Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

The China Huawei International Institute donated Rs 22m for the anti-AIDS Campaign conducted by ‘Sririliya Saviya’. The donation took place under the patronage of Fist Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa. Here Huawei International Institute Chairman Austin Wang Xin handing over the donation to Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena. Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yang Xiuping was also present. Picture by Lalith Welivitigoda

Nine jumbo deaths in January

About nine wild elephants were reported to have died in January 2011 according to Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry records, Wildlife Director General Dr Chandrawansa Pathiraja said.

Plans are under way to probe how these deaths occur and arrangements will be made to take remedial steps, he said.

Experienced farmers will be interviewed to identify possible solutions to prevent tragic deaths of wild elephants, Dr Pathiraja added.

Man nabbed with stolen clothes

Police recovered clothes worth over Rs 7,000 stolen by the suspect following interrogation. He is also alleged to have stolen Rs 2,000 from a house.

According to Police, the stolen money could not be found as the suspect had already spent it.

The suspect and the stolen items was produced before Matara Chief Magistrate Udesh Ranatunga who remanded him until February 9.

Overflowing tanks affect more families

Thirty four families have been displaced in Kebeitigollewa and Padaviya due to the flood waters of Moraoya and Bisokotuwa wewa, said a spokesman for the Anuradhapura district disaster relief centre.

The Mahaolugaskada road too is under water obstructing vehicular traffic. Displaced families have been housed in temporary relief camps and provided with food and other facilities.

Cops interdicted for assaulting youth

Two constables attached to the Anamaduwa Police Environment Unit have been interdicted by the IGP in connection with an alleged inhuman assault on a 21-year-old youth arrested in an illicit sand mining case involving the Mee Oya recently. The victim of the alleged assault Lalith Kumara of Konkadawala is now receiving treatment at the Nikeweratiya hospital.

The interdiction orders followed a report submitted by ASP I P G Sugathapala who held an inquiry into the alleged assault.

Lottery draw

The final draw of the lottery conducted by the Police Seva Vanitha Unit to collect funds for the nine houses built for families of departed and disabled Police war heroes at Walbotale, Mirigama was held at the Unit's Headquarters in Colombo 5 under the patronage of IGP Mahinda Balasuriya on January 29.

The following are the 25 winning numbers: 32305, 31711, 42009, 6525, 33622, 36986, 47881, 42269, 39743, 38662, 14247, 37102, 38750, 46353, 855, 48147, 47736, 37537, 10034, 36551, 37186, 37012, 45711, 47555, and 5980.

Public talk

Prof Oliver Abeynayake will deliver a public talk in English on The First Sermon; an overview at the Meeting of the Servants of Buddha Society on February 5 at 4.30 pm at Maithree Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya.

Independence Day Lecture

An illustrated public lecture on "Sri Lanka's Pre-colonial Foreign Relations; Implications for the Present" by Dr Hema Goonatilake will be held at 5.30 pm on Thursday February 3, 2011, at the auditorium of the Organisation of Professional Associations, 275/75 Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, Colombo 7.

The lecture is organized by the OPA, Sri Lanka to mark the 63th Anniversary of Sri Lanka's Independence. All are welcome.

Workshop

A one-day workshop on digital photography for professional photographers will be held at the Talduwa Kelani Valley Recreation Club, Avissawella on February 8 from 9am to 4pm.

Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu again

On the directive of the President, the Government will carry out the Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu program again aiming at increasing the local food production while mitigating the world food crisis, said Health Minister Maithreepala Sirisena.

Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu program had been carried out last year and was highly successful.

Therefore the Government will conduct the same program this year with immediate effect. Under this program the local food production will be increased by motivating people toward horticulture.

Mt Lavinia Bar condemns Court premises firing

The Bar Association of Mt Lavinia passed unanimous resolution condemning the careless firing in the Court Premises by a jail guard when a remand prisoner escaped from remand custody of the jail guards causing death of a civilian as a result of the said careless firing and for having nearly shot a Lady Lawyer causing heavy damages to her vehicle when she was coming out of the Court Premises.

The Bar Association of Mt Lavinia further resolves to draw serious attention of the Commissioner General of Prisons to order the Prison Guards on duty to increase their alertness and have serious concentration of attention on the custody of the remand prisoners and to resort to the usage of firearms as a last resort by taking all precautions to prevent the escape of remand prisoners.

One month concession on crate deadline

The Government has taken steps to make the use of crates compulsory when transporting vegetables and fruits throughout the country. Today the Government has issued the gazette paper regarding this matter, Co-operative and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said. From today the law will be implemented, he emphasized. Farmers and traders have requested the Government a one month concessionary period to adapt to this methodology. Considering their requirement the Minister has decided to grant the one month concessionary period.

Due to the incorrect transport methods 25-40 percent of vegetables and fruits get destroyed during transport.

Training program

The training program connected with the one million domestic economic unit project, the major economic development program to be implemented by the Government this year will begin on February 15 at Divisional Secretariat level and continue till March 15.

A decision to this effort was taken at a meeting presided by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on January 31, a Ministry release said.

Guru Puja

Anuruth Abeyratne, an old boy of Sri Sumangala College, Panadura, has organized a three-day tour to Polonnaruwa and Pasikuda for 50 teachers who are members of the Past Teachers' Association of Sri Sumangala College, Panadura.

Further information could be obtained from Ranjanie Gunasekera on 038 22 32 657.

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