The Minneriya National Park which lies in the Polonnaruwa district was declared
a sanctuary on July 29, 1938. It became a National Park on August 12, 1997. The Minneriya reservoir built by King Mahasena continues to play a pivotal role in the agricultural activities of the district as it did centuries ago. This reservoir is fed mainly by the Mahaweli irrigation scheme through the Yoda Ela. The forests are home to various animals with elephants being the flagship species of the Park. The reservoir and its surrounding wetlands are inhabited by a variety of aquatic birds. Here a section of Asian Open Bill Storks in the Minneriya reservoir. Picture by K A Aleem – Gampola Thinakaran correspondent

Animals too are fond of children as shown by this sambur who seems to be amused by a child’s attempt to make it rise to its feet during a visit to the Sithulpauwwa Purana Raja Maha Viharaya with her parents recently. The tame sambur is reared at the temple by Viharadhipati Ven Metaramba Hemaratana Nayake Thera. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage

Government refutes press report:

No amendments to SAFTA

‘Trade agreements must not affect local production’:

The government has not taken a decision to restrict imports from India, Mass Media and Information Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said. The minister made this statement refuting a report in an English daily yesterday, while addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the ministry.

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President on two-day official visit to Cuba

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will pay an official visit to Cuba today and tomorrow. An MoU will be signed between Sri Lanka and Cuba during the President’s visit, Mass Media and Information Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said. He said it will be signed between the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies of Sri Lanka and Raul Roa Garcia Institute of International Relations of Cuba.

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Greener pastures become nightmare for 148 Lankans

All deported, 17 diagnosed with Malaria:

Over 148 Sri Lankan bogus asylum seekers, stranded in Togo after being duped by human smugglers were deported to the country yesterday, with the assistance of Canadian and Sri Lankan authorities and the International Organisation for Migration. They had sought asylum in Canada but had been sent to Togo instead.

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Third Asian Youth Games in H’tota

Asian Olympic Committee President Sheikh Ahmad al-Sabah said Hambantota has been chosen to host the third Asian Youth Games in 2017. >He made the announcement at a press briefing at the Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee Auditorium last evening.

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