Quick Look

Former Balapitiya Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman A. Dayaratne and Ambalangoda UNP PS Member Magage Mahindasiri and UNP members from Balapitiya met President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday. Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Southern Provincial Council Member Sajin Vass Gunawardena were also present. Picture by Sudath Silva

Please help Lakshan

Four-year-old Pramod Lakshan is suffering from a hearing defect and has to undergo ear surgery at the Lady Ridgeway Children’s hospital. The operation is to be done free of charge. According to the recommendation of the doctor, Lakshan will need hearing aid equipment that would cost Rs. 1.3 million.

His father says he is unable to raise the funds to purchase the equipment and seeks assistance from the public.

Those wishing to help could send in their contributions to account number 084-2-001-0-0004774 at the People’s Bank, Alutgama Branch.

Further details could be had from Lakshan’s father Lalith Kumara on Telephone number 0779847873.

Accidental death verdict

Edward Weerasinghe - Kelaniya Group Correspondent

City Coroner Edward Ahangama who held the inquest on the death of a pedestrian who died in a motor cycle accident returned a verdict of accidental death.

The city coroner directed Kelaniya police to produce the motor cyclist before the Gampaha Magistrate.

Wickremage Swarnathileke, 58, was crossing the road at Kadawata town when a motor cycle knocked him down.

Swarnathileke was admitted to the Colombo North National Hospital with critical injuries and succumbed to the injuries after three days.

Colombo JMO Dr. D.L.I. Ratnayake performed the autopsy and certified that death was due to shock and haemorrhage following injuries caused to the brain.

Kadawata police are investigating.

FMSVU helps social development

The Foreign Ministry Seva Vanitha Unit (FMSVU) on the initiative of its President Deepthi Bogallagama has implemented several humanitarian and development projects this year utilising the financial contributions made by its sub units attached to Sri Lanka Missions abroad. In April this year the unit donated food supplied worth Rs. 2.5 million for the benefit of civilians displaced in the North, a press release by the Foreign Ministry said.

The release said the unit also donated Rs. four million for the renovation and upgrading of libraries and reading rooms in the Sri Jayewardenepura Municipal Council area.

The unit donated Rs. four million to the Health Ministry for building a 20 bed-ward for women and children at the Seruwila hospital in Trincomalee district. Steps have also been taken to provide funding for a housing scheme for service personnel and for providing artificial limbs for civilians affected by the conflict.

Heavy fines on drunk drivers

A.A.L. Dias - Matale district group corr.

Two men who drove their vehicles under the influence of liquor were nabbed by Galewela police.

The men produced before Dambulla Magistrate Nimal Ranaweera were fined Rs. 10,500.

The two men are S.W. Herath and Jayasiri Nishantha. Galewela police led the evidence.

Kilinochchi DS reopened

Vavuniya central special corr

The rehabilitated Killinochchi District Secretariat building was reopened for the public by Nothern Governor Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri on Wednesday.

District Secretary Rupawathie Kethiesvaran, Killinochchi Security Forces Commander Mahinda Hathurusinghe and other officials were also present.

Tamil Civilians resettled in the Kilinochchi district will immensely benefit from this home.

Top priority to end kidney diseases

Nimal Wijesinghe - Anuradhapura Additional district group

The North Central Provincial Healthcare Ministry has given top priority to end the kidney disease spreading in some areas of the province and remedying the dearth of health care staff, said Provincial Health, Indigenous Medicine and Youth Affairs Minister Peshala Bandara Jayaratne.

He was speaking at a media conference convened by the Provincial Healthcare Ministry at the Alankulama Family Bakers Auditorium, Anuradhapura.

The Minister said there were nearly 10,000 renal patients in Kebithigollewa, Padaviya, Medawachchiya, Welikanda, Medirigiriya and Dimbulagala areas.

He said allocations have been released to conduct a separate research program to ascertain the cause for spreading renal diseases in certain areas.

Referring to the dearth of doctors, the Minister said doctors refused or were reluctant to serve in distant rural areas due to the scarcity of living facilities. “We are planning to construct consultant villas to accommodate specialised physicians serving in rural areas, equipped with all comforts as an incentive,” he said.

He said the North Central Province needed 150 more doctors, 300 nurses and 30 MLTS.

Govt spends Rs 39,000 m for rural development

Chamikara Weerasinghe

The Government has spent Rs 39,000 million for its poverty alleviation program , Gama Neguma to develop rural areas.

Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Ministry Secretary W.K.K.Kumarasiri said they have carried out many projects spending over Rs. 39,000 million since the start of the Gama Neguma Project in 2006 up to now.

Funds allocated for Gama Neguma have reached every Grama Niladhari areas through village based organizations. The projects were designed to cater to the needs of the people in Grama Seva Vasamas in keeping with the project’s policy to work closely with the people’s organizations, Kumarasiri said.

Thousands of roads , bridges, culverts and houses have been constructed under the Gama Neguma while a number of irrigation , livestock, health, welfare and cultural projects were also carried out , he said and added that the Nation Building Ministry has taken steps to develop rural industries and reconstruct places of religious worship. “Projects aimed at developing education, culture and human resources were also carried out,” he said.