Quick Look

Left over food, cause for food poisoning

Indika POLKOTUWA

Investigations into food poisoning at the Naula Youth Brigade Training Centre revealed that the food supplier had provided left over food from noon meals as dinner after warming it.

The supplier had been warned previously about sub standard food, Central Province Health Services Director Dr. Shanthi Samarasinghe said.

A special team has been appointed to probe the incidents of food poisoning reported from three schools in the Matale district and the Naula Youth Brigade Centre last week, she said.

The team has commenced investigations based on information received about the incidents, she said.

Sexual abuse cases:

Filipino remanded

A garment factory Production Manager from the Philippines was remanded till February 26 by Moratuwa Magistrate for allegedly sexually abusing 16 female employees on separate occasions. Police Spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody said Mount Lavinia Police took the 43-year-old Manager into custody after a complaint was made against him on February 13. SKM

New Principal assumes duties

Mahinda P.Liyanage - Galle Central Special Corr

Former Southern Provincial Acting Director of Education, Shanthi Senaviratne assumed duties as the Principal of Southlands Girls’ College of Galle on the directives of Education Ministry Secretary last Thursday.

On her arrival Senaviratne was warmly welcomed at the college premises by the staff and students at a brief function organized by the immediate ex-principal Gethani Wijegunasinha.

Governor to look into Ayurvedic Medical officers’ problems

Uva Province Governor C. Nanda Mathew pledged to look into professional problems of the Ayurvedic Medical Officers and solve them soon.

The Governor was speaking at a discussion on the Ayurvedic Medical System held at the Governor’s Office, Badulla.

He said the Ayurvedic Medical System is popular among foreigners as well as Sri Lankans. Ayurvedic Medical Officers do their duties in spite of many difficulties. “In response to their dedicating service we have provided many facilities to them. Rural community benefit from the Ayurvedic medical system”, he said.

Governor Mathew said he would instruct officials to increase the allowance of T.B, Cancer, Thalacaemia and Leprosy patients from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000. Uva P.C. Health Ministry will set up a Health Program based on the Ayurvedic concept named Wedagedara to enhance the Ayurvedic Medical System.

Road in state of disrepair

G.A. Gunasena -Ginigathena special corr

The Gevalwissa - Kotahela road in the Ambagamuwa (Ginigathena) DS division in the Nuwara Eliya disrtict is in a state of disrepair. The road which has not been repaired for several years is full of very large pot-holes which turn into muddy puddles on rainy days causing a hindrance for both the motorists and the pedestrians.As a result, residents of the remote villages of Kotahela, Muruthawela, Gonawala and Bogalkande travelling on the Gevalwissa-Kotahela road daily are greatly inconvenienced in utilising the dilapidated road.

Road state of disrepair

M.I.M. Azhar-Maligaikadu group correspondent

The Kalyana road in the Sainthamaruthu Divisional Secretariat division in Ampara is in a state of disrepair.

The road which has not been repaired for a few years is full of large potholes which turn into muddy puddles on rainy days.

Youths held for snatching necklaces

S. M. Wijayaratne-Kurunegala corr.

Two youths who were in the habit of snatching gold necklaces of women who were walking alone on rural roads were arrested by Wellawa police. They were produced before Kurunegala Magistrate Nimal Ranaweera who ordered the police to take them into remand custody until February 23.

Lecture and discussion

A Lecture/Discussion on Diabetes and Oral Health organized by the General Practitioners Association will be held at the S.L.D.A. auditorium O.P.A. on March 3 at 8 p.m.

Colombo North Teaching Hospital consultant endocrinologist Dr. Sajith Siyambalapitiya will preside.

A lecture on 'The Present Context and the Urgency of Educational Reforms in Sri Lanka' delivered by NIE Director, Dr. M. Upali Sedere will be held at 6A, Sukhastan Gardens, Ward Place, Colombo 7 on February 26. It is organized by The 'National Centre for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences' (NCAS), attached to the University Grants Commission.

The monthly lecture of the Royal Asiatic Society on "Dams in ancient Sri Lanka" delivered by Chandana Withanacchi will be held at the Gamini Dissanayake Auditorium of the Mahaweli Centre, No. 96, Ananda Comaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7 on February 22 at 5.00 pm.

Debating Competition

The Debating Competition of Chemistry students from six Sri Lankan Universities together with the College of Chemical Sciences for the second successive year will be held at the headquarters of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon 341/22, Kotte Road, Welikada, Rajagiriya at Adamantane House today February 20 from 10.30 am. Colombo, Peradeniya, Kelaniya, Ruhuna and Sri Jayewardenepura Universities will participate.

Seminar

A seminar for housewives organized by Lion Ladies of Lions Clubs of Attanagalla and Gampaha will be held at the Main Hall of Sri Sumedha College, 62/1, Vishaka Road, Gampaha on February 21 from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. The seminar will be on ‘how to live a healthy life’, ‘Personal Grooming’, ‘Floral Decorations’, ‘Early Symptoms of Drug Indulgence in Children’, Laws Related to Domestic Situations’.

The seminar will be followed by a free Medical Clinic.

Islamic Lecture

Scholar Al-Sheikh Zaid Nooramith (Darul Uloom, South Africa), will deliver a talk on Dangers of Jealousy and Hypocrisy on February 28 at 10.30 a.m. at the Nimal Road Jummah Masjid in Bambalapitiya, along the Marine Drive.

The newly built beach garden and children’s park at Koralawella, Moratuwa was opened by Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. Here the minister helps a little child to ride the swing. Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, councillors Pradeep Shriyantha and Dileep Kumara Liyanage look on.

The 103rd commemoration of Colonel Henry Steel Olcott organized by the Theosophical Society was held on February 17 opposite the Fort Railway Station. Here Religious Affairs and Moral Development Ministry Secretary H. H. Herath garlands the Olcott statue. Theosophical Society President Sanath P. Werasekera and Secretary Saman Thilak Hewapathirana were also present. Picture by Geeth de Mel

A pinkama to invoke blessings on the President, Government and the people was held at the Ruwanweli Seya, Anuradhapura recently. Here Plantation Industries Minister D.M. Jayaratne who was the Chief Guest joining other participants in the proceedings.