Quick Look

Gem mining yet to commence in Kataragama

Raja Waidyasekera - Tissamaharama special corr

Those who were allocated plots of land for gem mining at Thammennawa in Kataragama, have not commenced mining, a spokesman for the Kataragama Secretariat said.

The gems mined previously have not been auctioned. The people urge the authorities to auction them and give them their part.

A spokesman for the gem and jewellery authority said that an auction was held but it was stopped as a result of not getting a fair price for the gems.

Computer training unit closed

Mahaweli systems corr

A computer training unit at the Orubendiwewa youth centre on the Padiyathalawa-Mahiyanganaya road under the Youth Affairs Ministry has been closed since January.

Medical centre in Alawwa

A Keerthsinghe - Alawwa special corr

The Economic Development Ministry has allocated Rs 2000,000 to build a medical centre at Tiruwanapola in Alawwa.

Carpenter in death fall

Raja Waidyasekera - Tissamaharama special corr

A carpenter who fell from a two storeyed building in Bibile died on the spot. The man, 57, was a resident of Sitinamaluwa Beliatta. The deceased had been under the influence of liquor.

Mother complicit in abusing daughter

A Keerthsinghe - Alawwa special corr

A man who abused a 14-year-old girl was arrested by Alawwa Police. Police also arrested the mother of the girl who supported the suspect to commit the offence. The suspect and the girl's mother were remanded on being produced before Polgahawela Magistrate B C Ragala.

Protest against drug use

Raja Widyasekera - Tissamaharama special corr

The inmates of the Tissamaharama Weerawila open air camp for the drug addicts held a protest campaign against the use of drugs and narcotics at Debarawewa town. They also staged a street drama.

Digannewa wewa rehabilitated

Tennakoon Kulasekara

Rehabilitation work on the Digannewa wewa in Bakamuna was launched by Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena on Saturday. The Economic Development Ministry has allocated Rs 2 million for the rehabilitation work.

Rs 64 m for Samurdhi housing loans in Badulla

Raja Waidyasekera - Tissamaharama special corr

Rs 64 million has been allocated for the provision of housing loans for 431 Samurdhi beneficiaries in Badulla. Rs 100,000 will be allowed each of 122 Samurdhi beneficiary families.

Funds are provided for the construction of houses by the Samurdhi lottery fund.

State-FUTA to meet again on July 12

Talks between the government and Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) over salary grievances of university dons, which were conducted last evening at the Presidential Secretariat ended inconclusively, informed sources said. However, FUTA had agreed to meet government representatives for a second round of talks on July 12.