Quick Look

Electricity consumers thank President

Kandy Special Corr

Kandy YMBA Sri Pushpadana and Keppetipola Vaishaka Dhana Association thank President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the relief granted to the consumers of electricity by raising the limit of extra tax up to 120 units.

This has been done in good faith for the benefit of a larger number of consumers who find it difficult to manage at 90 units, as proposed earlier.

Agricultural wells for NWP

S M Wijayaratne - Kurunegala Daily News Corr

In order to facilitate paddy and vegetable cultivators of the Kurunegala and Puttalam Districts of the NWP, the Ministry of Agriculture has planned to sink 150 agricultural wells in the NWP during the year 2011.

A senior Asst. Director of Agriculture R M Somadasa in Kurunegala told "Daily News" that a sum of 450 million rupees has been allocated by the government for this purpose. He further added that about 2000 agricultural instructors would be recruited to the government service during 2011 with a view to expanding food production activities in the country. "These plans are implemented under the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa," he told the "Daily News".

Free presentation

A free presentation on English as a life skill for the students who sat GCE O-L last year will be organized by the Royal Academy and presented by Colombo University Diploma Holders Organization Secretary Marshad Barry. This presentation will give the students an idea on how they should prepare themselves after the GCE O/L examination and how they should give prominence to improve the English knowledge as a life skill.

Free materials will be given to all participants. Royal Academy Director Studies S M Chandersakar will be the chief guest.

The presentation will be conducted on Saturday, January 8 at the Royal Academy Main Hall, No 12 and 16, Sangamitta Mawatha, Colombo 13 at 9.30 am.

For prior registration contact 0113134101, 0757723885, 0773850441 or 0718585506.

Gold chain snatched

Matara Roving corr

A suspect riding a motor cycle has snatched a gold chain valued Rs 100,000 from a woman pedestrian at Panamwela, Hakmana yesterday morning. According to the complaint the cyclist had approached the woman on the pretext of inquiring about an address of a person. Hakmana police is investigating.

Meanwhile some identified persons had removed an engine worth Rs 175,000 from a fishing boat anchored at the Weeriyawella anchorage, Mirissa on Saturday night. Weligama police is investigating.

Over Rs 590m for Matara development

Matara Roving Corr

Rs 592.28 million has been allocated by the Finance Ministry for Development activities in the Matara District. This includes Rs 96.47 million for the Samurdhi Projects, Rs 67.14 million for the SDA, Rs 16 million for Irrigation works, Rs 49.82 for the rehabilitation of Urugamuwa Wewa among others.

Student injured on pedestrian crossing

Puttalam Group Corr

An eight-year-student of the Marawila St Xavier’s Vidyalaya on his way to school was injured and admitted to the Marawila Hospital after being knocked down by a motor cyclist as he was crossing the road from the Pedestrian crossing opposite the school yesterday morning.

He was identified as Kavinda Lakshan of Lansigama Katuneriya. A woman constable on duty at the crossing has witnessed the accident. Marawila Police is investigating.

Peradeniya University new Dept Head

Sanjaya Asela Maturata

Ven Prof Hanguranketha Dheerananda Nayake Thera assumed duties as the Head of the Peradeniya University’s Department of History yesterday.

Migratory birds at Mandaithivu

S Kathirgamathamby Jaffna special correspondent

Migratory birds have descended at Mandaithivu in shrub jungle areas and open fields.

Usually these rare birds come in flocks and settle in Mandaithivu Allaipiddy open lands and shrubs in November and December.

Many people flock to see the birds and enjoy their picturesque flights formations.

Two die in collision

Malwana Group Corr

Two female workers attached to a factory at the Biyagama Free Trade Zone died in a three-wheeler-van collision near the Udupila Paddy Tract on the Delgoda-Udupila Road yesterday morning. The two employees had been going to work in a three-wheeler hired on monthly basis when the accident occurred.

The deceased were identified as S A Anusha Priyadarshini (21) and T D Jayanthimala (23). Anusha died on admission to the Udupila Hospital and Jayanthimala succumbed to her injuries on admission to the Ragama Base Hospital. They are residents of Webada. The alleged drivers of the two vehicles were taken into Police custody. Meegahawatta Police are investigating.

State ceremony

The State ceremony of the new admissions of children to grade one in schools will be held at Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya on January 18. Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena will be the Chief Guest.

Please help Kirushanth

N Kirushanth (14), studying at Palinagar Maha Vidyalayam in Vavunikkulam is suffering from a Chronic Rheumatic Heart disease is under the care of Consultant Cardiologist Dr M Guruparan of Teaching Hospital, Jaffna.

He has advised immediate surgery. The boy’s father is unable to meet the expenses needed for surgery and solicit help from well wishers and the public.

An account has been opened at the People’s Bank Branch in Mankulam.

The account number is 165-2-001-1-0002935.

Deputy Minister Muralitharan helps flood victims

Batticaloa district corr

Resettlement Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, who visited the flood affected areas in the Batticaloa district on Sunday, took measures to look into the needs of the affected people.

He directed the authorities to provide cooked meals and dry rations to the affected families and make urgent arrangements to drain out stagnant flood waters in some areas where the water was still stagnated. He also inspected damaged houses and promised assistance towards the needed repairs.

Meanwhile, Eastern Provincial Council UNP member A Sasidaran and his supporters distributed food parcels and other relief valued at nearly Rs 3 million provided by UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya among flood affected people housed in temporary relief camps in the district. UNP member Daya Gamage and UNP Parliamentarian Anoma Gamage were also present at the occasion.

Vocational training for youth

Gamini Samaranayake Kandy Roving Corr

The Government has planned to absorb over one hundred thousand youth into the vocational training stream under the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry.

Students who had passed the GCE Ordinary and Advanced Level Examinations, would be selected for this course.

Dilapidated roads under construction

C S Adhikariarachchi Sabaragamuwa Special Corr.

The Hemmathagama-Dippitiya road, Ussapitiya-Uthuwankanda Road, Thalgaspitiya-Aranayaka road in the Aranayaka Electorate and Kuruduhinna-Andiramada road in Kegalle Electorate and Nooriya – Pallebage road in Deraniyagala Electorate about 50 kilometres in extent are in a dilapidated condition and are to be renovated by the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council under the instruction of Chief Minister Maheepala Herath.

The construction work has already started and the work is expected to be completed soon.

The estimated cost for the project which is Rs 400 million , was granted by the Economic Development Ministry.