there are about 10,000 non-permanent employees in LG bodies, he added.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe to convene an All-Party meeting on Wednesday at the President’s House: The meeting is expected to address a number of matters of importance, including the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and initiatives to be implemented for the promotion of national harmony.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructs officials to expedite the Anuradhapura Sacred Site Development Plan, giving priority to the Maha Viharaya Development Plan; adds a Committee consisting of a team of experts from the National Physical Planning Department, the Department of Archaeology, and Universities will be appointed to implement the Maha Viharaya Development Plan.
The Auditor General’s Department launches a special probe into the use of substandard medicines, following reports on a number of incidents in the Health Sector surrounding controversy: Auditor General W.P.C. Wickramaratne says previous investigations on the NMRA and the Health Ministry revealed significant information about the use of substandard and unregistered drugs; asserts the Parliament Committee on Public Business also discussed the matter; adds a separate probe into the computer system related to the purchase and distribution of medicines will also be conducted.
The new circular issued by the Health Secretary censoring health officials from providing information to the media without prior consent of the department heads meets with immediate backlash: Health professionals allege the circular is against the freedom of speech and expression of health workers; reveal the communique in question fails to mention the provisions of the Establishment Code which concern the representatives of trade unions or health professionals’ associations; urge Health Secretary to provide an explanation and revoke it immediately.
Power and Energy State Minister D.V. Chanaka says the first fuel shipment of China’s Sinopec, which signed a contract to enter the Sri Lankan fuel market, will arrive in the country early next month; asserts steps will be taken to replace the fuel price formula with a maximum retail price, thereby creating a fuel competitiveness that benefits the country; assures a MRP will be stipulated to all fuel companies under the price formula from August.
Trade Minister Nalin Fernando says the two leading LP Gas companies must comply a price formula and sell gas at the same prices; warns any attempt to violate this requirement will be met with legal action; laments private vendor LAUGFS had not taken any steps to slash its gas prices subsequent to its state-run competitor LITRO.
The SYU together civil movements organises a protest and a cultural concert in remembrance of a number of events in the history of Sri Lanka that affected national unity, including the 1983 “Black July”: The event was led by SYU member Eranga Gunasekara and JVP former MP Bimal Rathnayake: Police fire water cannons to disperse the protest.
Several train trips scheduled for yesterday and today have been cancelled owing to the strike action launched by the Railway Engine Drivers’ Association concerning an issue related to the duty rosters of engine drivers.
Immigration/Emigration Dept laments a number of incapacities are evident in accessing the new online system established for obtaining passports: Failure to properly place the fingerprints, non-submission of adequate bio data, and failure to comply with the procedure in submitting the relevant documents online the most frequent; urges the public to contact the Dept itself or the nearest Divisional Secretariat to resolve any problems pertaining to the submission of applications and follow the correct procedure.
Minister Bandula Gunawardena says whatever the government in power in the country, Sri Lanka is legally bound to settle foreign debts at maturity till 2048; adds SL has to repay foreign debt of US$ 36 billion and only 37% of them mature within the next five years; asserts 51% of the total foreign debt matures in 6-20 years and the rest 12% after 20 years.
Colombo (LNW): A number of incapacities are evident in accessing the new online system established for obtaining passports, and the failure to properly place the applicants’ fingerprints, the non-submission of adequate bio data, and the failure to comply with the procedure in submitting the relevant documents online are the most frequent among them, the Department of Immigration and Emigration said.
In the backdrop, only about 3,700 passports could be proceeded for issuance out of about 35,000 applications submitted online, lamented Controller of Immigration and Emigration Harsha Ilukpitiya.
The Dept, therefore, urged the public to contact the Dept itself or the nearest Divisional Secretariat to resolve any problems pertaining to the submission of applications and follow the correct procedure in applying for passports.
Anyone can visit the official website of the Department of Immigration and Emigration and follow the guidelines for submitting applications via the online system.
Colombo (LNW): A silent protest remembering the 40th anniversary of the 1983 “Black July” and commemorating those who were killed in the tragedy was held near the Borella Cemetery roundabout yesterday afternoon (23), themed “Let’s not forget slaughter of Tamils – Justice for those murdered.”
The event was organised by the “Brotherhood of North and South” (Uthura Dakuna Sahodarathwaya).
Subsequent to the commemoration, a silent protest was held on the premises, but a tense situation arose as a group of people unaffiliated with the protesters barged in and expressed their objection to the protest. The Police intervened and attempted to control the situation, but the heated situation continued to occur between the two groups.
The commemoration, nonetheless, continued with the organisers of the event lighting candles in remembrance of the victims and deceased of the tragedy.
The Police together with the Riot Control Unit dissolved the protesters from the premises.
Vehicles carrying water cannons ready to be launched, Police, Riot Control units and Army personnel were deployed in and around the area where the commemoration event was held.
Colombo (LNW): Several spells of showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts, announced the Department of Meteorology in its daily weather forecast today (24).
A few showers may occur in the Northern Province, and showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the evening or night, the statement added.
Mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere over the Island.
Fairly strong winds of about 40 kmph can be expected at times in western slopes of the central hills, Northern and North-Central provinces, and in Monaragala, Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershower.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Matara via Galle.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly and speed will be (30-40) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (50-60)kmph at times in the sea areasvoff the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil and in the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Trincomalee via Mannar and Kankasanthurai. Wind speed may increase up to 50kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Hambantota via Colombo, Galle and Matara.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Trincomalee to Pottuvil via Kankasanthurai, Mannar, Colombo, Galle and Hambanthota will be rough at times. The other sea areas around the island may be moderate. Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
Colombo (LNW): The Socialist Youth Union (SYU) together with civil movements and concerned individuals organised a protest and a cultural concert in remembrance of a number of events in the history of Sri Lanka that affected national unity, themed “Let us not allow division, and fly together” (Bedannata Ida Nodemu, Ekwa Api Piyambamu).
The event was held in Colombo this afternoon (23) and remembered a number of events, including the 40th anniversary of the “Black July,” the burning of the Jaffna Library, the Tamil Eelam struggle and etc, and commemorated those who were killed during the said events.
The event was attended by SYU member Eranga Gunasekara and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) former MP Bimal Rathnayake, and followed by many activists.
Police have later fired water cannons to disperse the protest.
Colombo (LNW): The State-run LITRO Gas Company and the private vendor LAUGFS Gas ought to sell gas at the same prices in compliance with the existing price formula, and any attempt to violate this requirement will be met with legal action, warned Trade Minister Nalin Fernando.
Speaking to media, the Trade Minister said that unlike its state-run competitor, LAUGFS had not taken any steps to slash its gas prices, and a number of complaints have followed in this regard. The difference of prices of a domestic LP gas cylinder is staggeringly Rs. 708, he pointed out.
Fernando further revealed that he had queried the management of LAUGFS pertaining to the issue and the response was diverse, adding that he had advised private vendor to slash the prices soon to be on par with its state-run competitor.
The two companies should adhere to the price formula issued by the Finance Ministry or else will be liable to legal action, and a positive response from LAUGFS’ end is expected by Monday (24), the Trade Minister told media.
