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NEWS IN BRIEF

Jaffna Central to admit girls

The Jaffna Central College has started an English stream in the G.C.E. Advanced Level Science class for boys and girls. The Ministry of Education has selected this school in the whole of Jaffna peninsula for teaching science stream in English and given them necessary science apparatus, teaching aids and science teachers.

Jaffna Central College has been a boys school from its inception but this year in deference to the requests of many parents the principal has obtained permission to admit girls not only to the G.C.E. (A.L) Science classes but also to Arts and Commerce streams.

Two students drown

A Year 8 student of Gonzalves MV, Pamunugama, Danuska Sanjaya Cooray (12) and Maduwansa Perera (12) of the same school who went for a sea bath at Uswetakeiyawa with some of their friends without their parents knowledge were drowned. The body of Danuska was recovered floating and his friend's body was still missing.

This was revealed at the inquest held into the death of Danuska by the Inquirer into Sudden Deaths for Ragama D. C. Abeynayake.

An eye=witness said that they went for a sea bath without their parent's consent. On the day of the incident they were bathing and were suddenly taken by a strong wave resulting in their deaths. People who were watching the scene told them that they did not know to swim and were helpless at that moment. Later on Danuska's body washed ashore but Maduwansa's body was missing.

The father of the deceased (Danuska) N. B. Anthony Coorey (52) and several others also gave evidence.

Dr. Asela Mendis, AJMO, Ragama held the autopsy.

The Inquirer recorded a verdict of death due to drowning. Pamunugama Police conducted the inquiries and led evidence.

Heavy fines for power pirates

Kalmunai District Court Judge, K. Thatchena Moorthy imposed fines on eight and remanded six rice mill and saw mill owners in the Kalmunai area, in connection with the tampering of the electricity supply case.

It's reported that the special flying squad of the Ceylon Electricity Board conducted raids on the rice mills and saw mills in the Kalmunai, Kalmunaikudy, Mawadipalli and Maruthamunai areas to nab the mill owners who engaged in power pirating and 14 mill owners were detected on April 25.

CEB officials handed over the mill owners to the Kalmunai Police who produced them before the Kalmunai District Court Judge. The Judge imposed fines Rs. 11 lakhs on eight persons and remanded the other six.

Trincomalee-Irakakandy road badly damaged

The Trincomalee-Pulmoddai road beyond Irakankandy is badly damaged and the distance between Irakakandy and Pulmoddai is 35 kilometres along which no vehicular traffic is possible. The Road Development Authority sources said that the renovation of the stretch of road will cost Rs. 100 million.

Though Irakakandy and Salapaiaru are bridged still there are two streams to be crossed. The Podawakadda waterway has a ferry boat but the Yan oya river has none. A large manually operated canoe is being used at Yan oya and only the passengers with small baggages and few push bicycles can be taken across.

The Trincomalee District MP M. A. M. Maharoof (UNP) has requested the Road Development Authority (RDA) to use a ferry boat at Yan oya so that vehicular traffic would be possible. RDA sources said no extra ferry boat is available to be used at Yan oya.

Protest over house loss on Kandy highway

A protest campaign denouncing the destruction of houses and properties, when the proposed, Colombo-Kandy Highway project gets under way, was held in front of the Rambukkana railway station on Monday April 22.

Owners of this houses protested saying that this proposed project will destroy at least 15,000 houses.

They also claim that it is very unfortunate to lose the properties they have obtained after years of toil.

These protesters further stated to the "Daily News" that approximately 7,500 acres of land in Gampaha, Attanagalla, Mirigama, Dedigama, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Rambukkana and Mawathagama electorates will be lost due to the construction of the highway.

They request the authorities to use protected lands owned by the department of railways as an alternative to their personal properties. 

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