News in brief

Please help little Canista to save her life

Two-year-old Evonne Canista of 3/59, Palle Deltota, Getambe is suffering from an acute heart ailment and Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Y.K.M. Lahie has recommended urgent heart surgery to save her life. The surgery is estimated to cost Rs. 300,000. The President's Fund has released Rs. 140,000 towards the cost of the surgery.

The girl's mother Mrs. K. Manjula says their family is unable to find the balance money needed for the surgery due to their present financial plight.

She requests philanthropists and the general public to send whatever financial contributions possible to help make up the balance and expedite the surgery in order to save the child's life.

All contributions should be remitted to account number 8680286901 at the Commercial Bank, Kotugodella Veediya Branch, Kandy opened in the name of the child's father Anthony Christopher.

No rest room, toilet for Colombo High Court staff

The Administrative staff of the Colombo High Court is undergoing immense inconveniences as they are deprived of a rest room within the Court premises.

"The staff of around 200 are not provided with a rest room and have to take their lunch too inside the offices", one officer who did not want to be named told the Daily News.

Another officer said that they are only provided with two toilets and these too were not in a condition to be used and they have to remain the nature's call unanswered until they return to their residences.

The litigants around 2,000 who come to the Colombo High Court a week, have to face the same fate since they do not have a place to rest or a public lavatory for their needs.

"In any case of need", a female officer said, "we have to go to the lavatories of the Court of Appeal which is nearly 150 metres away from the High Court premises."

According to another officer this was a long felt need yet remained unanswered.

150 houses for tsunami affected

The Bodhi Raja Foundation and the Jatika Hela Urumaya have jointly approved a project to construct one hundered and fifty houses for displaced persons who were affected by the tsunami at Beruwala.

Already the construction work of forty houses has been completed at Karandagahawatta, Beruwala and the houses will be given to the displaced persons soon.

The other housing projects have been commenced at Polgahawatta, Payagala, Daluwatta, Payagala South and Hirigodella areas.