[Quick Look]

Prevention better than cure

G.P.A. Weerasuriya - Badulla South Group Corr,

One of the main objectives of the Health Ministry is to educate the public on preventive measures of diseases. The idea is to reduce the number of patients admitted to hospitals and make Sri Lanka one of the best countries in terms of healthcare, said Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the newly built four storeyed building which houses a number of healthcare facilities at the Badulla General Hospital. Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva also participated.

Applications called for stalls

The National Crafts Council is calling for applications from craftsmen registered in the council to get selling stalls at the Handicrafts Marketing Village consisting of 28 trade stalls and due to be constructed in the National Crafts Council Premises.

The council says the objective of setting up of the Marketing village is to pave the way for craftsmen to sell their produce without middlemen.

Applications to obtain stalls should be sent to Chairman, National Crafts Council, Janakala Kendra Premises, Battaramulla. More information could be obtained on 0112787954.

Indigenous medicine to reach new peak

Indigenous Medicine Ministry will upgrade the indigenous medicine system to the international standards and manufacture indigenous herbs according to modern requirements. A discussion to make herbal medicine producers aware on indigenous herbs and solve their problems was held at the Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce Auditorium Tuesday under the patronage of Minister Salinda Dissanayake. The Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce is working in close cooperation with the Indigenous Medicine Ministry in this regard.

Nabbed with heroin

Gampaha group corr

Two persons who pleaded guilty of possessing 26 milligrams of heroin were fined Rs 10,000 each by Gampaha Additional Magistrate Indika Attanayake.

Fish breeders get fingerlings

Ariyapala Wanasthilaka - Kurunegala Central Special Correspondent

The North Western fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry has launched a program to distribute fingerlings among fresh water fish breeders of the Putthalama and Kurunegala Districts.

This project was initiated on the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to increase fresh water fish production.

Fined

Three persons riding a motorcycle under the influence of liquor were fined Rs 5,000 each by Gampaha Additional Magistrate Indika Attanayake.

Arms in cemetery

Vakarai Police recovered a cache of arms burried in a cemetery during a search operation on beach road Venkaladi Thursday. The cache included a T56 weapon and a magazine, two grenades, one presure mine and a fuse, 28 T 56 ammunition, three pistol ammunition, compass, 200 gms C4 explosives, cap.

Frenchman drowns

A French national staying in a hotel in Kalutara North was drowned while sea bathing in front of the hotel Thursday. The deceased was identified as Charles Robert Aglate (52). The body was handed over to his wife after the inquest proceedings to be taken back to France.

Raneliweta to lighten H’tota

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said electricity supply lines covering all villages in the Hambantota district have been constructed under the Raneliweta electricity project.

Construction of new electricity lines for newly built houses will also be undertaken.

The project will supply electricity to Ambalantota, Angunakolapalessa, Beliatta, Hambantota, Kataragama, Katuwana, Lunugamvehera, Okewela, Tangalle and Walasmulla at a cost of Rs 6.6 million.

International Women’s Day

The Sri Lanka ex-Army Women’s Association along with the members of the ex Navy and Air Force Associations will stage a drama titled Duwe Numbai at Tower Hall Maradana on February 27 at 3 pm to mark International Women’s Day that falls on March 7.

Books distribution

The Young Muslim Front, Peer Saibo Street, Colombo 12, will distribute Exercise Books to Madharasa, Ahadiyah and Nursery School children at the Peer Saibo Street, Colombo on February 27 at 4.00 pm. ITN Director Hashim Omar will be the chief guest and Moulavi Abdullah Macki will be the guest speaker.

Milad Un Nabi celebration

Borella Ahadiyah School will hold Milad Un Nabi Celebration at the Al Hijra Maha Vidyalaya, Colombo on February 27 at 9.30 am.

BASL elections for presidency

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) elections for the post of president was held yesterday at the Colombo Law Library.

President’s Counsel Sibly Aziz and Senior Attorney-at-Law Raja Rajeswaran Saravanamuttu Thangarajah contested for the presidency for the year 2011 and 2012.

Meanwhile, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court Lawyers’ Association also held their AGM for the election of a president.

Senior Attorneys P D P Perera and Madushanka Hewavitharana contested.

Scrabble bash today

The 2011 Scrabble Bash will be held at the Dutch Burgher Union today from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm for the third successive year. Scrabble enthusiasts will vie for the winner and runners up trophies and other prizes.

Contact 2583488 for details.

Archaeological mobile show

Priyanka Kurugala

The first Archaeological Mobile exhibition will be held under National Heritage Minister Jagath Balasuriya’s patronage at Kegalle Girls College today. The exhibition will be held until March 2.

The Archaeological Department and the National Museum Department have organized this exhibition.

Several antique replicas exhibited at the National Museum, Colombo will be on exhibit, with some being showcased for the first time.

The exhibition’s objective is to make the public aware about national heritage.

Felicitation ceremony

A ceremony to felicitate 10 persons in the Minipe colony organized by the Hasalaka-Minipe Retirees Society will be held tomorrow at 1 pm at the Hasalaka Ranasinghe Premadasa National School auditorium.

Hasalaka Divisional Secretary Palitha Bandara will be the chief guest.

Prize distribution

A ceremony to felicitate teachers and the annual prize distribution of the English medium Dhamma school and the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Dhamma school of the Sankapitti Viharaya, Kaduwela will be held tomorrow at 2 pm.

It will be held under the patronage of Ven Mahanayake Siri Suddhammawasa Nayaka Thera. Minister Wimal Weerawansa will also participate.
 

Fireworks factory gutted

Milton Dharmasinghe - Our Bulathsinhala Spl. Cor.

The Illimba Fireworks Factory in Horana Police area, had caught fire suddenly at 10.45 am on Feb 25, 2011. Soon after the fire, exploding sound of crackers was heard for more than 10 minutes. Half of the factory had been gutted. Five employees who were at work in the factory, had suffered major burns. They had been admitted to the Horana Base Hospital, while three of them had been sent to the Colombo National Hospital.