News in brief

Edmonton road public servants housing scheme to be opened shortly

The Public Servants' Housing Scheme constructed by the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) at Edmonton Road, Kirulapone at a cost of Rs. 400 million is scheduled to be opened by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on the invitation of Mrs. Ferial Ashraff, Minister of Housing and Construction Industry, Eastern Province Education and Irrigation Development shortly.

This was disclosed at an inspection tour of the project site made by Minister, Mrs. Ferial Ashraff recently accompanied by the officials of the Ministry and the NHDA.

This housing scheme consists of 272 housing units, which are completed with bed rooms, living rooms, balconies, kitchens and other facilities.

ACUET welcomes Ministry action

The All Ceylon Union of English Teachers - Teaching of Advanced Level Science subjects in the English Medium in Government Schools was launched in 2001. The lack of Teachers of English was a problem to authorities in implementing the program.

The All Ceylon Union of English Teachers (ACUET) welcomes the news that the Ministry of Education under the instructions of Dr. Tara de Mel, Secretary to Ministry of Education has selected five hundred Graduate Teachers as English Medium Teachers after a competitive examination and 61 will be posted to National Schools.

The Union's Secretary-General, M. A. Stanley Perera highly appreciates the fact that action is being taken by the Provincial Ministry of Education, Trincomalee to grant permanent status to 200 Teachers of English in the North/East to overcome the shortage of qualified teachers.

Exhibition, workshop on ornamental flowers

An exhibition and workshop on ornamental flowers meant for those housewives and youth interested in this kind of horticulture will be held on August 5, 6 and 7 beginning at 9.00 a.m. on each day at the Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo.

This event has been organised by 'Colombo In Bloom 2005' under the guidance of its organiser Chandana De Silva and several experts from this particular field area scheduled to give lectures beginning at 4.00 p.m. each day.

These lectures are as follows: August 5 at 4.00 p.m. - Ornamental flowers and plants - cultivation, maintenance, manuring. August 6 at 4.00 p.m. - Cultivation of palms, purns and other such plants, maintenance and manuring. August 7 at 4.00 p.m. - Home gardening, landscape maintenance and manuring.

More funds to develop CP road network

The Central Provincial Council Ministry of Highways has allocated funds amounting to Rs. 250 million to the Provincial Department of Highways for the development and maintainance of roads in the Province this year, said Minister of Power, Highways and Cooperatives Ediriweera Weerawardane.

According to the Minister the number of offices of Executive Engineers and worksites will be increased and also the direct labour system will be implemented in maintenance of roads, this year. He also revealed that properties that are not given over to the Highways Department would be taken over by the Department.

Under this project it was expected to develop 250 kilometres of roads in the Province.

LMFF donations to improve health facilities

The Lorient Matara Friendship Foundation plans to provide equipment for government hospitals in the Matara district.

Under the proposed programme adjustable beds and wheel chairs are to be supplied to the maternity ward of the Matara General Hospital.

In addition beds, wheel chairs, medicines and surgical instruments and machines will be donated to orthopaedic clinic of the hospital.

A separate waiting room is to be constructed for laundry staff says Chitrananda Gajadeera, Secretary to the Lorient Matara Friendship Foundation.

The proposed plans include the construction of an Orthopaedic Hospital at Ruhunu Gama in Kamburupitiya and a rehabilitation centre affiliated to the Matara General Hospital, as well. Southern Provincial Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Health of the Central Government have already granted approval for this projet.

According to Chitrananda Gajadeera, wheel chairs and adjustable beds and equipment have already been donated to Base Hospital, Kamburupitiya, District Hospitals at Akuressa, Deniyaya in the Matara district and Imaduwa Government Hospital in the Galle District as well. Lorient Matara Friendship Foundation and the Pendron Hospital in France furnish financial assistance for this purpose.