Quick Look

Drifting Somalians rescued

Yasaratne GAMAGE

Four Somalian nationals stranded in the sea were rescued by a Sri Lankan fishing trawler, police said.

The vessel which went to sea a month ago returned to the Modera fishing harbour on Tuesday with the four Somalians. The vessel’s captain said he found the four drifting in a boat in the high seas a few weeks ago.

The Somalians had said they had been stranded in the sea for a long time, police said.

Lightning claims two

Yasaratne GAMAGE

A farmer and a woman died when they were struck by lightning on Tuesday evening in Welioya and Monaragala. Police reported that H M Anura Kumara, a 33-year farmer was ploughing a paddy field on a tractor in Ahatugaswewa, Welioya when lightning struck him. The woman was in her kitchen at her home in Aluthwatta, Weheragala when she faced the mishap. Monaragala Police identified the deceased as 24-year W Rohini Gunaratne of Aluthwatta.

Ministry to recruit 2’000 midwives

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Health Ministry will recruit 2,000 midwives with immediate effect. The Cabinet approval had been given for this task, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

These new student midwives will be given a three years’ training programme. According to Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena midwives can provide a better service for rural health development.

Carbonic manure pilot project

Tennekoon KULASEKERA

A pilot project for the production of carbonic manure has been launched in the Anuradhapura District with the participation of 25,000 farmer families utilising an allocation of Rs. 600 million made by the government, said Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S.M.Chandrasena.

“This follows a directive issued by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to minimize the use of chemical fertiliser in the country,” he said.

Workshop on Thalassaemia

A workshop on Thalassaemia and a free blood testing programme organized by the Sandalanka Past Scouts Association will be held at the Hettirippuwa Viharaya on May 13 at 9 am.

This is part of the programme organised by the association to mark World Thalassaemia Day which fell on May 8.

Thalassaemia is a deadly disease connected with blood. The biggest ratio of Thalassaemia patients is reported from the Kurunegala district.

Mosquito breeders cost dear

Puttalam Group Corr

Ten persons including a hotel owner found guilty of having mosquito breeding places in their premises were fined Rs 10,000 each by the Marawila Additional District Judge and Magistrate Chandana Kalansuriya. Nainamadama Public Health Insepctor Chaminda Jayasekara prosecuted.

Octogenarian knocked down

Weeraketiya -Group Correspondent

An eighty year old woman died when she was knocked down by a three-wheeler at Welangahawela, Angunukolapelessa on Tuesday evening.

The woman was identified as R.K. Heenhamy of Welanga. The accident occurred when she was crossing the road, Police said.

Angunukolapelessa Police are investigating.