News

Another health worker strike tomorrow!

Published

2 months ago

April 1, 2024

nipuni

Another islandwide health worker strike is planned to be held from tomorrow (April 02), leading to crippled health services

72 Trade Unions under the Health Trade Union Alliance will join the strike, calling authorities to address several grievances including the DAT issue.

In February, the government had decided to raise the DAT allowance by Rs 35,000 for doctors, which had led to health trade unions demanding a similar allowance to be extended to them as well.

However, a crucial discussion is scheduled for today (April 01), involving officials from the Finance Ministry and the outcome of this meeting is to be the final deciding factor of the impending strike.

Speaking in this regard, co-convener of the TU alliance – Chanaka Dharmawickrama has said : “It was initially decided to commence a 04-hour strike islandwide. But the Presidential Secretariat has called for a discussion today and therefore we had decided to limit this to 05 key hospitals only, namely. Kandy, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Ratnapura, and Badulla. However, if we do not receive a favourable solution today, we will launch an island wide strike tomorrow.”

News

Rathupaswala shooting: Army personnel acquitted

Published

1 hour ago

May 17, 2024

editor

All four Sri Lanka Army personnel who had been indicted on charges of shooting dead three persons and injuring 45 others during a protest by villagers demanding clean drinking water in Rathupaswala in 2013 were today acquitted by the Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar.

Delivering its verdict, the three-judge High Court ordered the acquittal and release of all four accused – a Major and three Army soldiers.

The incident occurred on August 1, 2013, when army personnel opened fire on a protest by villagers in Weliweriya. The villagers were protesting against a factory which they said was contaminating groundwater in their area and were demanding clean drinking water.

(sundaytimes.lk)

News

Fmr. Army Chief joins SJB

Published

4 hours ago

May 17, 2024

nipuni

Former Army Commander Retired General Mahesh Senanayake has joined with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

In a Facebook post, party leader Sajith Premadasa said that the Former Army Chief joined the SJB to support the program to rebuild Sri Lanka.

Mr. Premadasa had appointed General Mahesh Senanayake as the Chief of the Samagi Ranaviru Balawegaya.

News

Colombo HC sentences 9 Pakistani drug traffickers to 10 years in prison

Published

5 hours ago

May 17, 2024

nipuni

Nine Pakistani nationals, who were arrested on charges of smuggling a large cache of drugs, have been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Colombo High Court.

During a joint operation carried out by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) and the Sri Lanka Navy on January 01, 2020, the Pakistani nationals were apprehended while transporting 614 kg of ‘Ice’ (Crystal Methamphetamine) and 581 kg and 34 grams of suspected drugs by boat.

The report of the Government Analyst has confirmed that the seized parcels contained over 491 kilograms of ‘Ketamine’ drugs and nearly 472 kilograms of ‘Ice’ (Crystal Methamphetamine).

The accused pleaded guilty to the charges when the case was taken up before the court, and were subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison, police said.

Furthermore, the police mentioned that measures are underway to extradite the suspects to Pakistan in order to serve their sentences.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)