Quick Look

Diabetes on the rise in Lanka

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

One fourth of Sri Lankans suffer from diabetes and it will go up to almost half the population in another 10 years, Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry sources said.

Sources said at the moment, between 10 and 15 percent of Sri Lankan schoolchildren suffer from type 2 diabetes. Lack of exercise, regular diet of short eats and other types of junk food, artificial sweet drinks and stress are some of the main reasons for diabetes in children.

Chikungunya, dengue outbreak warning

M.I.M. Azhar -Maligaikadu group corr

Sammanthurai MoH T. Marzook has sounded a warning about a possible outbreak of dengue and Chikungunya in Sammanthurai and its outskirts and requested people to keep their surroundings clean by eradicating mosquito breeding grounds immediately. Empty plastic bottles and cans, plastic bags, discarded tyres and coconut shells and other receptacles should be cleared and the environment should be kept clean to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes to combat the spread of these diseases, he said.

Drivers fined for wrong stop

Kapila SOMARATNE -Panadura group corr.

Panadura Magistrate Thusara Rajasinghe imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000 each on two private coach drivers for stopping their coaches on unauthorised places on the Galle Road and picking up passengers obstructing traffic.

The two drivers Nalin Kumara and S. Nishantha were produced before Court by the Panadura Traffic Police and prosecuted.

Computer labs for schools

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

The Education Ministry has made arrangements to set up 1,000 school computer labs in line with the “English and Information Technology Year” aiming to bridge the information and communication gap, sources said. Under the first phase, 500 computer labs will be established throughout the country. The project is funded by the Ministry’s Secondary Education Modernisation Project. Three types of school computer laboratories are managed by the Education Ministry as Computer Resources Centres, Computer Learning Centres and Information Technology Centres established in certain National Schools.

Free seminar on graphic designing

Sri Lanka Institute of Printing under Mass Media and Information Ministry has organised a free one day workshop-style seminar on Computer Graphic Designing for those who intend to gain an exposure and understanding of the use of essential Graphic Software packages used in Multi Media Industry.

The seminar will be held on Sunday, September 13 from 8.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. at Sri Lanka Institute of Printing, Government Printing Department, No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 8. The intake will be limited to capacity and those who are interested in participating the seminar can contact the SLIOP office on 2686162 or 2679791 to reserve a seat. Fax: 2686162, E-mail: [email protected], Web: www.sliop.com

Islamic lectures

President, All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama Scholar Ash-Sheikh Mufti M.I.M. Rizwe will deliver a talk on ‘Unity within Diversity’ at 10.30 a.m., September 4 (Poya Day) at Nimal Road Jummah Mosque in Bambalapitiya.

These lectures thereafter will continue every Poya Day in English by learned Islamic scholars of repute, mainly catering to English speaking Muslims under the guidance of Darul Uloomil Islamiyya, which is an institute that conducts Alim Course in English medium.

Food aid from Germany

Germany has donated urgent food aid worth four million Euros (Rs. 640 million) to meet requirements of people displaced and economically affected in the Vanni and Jaffna. The program is being implemented through the Relief and Recovery Operation ‘Food for Peace-building and Recovery in Conflict-affected Areas’ of the UN World Food Program (WFP).

Art competition,

The 121st anniversary art competition and exhibition of the Ceylon Society of Arts will be held from September 18, 19 and 20 at the National Art Gallery. Chief guests will be Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Cultural Affairs Minister Piyasiri Wijenayake. Artists can present their original works for the exhibition, a maximum of four exhibits, under eight different categories including sculpture, landscape, graphic, traditional and portrait, etc. The exhibits will be accepted on September 12 and 13 from 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m at Ceylon Society of Arts office at the National Art Gallery. Further details could be obtained from Ramani on 071-2424740, Pulasti on 0777-3318519 and Aruna on 0724796282.

Prashasthi 2009

The senior brass band of Ananda College will hold the invited Inter School Band display, Prashasthi for the ninth consecutive year on September 5 from 3.30 p.m. onwards at the BMICH Main Hall, Colombo. Over 15 leading school brass bands and many popular guest artists are expected to participate.

Inflation down to 0.9 percent in August

The rate of inflation, as measured by the point-to-point change in the Colombo Consumers’ Price Index (CCPI) (2002 = 100), computed by the Department of Census and Statistics, decreased to 0.9 percent in August, 2009 from 1.1 percent in July, 2009.

The annual average inflation rate also continued on its declining path which had commenced in November, 2008 and recorded a single digit level of 8.5 percent, compared to 10.4 percent in July 2009.

It is noteworthy that this is the lowest annual average inflation rate recorded since 2006, the Central Bank said. The CCPI decreased marginally by 0.3 percent over the previous month, with the Index moving downward to 208.1 from 208.7 in July, 2009.

Chairman, Ranaviru Seva Authority

Anoma Fonseka, the wife of Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka will assume duties as the new Chairman of the Ranaviru Seva Authority today.

A teacher by profession Mrs. Fonseka later dedicated her service for the welfare of the war heroes as a member of the Sri Lanka Army Seva Vanitha Unit.

Water interruption in Kalutara

Water supply to the following areas in Kalutara district will be interrupted on September 02, 08 and 11 between 8.30 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. on each day due to disruption of power supply to Kethhena Water Purification Plant of Kalutara integrated water supply scheme.

Pinwatte, Thalpitiya, Wadduwa, Waskaduwa, Pothupitiya, Kalutara (North and South), Katukurunda, Nagoda, Payagala, Maggona, Beruwala, Kaluwamodera, Moragalle, Dharga Town, Aluthgama, Bentota, Bombuwala and Pilaminawatte areas.