News
Eran claims Sri Lanka, pearl of Asia, has now become a transshipment centre for drugs
Although Sri Lanka is said to be the pearl of the Indian Ocean, it has actually become a transshipment centre for narcotics. In 2005, the UN South Asia regional profile report said that for the past decades Sri Lanka has been used as the transshipment point for heroin from South west Asia, India and other destinations outside the sub-continent. Most significant drug problem is trafficking of heroin from India for local consumption. It was debated that some powerful politicians are behind and involved in drug trafficking which handicapped combatting the drug menace, SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne said speaking on the debate on Regulations issued under the Poison, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance in Parliament Monday.
MP Wickramaratne also drew attention to the issues raised during the visit of Patali Champika Ranawaka MP to Welikada prison this week. He pointed out that there are 5000 drug related inmates, whereas it can accommodate 800 inmates only.
The MP mentioned that he visited the Weerawila Open Prison about a month ago and was able to observe that the prison camp was being managed properly. Most of the inmates among 450 inmates were convicted of drug offenses.
“We don’t need any facility for this Weerawila open air prison, but if you can, the head of the Weerawila prison has requested that you stop the smuggling of drugs into this country, then the rest of the drug menace could be easily eradicated”, he said.
The MP said that through this request, it was observed that the head of the prison directly placed the responsibility of transporting drugs into the country on the politicians and emphasized that the solution to the drug menace in the country also lies with the politicians.
He urged that if the politicians fulfill their responsibilities to save the country from the menace of drugs, there is a tendency to solve the problems in other places. Wickramaratne mentioned that the reports of the United Nations proves that Sri Lanka has not only become a drug transshipping centre but also a final destination and transit point for drugs.
News
Cabinet aporives recruitment of Nursing Instructors for Nursing Schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media on Contract Basis
There are 17 nursing schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media including the postgraduate primary nursing school.
There are 142 vacancies in the posts of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) as on 31.03.2026 in those schools while 24 officers are to be promoted to the special grade on 31.12.2025 owing to the vacancies existing in the post of Special
Grade Nursing Officer (Education). Therefore, the number of vacancies is to be 166.
In addition, there are 24 vacancies in the post of Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).
Although at present action has been taken to upgrade the nursing schools to nursing colleges and upgrade the nursing diploma course to nursing degree course, no action has been taken so far to carry out recruitment for the training relevant to the appointment for the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to recruit retired nursing instructors and nursing instructors who served in the nursing schools belonging to the three armed forces and are retired or have resigned legitimately from service to the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) on contract basis.
Latest News
Signing agreement for the establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka
It has been decided to establish a BIMSTEC technology transfer facility in Sri Lanka by entering into a Host Country Agreement at the second leaders’ summit of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) held in New Delhi, India, in 2008, with the objective of enhancing regional cooperation.
The relevant cooperation agreement was signed by the member countries at the 5th BIMSTEC summit on 30-03-2022 in Colombo.
The prime objective of this technology transfer facility is to provide technology, capacity building, and management of intellectual property for the micro, small, and medium-scale
enterprises of the BIMSTEC member countries.
According to the cooperation agreement, an agreement should be entered into between Sri Lanka, as the host country, and BIMSTEC Secretariat for formalizing the legal status, privileges, and immunities of the technology transfer facility.
The drafted agreement has received the relevant institutional approval and legal clearance.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Science and Technology to sign the proposed agreement.
News
The cabinet approves agreement on mutual legal cooperation in criminal matters between the Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea
Approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 11-12-2023 to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka regarding mutual cooperation
in criminal matters.
However, according to the aforementioned approval, the relevant agreement could not be signed between both parties.
Through this agreement, opportunities will be provided
for mutual assistance to other countries in handing over judicial documents and collecting evidence for the use of criminal case matters.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution provided by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate in criminal matters.
Cabinet aporives recruitment of Nursing Instructors for Nursing Schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media on Contract Basis
Signing agreement for the establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka
The cabinet approves agreement on mutual legal cooperation in criminal matters between the Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea
Misbah-ul-Haq resigns as Pakistan selector after Test squad upheaval
Amendment of the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance No. 3 of 1897
Cabinet approves donation of USD One Million to the Government of Nepal
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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