Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

The Kankio Corporation, Japan, donated a set of sirens for the use of villages threatened by wild elephants to mark the 20th anniversary of establishing the Jatika Namal Uyana forest reserve. Here conservator of the Namal Uyana Ven Vanawasi Rahula Thera who handed over the first siren to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees recently explains the importance of using sirens to chase elephants. Chairman of Kankio Corporation Teiji Omori was also present.

The Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine held a photo exhibition at the Galadari Hotel on May 23 depicting Palestinian refugees and their travails in the occupied territories. Here Palestinian Ambassador Dr. Anwar-Al-Agha with Western Provincial Governor Alawi Mowlana and Parliamentarian A.H.M. Azwar at the exhibition. Picture by Ashraff A. Samad, Dehiwela - Mt. Lavinia Spl. Corr.

Vesak in Jaffna on grand scale

The Sri Lanka Army Northern command will hold Vesak celebrations in Jaffna at a grand scale from May 27 to 30 in a bid to bringing about understanding among the communities of the North and South, an Army Spokesman said in a press release yesterday.

Vesak events will be held at Jaffna Fort, Duraiappah Stadium, Jaffna Library grounds, in a Vesak zone to be organized after a lapse of three decades.

A Vesak Pandal, illuminations, lantern competition, dansela and bhakti gee recitals will be among the events to be held during the week. A large number of visitors from the South are expected in Jaffna during the Vesak week, the release also added.

Uthuru Vasanthaya on track

The rehabilitation and resettlement programs of the northern region are progressing satisfactorily. Already 50 percent of development projects under the Vadikkin Vasantham – Uthuru Vasanthaya - have been completed, senior official sources told Daily News yesterday.

There was a progress review meeting held at the District Secretariat, Vavunia attended by Resettlement Minister Milroy Fernando and Ministers Rishad Bathiudeen, Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthi Murlidaran, District Secretary P.S.M. Charles and Vanni Army Commandant Maj. Gen Kamal Gunaratna yesterday they said.

District Secretary Mrs.Charles said an additional allocation of Rs 50 million for the resettlement and rehabilitation programs of the North and shortcomings and problems were also discussed at the meeting.

Nungu, hit among Southern tourists

Nungu the tender fruit of palmyrah that contain a delicious white coloured jelly is in the market to attract tourists and pilgrims from the South. A bunch of Nungu contains five to six tender fruits. The upper part of the fruit is cut like the young coconut and the jelly is extracted with the index finger. A fruit is sold between Rs 8 to Rs 10.

New SLSSB Chairman

Coordinating Secretary to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Nimal Amarasinghe has been appointed as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Social Security Board (SLSSB) with immediate effect. He held several responsible positions including the Chairman of the Pelawatta Sugar Industries, Buttala. He has served under President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a Coordinating Secretary. He will assume duties today.

No disease outbreak in flood aftermath

No outbreak of communicable diseases have been reported from flood affected areas, a Health Ministry spokesman said. Arrangements have been made by the Health Ministry to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in flood affected areas and chlorinate all water resources, especially wells which went under water during floods, the spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, special medical teams have been sent to all flood affected areas.

Army contingent on UN mission

Army, marking one more milestone in the annals of its sixty year history, will dispatch a new UN contingent of sixty-one Army Engineers on earth-moving equipment assignments to the Central African Republic and Chad in Central Africa today.

In response to a UN request, made to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), three Officers and fifty-eight other ranks will leave for these African states for the first time.

Have you seen her?

This girl is reported missing since May 7. Her name is Nadireshan Dharshika aged 18. She is 4’ 6” tall and her hair is burnt in the front. She is dumb and is seen always smiling. She was last seen in a pink skirt and blouse. Any information about her could be conveyed to her father S. Kadhireshan at Mapitigama estate, Amithirigala, Ruwanwella.

STF helps flood affected

The Special Task Force (police) officers and other ranks collected voluntary Rs.753,000 to help the flood affected in Wattala, Kalutara, Waskaduwa, Bulatsinghala Divisional Secretariat’s areas.

Food items including rice,dhal, green gram tinned fish, tea leaves and powdered milk and children’s food were distributed in these areas of the Gampaha and Kalutara Districts. The assistance was given on the direction of STF Commandant DIG K.M.L. Sarathchandra and DIG R.W.M.C. Ranawana and other senior STF officers.

Japanese support for irrigation sector

The Japanese Government will give its fullest support to develop the Irrigation and Water Management Sector in Sri Lanka, said Japanese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Kunio Takahashi after meeting Irrigation and Water Resource Development Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva at the Ministry. The Government of Japan always supports the economic development of Sri Lanka especially the Irrigation and Water Management activities by providing technical assistance, said Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.

PQIS enables due date salary payment

Seven bus depots which were not able to pay the employees’ salaries has started to make due date salary payment after the Productivity and Quality Improvement System (PQIS) was introduced to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB).

SLTB’s Chief Administrative Officer Vijaya Vikramaratne said since President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared productivity as one of the State policies which should be followed by State-run organizations the management of the SLTB was made compulsory to follow productivity improvement programs within the bus depots across the country.

He said the revenue per day which was Rs 395,000 earlier had been increased up to Rs 497,000 in the Hakmana bus depot.