Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

The Health and Nutrition Ministry has taken steps to interdict two pharmacists who had allegedly issued an outdated insulin injection at the Badulla Teaching Hospital.

The Health Ministry had earlier launched an investigation into an incident where two pharmacists attached to the Badulla Teaching Hospital had by negligence issued an outdated insulin injection to an elderly woman who sought treatment for diabetes at the hospital on September 27, this year.

Good returns from Bee-Keeping villages

Bee-keeping villages set up by the Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Ministry are functioning smoothly bringing considerable economic benefits to the farming community in the Kurunegala District. More than 800 farmers are now engaged in this industry. Agriculture Assistant Director R. M. Senaratne said that a bottle of bees-honey fetches prices ranging from Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,000.

Special Dhamma Deshana

A special Dhamma Deshana to bestow merit on Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thera will be delivered by Ven. Thirikunamale Ananda Anunayaka Thera on Sunday, November 29 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Isipathanarama Maha Vihare, Colombo 5.

Twelve AHINI deaths in Central Province

Twelve patients have died of the AHINI influenza virus in the Central Province so far while another 37 suspected cases are receiving treatment at the Kandy Hospital and 71 are warded at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital, said Epidemiologist Dr. Chandana Wickramasinghe. He said people with immune deficiency are more likely to contract the virus.

There has been a high incidence of influenza among people in the area due to the inclement weather conditions and it is difficult to distinguish between normal influenza patients and AHINI victims because the symptoms are very similar, he said.

Knocked down by train while crossing track

An elderly man and a woman were killed in a train accident in Alawwa yesterday morning when they were crossing the railway line.

Police spokesman SSP I.M. Karunaratna said a Vavuniya bound train from Colombo knocked down a man and a woman when they were crossing the railroad. “The tragedy had occurred near the Alawwa railway station at around 7.30 am,” he added.

A train from Colombo to Vavuniya, another from Polgahawela to Colombo were passing the Alawwa railway station at the same time. “Both victims were crossing the railway tracks noticing one side and failing to see the other side. After they have crossed one side, the other train which was coming on the opposite side had hit them,” SSP Karunaratna said.

The victims were M.A. Disanayake (65) and H.A. Nandawathy Menike (54), residents of the Miheliya area in Alawwa.

40th anniversary celebrations

The Ceylon Association for the Mentally Retarded, will commemorate the 40th anniversary and 50th certificate award ceremony for the trainees of the 50th Sumaga Training Course for parents, teachers and carers of mentally retarded persons, a performing arts competition titled Sahan-Eliya III (Light of Dawn) will be held at the John de Silva Memorial Theatre, Colombo 7 on December 3 from 1.15 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.

Gandhari at Punchi Theatre

'Gandhari' a musical show depicting adaptations from Hindi film songs organised by the Old Anandians' 70-75 Group will be held at the Borella Punchi Theatre on November 28 at 7 p.m. Proceeds are in aid of the Ananda College Olcott Library Fund.

Competition extended

Applications have been called for the National Home Gardens competition 2009/2010 organised by the Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Ministry under its Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu agriculture development project. Closing date of applications is November 30. Those interested to take part are requested to contact the Agricultural Research and Production Assistant, the Agrarian Development officer or the Divisional Secretariat in the area to obtain the relevant application forms.

Reflections 2009 'Living Images'

The Sri Lanka Bonsai Association will hold its annual exhibition 'Reflections 2009 - Living Images' at the Art Gallery, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7, on November 28 and 29 from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. The opening ceremony and the award presentation will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday November 28.

Henricians Annual AGM

The OBA of Ilavalai St. Henry's College will hold their AGM and Annual Get-together on November 29 at Capri 62, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 3 from 11.00 am onwards. Preceding the AGM, a holy mass will be celebrated at 10.00 am at St. Philip Neri's Church; Pettah officiated by Rev. Fr. Andrew Anthony.

