Quick Look

Clean water to fight kidney disease in A’pura

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District group corr

The government has allocated a sum of Rs 1,200 million to supply pure drinking water to all houses in the North Central Province, Kidney diseases are prevalent in the region, and the health authorities attribute this situation to the lack of clean drinking water. Once this water project is implemented, such health issues too would be addressed, said North Central Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake at a media conference held to mark the Water Preservation Week, recently.

District Health Services Director Dr Palitha Bandara said that an average of 250 deaths are reported each year due to kidney diseases while about 10,000 new kidney patients are added to the patients’ register. Supply of pure drinking water to the residents of the province has become more necessary than ever, he said. Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake also addressed the media conference.

Yatinuwara PS gets new complex

Construction work of the new four-storey building complex of the Yatinuwara Pradesheeya Sabha at Embilmeegama, Pilimathalawa has been completed at a cost of Rs 100 million.

It is due to be opened for public service on December 11, 2010 by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Pradesheeya Sabha Chairman, Thusitha Kumara Walagedara said.

Cultivation in our way

P P G Sugathadasa Thihagoda Group Correspondent

The Agrarian Services Department will cultivate traditional and indigenous paddy varieties in the Southern region.

These paddy varieties include Ma Wee, Madatawalu, Rathdel, Kurulutuda, Kahawanu, diga heenati, rathsuwadel and a number of others, Galle and Matara Agrarian Services Assistant Commissioner J Dickmadugoda said. Paddy varieties are being cultivated at Baddegama, Elpitiya, Nagoda and Koradewala areas in Galle and Yatiyana-Medauyangoda, Akuressa and Malimbada in Matara district.

Over 200 acres have been cultivated in both districts, he said. These paddy varieties have resistance to rain, floods, pests and diseases from insects. Organic manure and paddy husks and charcoal will be used for cultivations.

Politico in fraud nabbed

Bandula Gunasekara and T K Ariyadasa Malimbada group corr

Two suspects including a provincial politician who is alleged to have been involved in a fraud of selling subsidised fertilizer issued to farmers were nabbed by Matara police Monday. Police recovered 300 kgs of fertilizer hidden in a house at Nawimana Matara.

The two suspects were to be produced before the Matara Magistrate Court along with the stock of fertilizer.

Drive to curb human elephant conflict

Tennakoon Kulasekara

A comprehensive program has been drawn by the Agrarian Services and Wild Life Ministry to combat the human elephant conflict and prevent wild elephants from straying into adjacent villages and causing damage to life and property.

Under this, 3,000 civil defence force personnel will be deployed to protect villages facing wild elephant threat. This follows discussions held with Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa recently, said Agrarian Services and WildLife Minister S M Chandrasena. He said the program envisaged by the Ministry also included the popularisation of the Bee keeping industry in and around villages bordering forest reserves, planting palmyra trees along ditches and forest borders to prevent elephants from straying into villages.

He said elephants had a great aversion for bees for they feared their sting.

‘Agrahara’ ward added to hospitals

Bandula Gunasekara, Dhammika Welegoda and T K Ariyadasa Malimbada group corr.

The National Insurance Trust Fund (NITF) will set up ‘Agrahara’ ward in all hospitals for public servants. This on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, NITF Chairman Senaka Abeygunasekera told the Daily News.

Rs 1,000 million has been allocated from the Budget. The balance will be funded by the National Insurance Trust Fund, the Chairman said.

The program will start from the Colombo South General Hospital.

It would be implemented in all hospitals before the end of next year, he said.

Sales centres to benefit farmers

Tennakoon Kulasekara

Agrarian Service Sales Centres will be opened at all 550 agrarian service centres countrywide to sell fertilizer, agro chemicals, planting material, agricultural implements and the farmer products. The products will include cereals, fruit and milk based products said Agrarian Services and WildLife Minister S M Chandrasena.

These sales centres which will sell products at concessionary rates will provide employment opportunities for GCE A-L qualified youth, he said.

Heavy fine for illicit liquor

YASARATNE GAMAGE

Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate and Additional Judge Darshika Wimalasiri fined an accused Rs 200,000 and in default six months rigorous imprisonment and an additional term of imprisonment of one year for brewing illicit liquor and possession of distilling equipment.

