Quick Look

Chilli cultivation promotion

Mahaweli systems corr

Vegetable farmers of the Marassana area in the Hevaheta electorate are working with the government to increase chilli production.

A group of 100 farmers are experimenting with two high productive chilli varieties: MI2 and KG 15.

'MI 2' and 'KG 15' have been cultivated in 40 acres at Marassana.

Shramadana campaigns

M I M Azhar- Maligaikadu group corr

A series of sharamadana campaigns to develop roads at Maligaikadu every Sunday was launched in the Karaithivu divisional secretariat area.

The campaigns are organized by the Maliga youth federation.

Hostels opened

Jaffna special corr

Boys and girls hostels were opened at Jaffna Kanagaratnam MMV by Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda. Sathiyaseelan, Secretary Northern Province Sports and Cultural Ministry also participated.

The hostels were built in response to appeals made by parents and old boys to Minister Douglas Devananda.

More employees for prisons

S.M.Wijayaratne Kurunegala Daily News Corr.

The Department of Prisons will recruit 3,000 employees to provide a better service for inmates. There are 6,000 employees in the service. The number will increase up to 9,000 with new recruitment. There are 27,000 detainees in 34 prisons in the country, an official said.

Open warrants on 5 accused

Edward WEERASINGHE, Kelaniya Group Corr.

Gampaha Additional Magistrate Indika S. Attanayake, imposed fines amounting to Rs. 63,000 on eight accused who pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing illegally manufactured arrack.

Five of the accused were not present in court and were issued with open warrants.

The accused were Priyantha Thamara, Sampath Udaya, S. Simon, K. Duminda, S. Sunimal, S. Wijeratne, L. Nishantha and Suresh Manjula.

Gampaha police prosecuted.

Eleven fined for possessing heroin

Kelaniya Group Corr.

Mahara - Kadawata magistrate Sahan Mapa Bandara, imposed fines of Rs. 47,000 on 11 suspects who pleaded guilty to the charge of possesing heroin in different quantities.

Peliyagoda Police prosecuted.

Power pirate fined

Thihagoda Group corr

A suspect who pleaded guilty to manipulating an electricity power meter by reducing the speed of its wheel, was fined Rs. 10,000 and also ordered to pay Rs. 94,580 as compensation to the Ceylon Electricity Board against the income loss.

According to CEB officers this power theft has been committed by the accused for a long time.

PHIs' trade union action suspended after talks

Athapattu BANDARA

Trade union action by the Public Health Inspectors' Union (PHI), was yesterday suspended after discussions with Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Mahaeepla Herath.

The PHIs carried out islandwide action on three main issues, namely, requesting for uniform allowances, transportation and official work.

The PHI union's C. S. Muthukuda, in a press release said that union action was totally suspended as they were satisfied with the constructive steps taken by the Health Ministry on their demands.