Quick Look

Jana Sahana Sevaya re-launched

Nimal WIJESINGHE- Anuradhapura Additional District Group Correspondent

The Jana Sahana Sevaya sponsored by the North Central Provincial Council and abandoned in 2005 due to LTTE terrorism is being revived.

North Central Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake said under the program, shortcomings at the hospitals and schools are addressed, National Identity Cards are issued. Spectacles are distributed, dilapidated tanks and anicuts are rehabilitated aid for livelihood empowerment is offered and self-employment ventures are encouraged and supported.

The first Jana Sahana Sevaya program (Phase II) will be held at the Nuwaragam Palatha Divisional Secretariat on July 9.

The program will continue monthly at the Divisional Secretariat level.

Medicine taken as narcotic

Asoka SENARATNE- Anuradhapura group corr.

A particular medicine issued by certain pharmacies in the Anuradhapura town without a prescription of a doctor is used as a narcotic drug by some schoolchildren and youth.

Food and Pharmaceutical Inspector Anuradhapura Ananda Weragoda said antibiotics have been issued by some pharmacies in Anuradhapura without prescriptions and legal action has been taken against the owners of four such pharmacies.

Anuradhapura Provincial Medical Director Dr. Palitha Bandara said using such medicine as a narcotic is extremely harmful and he requests the parents to be vigilant of their children.

There is a shortage of this medicine in the area due to its fast sales.

Dambulla sacred area to be developed

Matale district group corr.

Matale District Parliamentarian and the Matale District Coordinating Committee Chairman W. Perera (MP) told the media that action would be taken to develop the Dambulla sacred area which is at standstill. Development of the area was commenced about four decades ago. It was paralyzed due to various reasons.

Cashew subsidy to be increased

Stanley SENEVIRATNE, Kurunegala North Group Corr

The Rs 9,500 subsidy granted to cashew cultivators will be increased to Rs 25,000 to boost the industry and to raise the living condition of cashew cultivators.

Cashew corporation Deputy Chairman Priyantha Piyadasa told the media that cultivators have been advised to grow green gram and ground nuts too to bolster their income till they harvest the cashew yield.

By 2015, 50,000 acres will be brought under cashew cultivation. Piyadasa said the total cashew requirement of the country was 14,000 tons, but only 12,000 tons was produced.

Bus collides injuring garment workers

K.P. Ranjanie- Ruwanwella Group Corr.

A bus carrying garment workers from the Avissawella Industrial Zone to Bulathkohupitiya collided with a private bus parked opposite a garment factory, Dehiowita injuring 26 women Monday around 6.45 p.m. They were admitted to Karawanella hospital.

Six seriously injured women and the bus driver were despatched to Avissawella Hospital from Karawanella, of them three women were transferred to Colombo National Hospital.

Cement factory to be opened

Mahaweli systems corr.

The Kankasanturai cement factory will be opened soon.

Preliminary measures for the re-opening are being carried out by the Lanka cement company.

IT facilities for schools

Computer training facilities have been provided for about 20 schools of the Naaula education zone of the Dambulla electorate by the Central Provincial Council.

Deadly crash into parked lorry

Thihagoda Special Corr.

A youth riding a motorcycle died on the spot when he crashed on to the rear of a lorry parked on the road at Welikanda, Midigama on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as A. P. Shyamlal (24) of Mirissa.

The alleged lorry driver is in police custody.

He was due to be produced in court yesterday.

Weligama Police are conducting investigations.

Millawa Suwandel: New banana

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The Fruit Crop Research and Development Institute has introduced a new variety of banana named Millawa Suwandel.

Banana is the most widely consumed and cultivated fruit in Sri Lanka. It is an attractive fruit crop for small farmers because of high economic value and they can yield harvest through out the year. This new variety will be a good solution for the problem of weight and size of fruit, said Fruit Crop Research and Development Institute Research Officer Anjala Jayani Warushavitharana had developed this new variety.

"We could yield a bumper harvest of this new variety and it will have a yield of 14 metric tons per one hectare. The weight of one bunch of this new banana variety is 14 kilograms and also it is more tasty than other varieties," said the Research Officer.

Fraud at NHDA: Four interdicted

Shirley WIJESINGHE

Four officers attached to the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) allegedly involved in a fraud of Rs 65 million from the Welfare Society Fund were interdicted by Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa. Ministry sources said the Society President, Vice President, Secretary and Auditor were those who were interdicted.

Mihraj-Un-Nabi celebrations

Al-Masjiidul Badriyeen, Nawala Jumma Mosque, Rajagiriya has made arrangements to conduct Mihraj-Un-Nabi celebrations on July 9, after Mahrib prayers and will continue till Isha Prayers, commencing with the recital of Subhana Mowloodu by Janab M. Ubaid Mahdhoom.

This will be followed by a talk on the significance of Mihraj-Un-Nabi by Mowlavi M.N.M. Fardy.

Bar Assn's Neethi Kekulu

The Social and Welfare Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) will present Neethi Kekulu - 2010 at Elphinstone Theatre, Maradana on August 7 at 5.30 p.m.

Lawyers are requested to send applications on behalf of their children to the BASL headquarters before July 6.

Batchmates meet

Peradeniya University 1960 batchmates will meet on July 3 at 9.30 a.m. at Galle Face Hotel.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting of St. Mary's Convent, Matara Past Pupils' Association will be held on July 3 from 12.30 p.m. at the school main hall.

Launch of 'Kadula Derena'

The launch of Kadula Derena short stories competition will take place at Darga Town Alhamra Vidyalaya Hall on July 3 at 8.30 a.m.

Deputy Minister Nirmala Kotalawala and Parliamentarian A.R.M. Badudeen will be the Chief Guests. This is organized by the Yonaka Nirmana Sansadaya of Darga Town.