Gamini Hevavitharana of Mahadiulwewa was arrested during a raid.

He was nabbed with 24 drams of illicit liquor (three bottles), 2,106 drams of 'goda' (one barrel), a packet of yeast and 25 kgs of sugar.

AGM

The 17th Annual General Meeting of Lanka Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association will be held tomorrow from 7.30 pm at Ceylon Continental Hotel.

Management conference

The Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Colombo will hold its International Research Conference on Management and Finance today from 8 am to 8.30 pm at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

Show in aid of charity

A fashion show in aid of charity organised by the Inner Wheel Club of Kandy will be held at Hotel Suisse, Kandy December 12 at 6.30 pm.

Fashions by Lillian Perera will be featured at the show. Proceeds will be donated to charitable organisations in and around Kandy.

Kiddies concert

The annual awards day of Moors' Islamic Cultural Home (MICH) Montessori House of Children managed by the Moors' Islamic Cultural Home will be held on December 14 at 4.30 pm at the school premises, Pasha Villa, 115, Dematagoda Road, Colombo 9.

MICH President and Colombo Special Commissioner Omar Kamil will preside.

Anniversary meeting

The 14th anniversary meeting of the Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Samithiya of the Vocational Training Authority will be held on December 13 at 10 am at Shalika Hall, Narahenpita, Colombo 5.

It will be held under the patronage of Youth Affairs and Vocational Training Minister Dullas Alahapperuma.

Issisara 2010 today

Isipathana College, Issisara 2010 Orchestra will be held today at 6.30 pm at the Maharagama Youth Centre. It is organized by the Old Boys Junior Association.

The orchestra will consist of 50 students for musical performances, 18 students for singing and 20 students for dance performances.

College music teacher Tharangani Pathiraja said that the orchestra will showcase Isipathana students' talents who would provide music to the songs of Edward Jayakody, Charitha Priyadarshani, Amal Perera, Latha Walpola, Ananda Weerasiri and Sumith Mandanake.

Two held for burglary

Indika Polkotuwa

Thalathuoya police Tuesday arrested two suspects alleged to have burgled a house at Maskeliya belonging to an estate officer and taken away 20 gold sovereigns, money and mobile phones worth over Rs 100,000.

Police recovered 13 gold sovereigns Rs 200,000 and two mobile phones.

Police said the two suspects residents of Thalathuoya and Gampola were remand prisoners released on bail from the Bogambara prison recently.

The suspects were remanded till December 16 on the orders of the Kandy Magistrate.

Book launch

The Sri Lanka English Language Teachers’ Association (SLELTA) will launch English in Sri Lanka: Ceylon English, Lankan English, Sri Lankan English, edited by Siromi Fernando, Manique Gunesekera and Arjuna Parakrama December 11, at 3.30 p.m. at the SLFUW headquarters on Kitulwatte Road, Borella. The book launch coincides with SLELTA’s AGM.

The collection includes articles by stalwarts such as E F C Ludowyk, H A Passe, Godfrey Gunatilleke, Thiru Kandiah and Martin Wickramasinghe.

Islamic Lectures

A series of Islamic lectures, on “Death - Your time is up”, “Arrogance and Pride - Diseases of the heart” and “A Challenge to the Youth-Staying clear of Satan’s plan” will be delivered by Mufthi Ismail Musa Menk, on December 12, 13 and 14 at 8.00 pm. The first two lectures will be held at Supun Arcade, First Floor, 56, Galle Road, Colombo 6 and the third lecture at Marine Grand Reception Hall, Marine Drive, Colombo 6.

Couple electrocuted

Indika Polkotuwa

A couple at Galaha, Annasiwatta died Monday in electrocution by entangling an electric wire which was trapped for wild boars.

The deceased are M D Somapala (60) and D W G Kusumawathie, Galaha police conduct investigations.

ICASL enlightens N-E teachers

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) in collaboration with the National Institute of Education conducted a series of successful seminars aimed at Advanced Level Accounting teachers in the North and East Provinces recently.

The two day seminar titled 'Guru Nena' was held at the Jaffna University on November 11 and 12, and educated more than 130 teachers on the new accounting syllabus.

Steps are also under way to hold similar educational seminars in other parts of the country in 2011 covering all districts.

The ICASL initiative was supported by the Education Ministry and the National Institute of Education.