Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

Divi Neguma launch

Tree planting
Gampola Divi Neguma program under the National program to commission one million domestic units was launched by Prime Minister D M Jayaratne at the National Heritage Centre garden in Gampola. Here the planting of saplings by the Prime Minister with other participants in the event. The Divi Neguma National Movement was launched in 14,000 Grama Niladari Divisions covering the country under the theme of Isurumath Nivahanak Asirimath Maubimak.

Zahira College to get new classrooms

Zahira College, Colombo old boy and former Principal Prof M T A Furkhan made a cash donation for the construction of a new building for the primary section at Zahira College which comprised of 23 classrooms, auditorium and IT lab. The foundation laying ceremony was held at the College premises recently.

College Principal Mohamed Jiffry delivered the welcome address. Board of Governors Chairman and Old Boys Association President Fowzul Hameed and Prof M T A Furkhan also addressed the gathering. Senior Minister A H M Fowzie, Provincial Councillor A J M Muzzammil, Former Saudi Arabia Ambassador Nowfel S Jabir and old boys were present at this ceremony.

Trade centre gutted

A trade centre at Kohombagas Kada in the Kahatagasdigiliya area had caught fire on Saturday completely destroying the trade centre.

All efforts to extinguish the fire had failed and the damage caused to the goods has been in the region of one million rupees.

Kahatagasdigiliya police said that there had been information that this trade centre had sold petrol and diesel without authority. The owner of the trade centre who had been injured by the fire was admitted to the hospital for treatment. Kahatagasdigiliya police are investigating.

Foreigner fined

Gampaha Additional Magistrate Indika Attanayake imposed a fine of Rs 8000 on an Australian citizen when he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a motor car without a valid driving licence while on a visit to Sri Lanka recently. Gampaha Police prosecuted.

Houses under Jana Kirula

Jana Kirula housing scheme has been started by the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) of the Ampara district, according to Government Agent Ampara district Sunil Kannangara.

This project is being undertaken and a house will be donated for a low income family from each Divisional Secretariat Division.

Science Course

Application will be entertained for the Environmental Science Course in the Sri Lanka Open University.

Those who are interested in the Environmental Science can send their application if they have passed the GCE (Ordinary Level) examination with three credit passes including a credit pass for English.

Application forms will be available from March 16 to March 30 and application forms can be obtained from the Public Relations Section or Regional Centres of the Sri Lanka Open University.

Applicants can send their applications on or before March 30, 2011 and more information is available from Telephone Number 011-2881327 or website www.ou.ac.lk of the Open University.

Death of Nelson Wedikkara

The death occurred of Nelson Wedikkara, Attorney-at-Law and ex-chairman of the All Ceylon Clerical Services Union and a Central Committee Member of the Sri Lanka Communist Party.

He was also the Chairman of the Sri Lanka-Laos Friendship Society. His remains are lying at his residence at Sir Lalitha Rajapaksa Mawatha at Balapitiya.

Pollution destroying oldest lake

Maligaikadu Thona lake at Maligaikadu in Karaithivu Divisional Secretariat area, one of the oldest lakes in the coastal area is on the verge of deterioration due to pollution.It is situated within Kalmunai Irrigation Engineer’s Division.

The water and solid waste of paddy fields and residents are released to the Thona lake cuasing immense pollution and threat.

The health authorities turned a blind eye when the Thona lake poses a threat to the health and sanitary conditions of the public.

Keep city clean program

The community development unit of Al-Ameen Sri Lanka in Sainthamaruthu Divisional Secretariat has launched a ‘Keep the city clean’ program to educate schoolchildren in Sainthamaruthu Divisionl Education Division on the impact of healthy environment for human health.

The program is conducted in collaboration with the health authorities in the area.

Kidney Unit to educate students

The newly set up kidney unit at Nikawewa of Polpithigama in Kurunegala by the NWP-PC and the Central Government has commenced its functions to identify kidney patients and treat them.

Accordingly, 505 positive patients have been so far identified and they are being treated. All of them are from the Kurunegala District and hence five awareness programs to educate the school community on kidney disorders and preventive measures would be conducted in the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts.

About 10,000 students would be educated accordingly. “A specialist doctor too has been appointed to this new unit of kidneys by the Ministry of Health,” Kurunegala Assistant DMO, Dr A M Priyadarshana said.

Fertilizer company to play major role

Lak Pohora Company Limited Chairman Buddhika Madihahewa of the Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry has pledged that his company would give an active contribution to the one million home gardens national program.

For this purpose the Lak Pohora Company is providing fertilizer to be distributed among home gardens with a pack of seeds and a leaflet from the Agriculture Department. The price of this packet is Rs 750. The Agrarian Services Department is distributing this package at regional level. The Chairman further said the company was doing this on the instructions of Agriculture Research officers, Grama Niladari and Samurdhi officers. This way the Lak Pohora Company is making a 40 percent contribution to the one million home gardens program.

Raid nets four ‘twilight women’

The police arrested four females for alleged prostitution and four males at a holiday resort in Embilipitiya town during a special raid Saturday night. The police said the suspects are residents of Mirigama, Suriyawewa and Embilipitiya. The holiday resort manger was also arrested.

Liquor brings death to swimmer

A man drowned in the Bolgoda lake after trying to swim in it under the influence of liquor. The police recovered the body the next day after the incident. A verdict of death due to drowning was recorded at the inquest held at the Panadura Hospital.

Woman nabbed with illicit brew in Kuwait

Ahmadi securitymen arrested the Sri Lankan woman in Kuwait for manufacturing alcohol and referred her to authorities, reported Al-Watan Arabic daily. A security source said police were tipped-off that a woman was selling alcohol under a building in Mahboula.

Visitors to Yala, Bundala rise

Tourist arrivals to Yala and Bundala National Parks has increased four fold, according to park wardens.

Wildlife Assistant Director P M Dharmatillaka in charge of the national parks, said that the Yala National Park will be elevated to the status of an international national park on the initiative of Minister S M Chandrasena.

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