Quick Look

Awareness programs in Panwila

Gamini SAMARANAYAKE-Kandy Roving correspondent

A series of awareness programs on nutrition will be held in the Panwila Divisional Secretariat area by "CIDA - Foundation."

Expectant women, breast feeding mothers and children from needy families will benefit under the program. They will be selected on the Grama Niladhari division basis. They will be educated on the value of vegetable and fruits available in homegardens.

Curbing Dengue

Wehelle PIYATHILAKE-Maharagama Special Corr

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa visited the Meethotamulla garbage site and asked the lowland reclamation and Development Corporation to cover the garbage with a layer of earth and clay.

The garbage dump had become a headache for the people of the locality. The bad smell emanating from the dump had created an unhealthy environment.

This has become the main breeding site for dengue mosquitoes. Crows and other birds spread garbage right round the area.

Most wells in house gardens are being spoiled.

Probe on Senkadagala Menike issue:

Report submitted to Railways GM

Asela KURULUWANSA

The three member committee which probed the incident involving the driving of the Senkadagala Menike Train passing the Getambe rail crossing without awaiting signal lights has handed over its report to the General Manager of Railways through the Rail Transport Superintendent of Nawalapitiya.

The duty turn suspension imposed on the relevant train crew including the Driver, Assistant Driver, Guard and Assistant Guard has been revoked and reinstated for duty subject to certain conditions including possible future disciplinary action.

Manager's timely action averts robbery

Rafik JALALDEEN

Timely action by a bank Manager averted a robbery at a bank in Makandana, Piliyandala Tuesday afternoon.

Police spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody said two suspects on a motorcycle stormed into the Rural Bank- Branch at Makandana around 2.45 p.m. and attempted to rob money at gunpoint.

The Bank Manager to alert the people pressed the bank's emergency siren. "Timely action by the Bank Manger prevented, a robbery," the SP told the Daily News.

Eye disease spreads in Matale

A A L Dias- Matale District Group Corr.

An unidentified eye disease is spreading in the Matale district. A considerable number of eye patients are attending Government hospitals and private practitioners for treatment daily.

According to health officials, tearing and reddening the eyes are the symptoms of the disease the health official advice to the public to attend Government hospitals to receive treatments without delay.

They said this eye disease will be cured after being treated within a week.

Abu Dhabi donates dates

The Red Crescent in Abu Dhabi, UAE donated 32 tons of dates, which is being done on an annual basis, to be distributed amongst the needy Muslims in the country to be used during Ramadhan, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Colombo said in a press release.

UAE Ambassador in Sri Lnaka Mahmood Mohammed Al-Mahmood handed over 25 tons to Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Deputy Minister M.K.D.S. Gunawardene to be distributed to Mosques in the country. Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Department Director Y.L.M. Navavi was also present.

The balance quantity of 07 tons will be distributed by the Embassy for the needy in the Island.

New rural bank, mini coop shop

Gamini SAMARANAYAKE- Kandy Roving Corr

A rural bank and a cooperative mini shop at Amunugama-Gunnepana in the Kundasale electorate was opened by the Kundasale Multi Purpose Cooperative Society Union recently.

Murder suspect remanded

Patana Group Corr

Maskeliya Police investigating the murder of Moorthy (36), a worker of Brownswick Estate, Maskeliya arrested a workers of the same estate in this connection.

He was produced before Hatton Additional District Magistrate N N Ramamoorthy and remanded.

Dengue down in Jaffna this month

Jaffna special corr.

There is a decrease in dengue patients in Jaffna this month.

This is due to the intensive anti-dengue campaign in every part of the Jaffna district.

Periodical inspection of homes and work places by the health authorities and the heavy fines imposed on persons disregarding Health Department instructions are the main reasons for the slump in dengue cases, sources said.

The Jaffna Teaching hospital during the last six months detected 710 positive cases of dengue. Of this 20 have succumbed to the disease.

Boost for inland fishing industry

In a bid to promote the inland fishing industry in the Anuradhapura District, 2,918,455 fingerlings have been introduced to 119 large, medium and small scale tanks in the area, Sri Lanka Aquatic Resources Development Authority District Extension Officer J.H.M. Jayantha Bandara Jayapadma said.

Woman power pirate fined

Kapila SOMARATHNE- Panadura group corr

A woman who pleaded guilty to the charge of pirating electricity was fined Rs. 10,000 and ordered to pay Rs 110,000 to the electricity company to rectify the loss she had caused to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). Ruwani Thalagala's house was raided by Panadura police who prosecuted with the assistance of CEB officials.

Costly puff

Richmond WIJESEKERA-Bentota group correspondent

Habaraduwa Police last week arrested 36 persons for smoking ganja (cannabis) on the Unawatuna beach during the annual festival of the historic Welle Devale Unawatuna, Galle.

Habaraduwa Police are investigating.