New student intake

South Eastern University of Sri Lanka Acting Registrar Mansoor A. Cader said the University Grants Commission has arranged new admission for 449 students for the new academic year 2009/2010.

Accordingly, 89 students for Biological Science and 111 students for Physical Science are requested to register on July 15 at the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. Similarly, 70 students for Arabic Language, 98 students for Islamic Studies and 81 students for Management Information Technology (MIT) are also requested to register on July 8. Students are expected to arrive at the campus on their respective dates for admission for the 2009/2010 University Course.

National Archaeological Week

The National Archaeological week organized by the Department of Archaeology will be held from July 7 to 13.

This week organized to conserve the country's archaeological heritage for prosperity will include several activities including the improvement of infrastructure facilities at 18 important archaeological sites, exhibitions, an archaeological seminar, preparation of handbills and guide books, printing of the Dayada newspaper and the activation of archaeological societies in schools, said Acting Director General of Archaeologic J.D. Wijetilleke.

Drug traffickers fined

Three out of five suspects who pleaded guilty to delivering heroin from Colombo to Matara were imposed fines of Rs 30,000 each by Matara Chief Magistrate Udesh Ranatunge when they were produced before the Court.

The Chief Magistrate also ordered the other two suspects including a businessman from Dehiwala to be in remand jail till July 09. Matara Police Vice Squad OIC J. P. Sanjeewa and a team of policemen had made the detection.

Science Popularization awards

The Committee for the Popularization of Science (CPS) of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) has called applications from Sri Lankans for the annual Science Popularization and Promotion Awards.

Three awards are given for Sinhala, Tamil and English media Science communicators: journalists, scientists and freelance writers, who have excelled in publications in the print media from May 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010. Applications close on July 31. For details 011-2688740.

Anniversary

The North Central Provincial Industrial Services Bureau will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the Provincial Council Auditorium today at 5.30 p.m.

Bogus SMS lands man behind bars

Chaminda PERERA

Anuradhapura Police yesterday arrested a man who is said to have sent a bogus SMS to his wife saying that 12 suicide cadres have arrived in Anuradhapura to carry out a carnage during the Poson season.

He had frightened his wife who was on pilgrimage to Anuradhapura during the Poson season by sending the SMS to her mobile phone. The suspect is a resident of Medawachchiya.

According to Police, the SMS had led to a panic in the area during the Poson season. The Police have interrogated six suspects.

The main suspect has been kept under Police custody on a detention order and he is being interrogated, Anuradhapura Police officials told the Daily News.

Errant trader fined

Edward WEERASINGHE -Kelaniya Group Correspondent

A trader who had not exhibited prices of rice for sale at his retail shop in Gampaha was fined Rs 5000 by Gampaha Additional Magistrate Indika M. Attanayake when the accused pleaded guilty to the charge.

The Gampaha branch Consumer Protection Authority prosecuted.

Drug shortage over - Minister

Chaminda PERERA

The Health Ministry yesterday said the acute drug shortage that prevailed in Government hospitals during the past few months is over and all hospitals were provided adequate stock of drugs on their request.

A Ministry spokesman told the Daily News that all hospitals were informed by the Medical Supplies Division to acquire their requirement before their stock begins depleting to avoid unnecessary delay in the drug supply.

He said over 500,000 saline bottles have been dispatched to hospitals islandwide and of 250,000 saline bottles maintained by the Division. “Over 11 containers carrying saline bottles have reached the Colombo harbour and there will be no shortage of saline in the country,” he added. He added the Division has ample stocks of other drugs and surgical gauze and the hospital should inform their drug requirement before the stock is depleting.

Over one million metres of surgical gauze are stocked in the Medical Supply Division in addition to the surgical gauze stocks in other hospitals, he said.

Ragging: Three banned from lectures

Chaminda PERERA

Three undergraduates of the Sabaragamuwa University, involved in two ragging cases were yesterday banned from lectures for two months beginning yesterday. A student of the Social Science and Languages Faculty was charged with harassing a fresher physically while two students of the Management faculty were accused of cutting the hair of a fresher.

CWC launches program to safeguard universal franchise

Suraj A. Bandara

The Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) has launched a program to make the plantation community aware about the importance of having the right to vote.

A CWC spokesman told the Daily News that this awareness program will convince the plantation community that they are also part of this country with the same rights enjoyed by all communities equally.

Most of the plantation community are not aware of the importance to receive the right to vote until certain outsiders influence them to register as voters. They mislead voters with unrealistic and false pledges.

“This awareness program would make them understand the reality of the ground situation in the country and help them take their own decisions in the future.”

CWC Secretary and Livestock and Rural Services Development Minister Arumugam Thondaman had instructed officials to take action to register all qualified citizens of the community at the electoral register. The Minister had stressed the importance of the program to take the CWC position among the people over matters concerning the plantation community.

Fruit cultivation promoted in South

P.P.G. Sugathadasa-Thihagoda Group Correspondent

The Southern Provincial Agriculture University will promote fruit cultivation in the region.

Provincial Agriculture Minister Vijaya S. Weerasinhe said the program will be started in Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts. The priority has been accorded for the cultivation of banana, rambutan, pineapple and mangoes under the proposed program.

The Southern Provincial Ministry will double the extent of fruit cultivated lands by the end of the year, Weerasinhe added.

The Sri Lanka Navy Seva Vanitha Unit conducted a special program on June 28 with Madhulika Verma, wife of Indian Naval Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma who is on an official visit to Sri Lanka. Here Madhulika Verma being accompanied to the location by Navy Seva Vanitha Unit President Malathie Samarasinghe.