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President appoints new Chairman to CEA

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a new Chairman to the Central Environment Authority (CEA) with effect from July 30th and the reason for the sudden removal of the incumbent Chairman Venura Fernando has not been stated, the CEA unions said.

A letter stating appointment of U.D.Chandana Jayalal as the new CEA Chairman as undersigned by the Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake had been copied to several officials including Secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Director General CEA today.

A collective of five trade unions attached to the CEA said that they strongly oppose the removal of the incumbent Chairperson Venura Fernando, who was an honest official who even did not claim his salary.

The unions claimed that the removal of the previous chairman was questionable when an election had been declared in the country and that they had brought the matter to the notice of the Election Commission and the independent monitoring body PAFFREL.

A union spokesperson said that they will have a special discussion today regarding the matter as a number of CEA employees are disheartened by the sudden removal of their chairman.

When contacted, Chairman Election Commission R.A.M.L. Rathnayake told the Daily Mirror that the appointment and transfers of the state officials for service requirements or disciplinary action is not prohibited during an election period.

“However, one can always complain to the commission if they suspect the appointment or transfer was due to a political reason,” Rathnayake said.

However, sources within the Ministry of Environment stated that there was an audit query underway against a board decision taken by the CEA to increase salaries by Rs.10, 000 for its staff members recently.

(dailymirror.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Postal strike ends

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The Union of Postal and Telecommunications Officers says postal services will operate as usual today (May 31).

Secretary Manjula Jayasundara stated that striking union members returned to work from yesterday (May 30) afternoon, and distribution of over 2,000 delayed mail bags has begun.

This strike, launched over 10 demands including delays in recruitment, has reportedly drawn the attention of the relevant authorities.

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“Mask up if feeling unwell”

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Leading expert in Allergy, Immunology and Molecular Medicine – Professor Chandima Jeewandara has recommended handwashing and mask wearing for individuals feeling unwell, stating that it would be key in mitigating the spread of Covid-19.

On a X thread, Prof. Jeewandara had shared this advice as the new COVID-19 variant – NB.1.8.1, is causing a rise in cases worldwide.

“The symptoms associated with NB.1.8.1 are broadly similar to earlier COVID-19 strains, including sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches, and nasal congestion. Notably, hoarseness has emerged as a common symptom distinguishing it from earlier variants,” Prof. Jeewandara has said.

“Current data suggests that NB.1.8.1 does not lead to more severe illness compared to previous variants. Most infections are mild, especially among vaccinated individuals,” he adds.

“While the emergence of NB.1.8.1 is notable, there is currently no cause for alarm. Continued vigilance and adhere to public health guidelines MOH,” he further notes.

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1st stock of imported coconut milk to undergo clearance, lab testing today

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The first consignment of imported coconut milk under the Government’s raw material importation programme is scheduled to undergo clearance and laboratory testing today (31), as part of a coordinated initiative by the Plantation Industries Ministry.

This initiative, approved by the Cabinet, aims to supply essential raw materials to industries linked to the coconut sector, aiming to reduce domestic coconut prices and support local manufacturers. The consignment currently under clearance includes products equivalent to 200 million coconuts. They are in the forms of frozen coconut milk, coconut milk powder and chunked coconut with testa (non-copra), imported as part of the programme initiated in March 2025. The stock will be used primarily in the coconut milk powder industry, which has been facing raw material shortages. The Plantation Industries Ministry expects this move to reduce the pressure on local coconut supplies and contribute to a drop in retail coconut prices.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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