The Association of Specialist Physicians urges the Government to immediately remove the current President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Sri Lanka and appoint an interim administration.

The decision was taken at the request of members of the Association of Specialist Physicians, said the President of the Association Dr. Lakkumar Fernando.

He said that the above decision was passed unanimously at the annual general meeting of the Association of Specialist Physicians.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Education has rejected a request made by the Teachers and Principals Trade Union Alliance to provide an alternative solution to the problems faced by teachers and school children due to the shortage of fuel.

The Teachers and Principals Union has requested the Secretary of Education to allow teachers and students to go to schools of their choice near their homes due to transportation difficulties.

It has also been suggested to the Secretary of Education that an alternative solution be provided if that request cannot be granted.

However, the Secretary of Education denied the request, said Joseph Stalin, Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union.

The first meeting of the newly appointed Cabinet of Ministers is scheduled to be held this afternoon under the patronage of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The new cabinet was sworn in before the President on the 18th.

Institutions and portfolios assigned to the new Ministers are to be issued through a Gazette Notification.

The unions say public and private sector workers will go on strike on the 28th of this month, demanding that the president and government to go home.

Ravi Kumudesh on behalf of the trade unions said that more than 300 trade unions representing public, private and semi-government institutions will join the strike.

He also stated that all employees throughout the country will report sick leave and take this trade union action against the government.

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera has confirmed that the social media reports on the fuel price hike from tonight are false.

The All Ceylon Multi-Day Trawler Owners’ Association states that more than 5,000 multi-day trawlers used for fishing in international waters have been anchored off the coast.

The union says that due to the increase in fuel prices, it has become impossible to launch their fishing vessels into the sea.

The organization says they have earned US $ 380 million in the past year alone by capturing fish from international waters and exporting it to foreign countries.

The All Ceylon Multi-Day Trawler Owners’ Association states that about 200,000 people who worked in multi-day trawlers and allied occupations have been affected due to anchoring these vessels in the harbours without going to sea.

It is reported that the State Ministry of Consumer Protection is taking steps to reintroduce price controls for essential food items.

The State Ministry of Consumer Protection is preparing to hold discussions with the Minister of Finance in this regard next week.

An obstacle to the reintroduction of price controls is the depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar.

It is expected to pay special attention to this during the discussion.

The teachers ‘and principals’ unions have decided to go on a one-day token strike islandwide tomorrow (25).

The General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Union Joseph Starlin said that the strike was against of the increase in bus fares and school transport fares in the face of rising fuel prices as well as the government’s anti-people program.

The General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service Union Mahinda Jayasinghe on behalf of the Teachers’ and Principals’ Trade Union stated that 30 Teachers’ and Principals’ Unions will participate in this one day token strike.

However, the Minister of Education Dr. Ramesh Pathirana has requested the teachers to engage in strike action so as not to hinder the education of the students.

Piyal Nishantha and Lohan Ratwatte will continue in their previous ministry portfolios, the Presidential Media Unit said in a statement.

It has been informed that in addition to the State Ministers appointed by the President as per the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2276/64 dated 22.04.2022, these State Ministers will also continue to function in their positions.

Accordingly, Lohan Ratwatte the State Minister of Gem and Jewelery Industries and Piyal Nishantha de Silva the State Minister of Women and Child Development, Pre-School and Primary Education, School Infrastructure and Education Services will continue to hold office.

The Dhamma School Grade Examination for the year 2021 will be held tomorrow (24) at Dhamma Schools island wide.

The examination will be held from grade 6 to grade 10, said the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs.

Examinations for Grades 6, 7 and 10 will begin at 8.30 am.

Examinations for Grades 8 and 9 will begin at 10.00 am.

This time the students have been given the opportunity to sit for the examination using the Dhamma school textbook.

The Minister of Health Prof. Channa Jayasumana says that 101 types of drugs and surgical equipment donated by the Government of India to Sri Lanka will arrive in the country next Wednesday.

He said that the drugs were being brought to Sri Lanka by a ship belonging to the Indian Navy.

The Minister of Health Prof. Channa Jayasumana further stated that the donation of essential medicines worth Rs. 340 million provided by the Indonesian Government to Sri Lanka will also be received within a week.

Sudu Kekulu, Nadu and Samba rice are being sold at concessionary prices by Lanka Sathosa branches, according to the Ministry of Trade.

A kilo of raw Nadu and white raw rice sells for Rs. 145 and a kilo of samba sells for Rs. 175, Ministry of Trade states.

Ministry also states that white Kekulu, Nadu and Samba which are imported from India will be provided at those concessionary prices.

According to the Ministry of Trade, a maximum of 5 kg of rice can be obtained per person at a time.

The Government Pharmacists’ Association states that 525 stocks of medicines and 5376 surgical materials have been depleted in the Colombo Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health.

This is the first time that a large quantity of such drugs and surgical materials has been in short supply in the Main Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health, said the Chairman of the Government Pharmacists’ Association, Ajith P. Tilakaratne.

The supply division has stocks of 06 life-saving medicines, 239 essential medicines and 280 essential medicines, while the stock of 2721 essential surgical materials and 25 other surgical materials are out of stock, according to the Pharmacists’ Association.

The association also said that stocks of medicines used for emergency heart attacks and rabies vaccines have also ran out.

Cement manufacturers and importers have decided to increase the price of a bag of cement by Rs. 400, according to the Sri Lanka National Constructions Association.

Its chairman Susantha Liyanarachchi says the decision will be implemented within the next week.

He also said that if the price of cement goes up, there is a risk of completely collapsing the construction industry in the country.

At present a bag of cement sells for Rs. 2350 in the market.

It is reported that the decision taken to increase the price of domestic gas from midnight today (22) has been temporarily suspended

Permission has not been granted to increase prices from today and a decision on the price will be taken at the next cabinet meeting.

The government has decided not to increase prices until the cabinet decision is announced.

According to Litro, the increase in domestic gas prices will not happen at the moment.