Homoeopathic Medical Council members

Indigenous Medicine Minister Tissa Karalliyedda has appointed the following persons for the Homoeopathic Medical Council effective from October 21.

Chairman : Dr. G.G.A. Aponsu, Members : Dr. K.P. Walisinghe, Dr. L.M.S. Alagiyawanna, Dr. (Mrs.) H.M.C.J. Herath, Dr. M.I.Latheef, Dr. (Mrs.) L.A.Madhupali, Dr.C.Weerasekara

Moulavi teachers after 20 years

Moulavi Teachers will be appointed in the 1st week of December after the lapse of 20 years, according to ‘Mahinda Chinthana’.

Western Province Governor S. Alavi Moulana and Presidential Advisor A.H.M. Azwer met Dr. P.B. Jayasundara Treasury and the of Finance Ministry Secretary last week regarding the Moulavi Teachers appointment. Education Minister Susil Premajayanth has issued instructions to the Additional Secretary of the Ministry Alhaj Mohamed Thamby to conduct the final interview and make the appointments thereafter.

Health Ministry to review situation in CP

The Health and Nutrition Ministry is conducting an extensive research on schools in the Central Province in connection with the spread of Novel Influenza AH1N1 or Swine Flu.

The results of the research of the Ministry will be studied on Friday, November 26 and further a decision pertaining to the reopening of schools will be taken thereafter.

Journalist appointed organizer

Journalist Sudharman Radaliyagoda has been appointed as the SLFP organizer for the Kurunegala District.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa made this appointment appreciating his contributions to the television media. He had his primary education at Ashoka Junior School in Colombo and higher education at Ananda College in Colombo. He entered his career as a journalist in 1988, joining the Dinakara Newspaper, which is the official newspaper of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

Felicitation

The Principal and the Tutorial staff along with the President and Members of the past Cadet Union of Dharmaraja College, Kandy will felicitate the Dharmaraja Cadet Platoon for winning 'The Herman Loos Trophy' and for being named the 'President's Platoon of the year 2009' at the College Auditorium on November 26 at 11.00 a.m.

Sathara Maha Nidhana a short story written by Susila Tillakaratna attached to Kalutara Rubber Development office will be launched under the patronage of Kalutara Divisional Secretary S. Happuarachchi on November 26 at 2 p.m. at the Kalutara Secretariat Auditorium.

Award for professor

Ruhuna University Professor Mangala P. de Zoysa, has been selected by the Australian Government for a prestigious international award, the Endeavour Executive Award 2010, an internationally competitive merit based scholarship program providing high-achieving individuals to undertake study, research or professional development.

The Australian Education Minister Julia Gillard in her letter informing Prof Mangala P. de Zoysa said on completion of the Award he will be a member of the Endevour Alumni network that would assist him to maintain personal, business, educational and institutional links with the persons in the network.

Prof Zoysa is attached to the Agricultural Economics Department of the Ruhuna University.

Support for preschools

Western Provincial Councillor Hector Bethmage has allocated Rs. 880,000 from his Provincial Council funds to develop and train preschool teachers.

This project will cover all pre-schools registered in the Western Province Education Department. It will cater all the four education zones in Colombo district.

The funds allocated for each education zone are as follows. Sri Jayawardenapura education zone Rs. 290,000, Colombo Education Zone Rs. 75,000, Homagama Education Zone Rs. 235,000, Piliyandala education zone.

Computer centres on way

One hundred computer centres will be set up in schools of the Kalutara district to impart a sound knowledge of information technology, said Education Services Minister Nirmala Kotelawala.

New envoys present credentials

Ambassador-designate for Kuwait Yaqoub Yousef Ateegi, High Commissioner-designate for Canada Bruce Levy, Ambassador-designate for Federal Republic of Germany Jens Uwe Plotner and High Commissioner-designate for the Republic of India Ashok K. Kantha, presented their credentials to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the President’s Office yesterday. Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga were present. Pictures by Sudath Silva

Pharmacists interdicted