GNOA wants transfers regularised

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Government Nursing Officers’ Association, Chairman Saman Ratnapriya said new appointments and transfers of nursers should be done according to the Departmental Transfer Scheme.

He said from January this year 1,822 new nursers are awaiting their appointments to hospitals and are still languishing in their homes.

Addressing a press conference in Punchiborella, yesterday he said new nurses are appointed after training in hospitals. They are given appointments by the Central Government.

According to the Ministry transfer scheme 804 nurses are qualified for transfers this year.

Help save her life

K.N. Shaffdeen of No 40, Robert Road, Dehiwala is suffering from a severe heart ailment. Surgeon Dr Y.K.M. Lahie who is treating her advised to undergo mitral valve replacement with coronary artery graft surgery soon.

The surgery will cost Rs 850,000. the President Fund has provided Rs 175,000 and she is unable to raise the balance. She appeals to the public to help her. Contributions should be made to Hatton National Bank, Bambalapitiya Colombo 3. Under A/c No. 039-006471-3SA.

Help Tharusha

H. W. K. Tharusha Janith Dushan (10) of Mahawatta, Kumbalgama, Matara is suffering from relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia. Consultant Oncologist Dr. Prasad Abeysinghe who is treating him has recommended a bone marrow transplant to save his life. The surgery to be done in India is estimated to cost Rs four to five million.

Dushan’s father H. W. K. Jayantha says he is unable to foot this bill due to his present financial plight. He requests the public to assist his child’s cause by sending whatever financial contributions possible to help expedite the surgery and save the child’s life.

All contributions should be remitted to account No. 70723922 at the Bank of Ceylon, Matara Branch or account No. 032200100016429 at the People’s Bank, Uyanwatta Branch. Contact number: 0712-801574.

Felicitation ceremony

The Chairman and members of Executive Council of the All Ceylon Muslim Education Conference will organize a felicitation ceremony to honour Director, Peace Education, Ministry of Education Dr. Hajarjhan Mansoor on her new assignment as the Deputy Director SAARC countries - Human Resources Development Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan.

The ceremony will be held at the Muslim Ladies Study Circle auditorium, D. R. Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo 10 today at 7 p.m.

Moon sighting conference

A meeting will be held on August 11, immediately after Salath Ul Maghrib under the auspicious of the Colombo Grand Mosque at the Madrasathul Hameediah hall, Colombo Grand Mosque, to determine the date to commence the Islamic month of Ramazan Hijri 1431 on the evidence of sighting the new moon in any part of Sri Lanka.

The Colombo Grand Mosque appealed to the Muslim public to look out for the new moon of Ramazan Hijri 1431 immediately after Maghrib, on August 11 and to inform them on 011 5234044, 2432110, 243465 or 0777 366099) with reliable evidence and witness.

Media Conference

A media conference will be held at the College of Chemical Sciences Institute of Chemistry Ceylon Adamantane House, 341/22, Kotte Road, Welikada, Rajagiriya today at 10 a.m. to publicize the multi faceted activities that have been planned in connection with the UN declaration of 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry. (IYC)

House of ill-fame raided

Indika POLKOTUWA

Dambulla police raided a house of ill-fame in Kandalama and arrested five suspects including two women said to be residents of Polonnaruwa and Ginigathena. A three-wheeler allegedly used by the other three suspects to run the trade was also seized by police. Investigations are continuing.

Suspects fined

Matara Roving Corr

Three suspects who pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and Goda were fined Rs 21,000 by Matara Chief Magistrate Udesh Ratnayake. The suspects were residents of Bandaranayakepura Kekanadura, Udukawa. Matara police vice squad produced the victims before the Court.

Boon for Jaffna grape farmers

Grapes grown in Jaffna are fetching a high price these days. A kilo of grapes in the Jaffna market is sold between Rs 300 and Rs 350.

The high prices have been a boon for grape growers in Jaffna.

Fined for negligence

Kelum BODHIMANA Thihagoda special

Eleven residents of Waligama who pleaded guilty of leaving breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes by neglecting their gardens were imposed a penalty of Rs 1,500 and six months imprisonment each suspended for five years by Matara Additional Magistrate Lasith Madanayake yesterday (04) public Health Inspectors of Waligama, Walipitiya had produced the suspects before the court.

Memorial lecture

The Professor Nandasena Ratnapala Commemoration Foundation will conduct the Nandasena Ratanpala memorial lecture delivered by Sri Jayewardenepura University Chancellor Dr N L A Karunaratne at the Nagarodaya Hall, Borella at No. 155 A, Baseine Road in front of Welikada prison at 5 p.m. on August 09.

Shramadana

A Shramadana campaign to eradicate dengue will be held in Elakanda Junction in Hendala, Wattala from 9 a.m. on August 8 by the Lions Club in collaboration with the Wattala District Secretariat, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Police.