Quick Look

Pura Neguma development project in Malimbada

Bandula Gunasekara and T.K. Ariyadasa, - Malimbada group corr.

The Malimbada town will be developed in keeping with the government's development programme under the Pura Neguma project with a view to facilitate the villagers in and around the area, Malimbada Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, Somasiri Weeraman explained to the Daily News in a recent interview.

Under the proposed development plan, a new three storeyed shopping complex is to be constructed along the Matara - Akuressa main road in the present weekly fair site. In addition, another two storeyed new building will come up close to the Matara - Kamburupitiya road.

Development plans have also been made to open a new weekly fair on lines of the Divi Neguma on the same route, the Chairman said.

Work on the construction of the new buildings are scheduled to commence very shortly.

Pahalawewa tank dredged

Tennakoon Kulasekara

Dredging of the Pahala- wewa tank in the Kirigollegama farming village in Talawa is now in progress to enable it to retain a bigger capacity of water with the onset of rains.

On the directions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of Agrarian Services and Wild Life S.M. Chandrasena has provided the necessary equipment and funds to facilitate the exercise.

This tank provides irrigation facilities to about100 hectares of paddy lands and subsidiary crop fields in the area.

The lands are cultivated in both the Yala and Maha seasons by the waters of this tank.

According to members of farmers' organisations of Zone D1 this tank has not been renovated for the last 60 years. Dredging of this tank would therefore help cultivation activities in the region farmers state.

Minister Chandrasena visited the area on an inspection of the rehabilitation work in progress.

Remote

villages get electricity

People living in eight remote villages in the Eheliyagoda electorate, received electricity supplies under the Vidulamu Lanka project, a Technology and Research Ministry spokesman said. The project costs Rs. 2.1 million. Funds were allocated on a request made by SLFP organizer for Eheliyagoda, Technology and Research Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi to Deputy Minister Power and Energy Premalal Jayasekara.

Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Member Kanchana Jayarathna commissioned the projects recently with the participation of community leaders in the area. Speaking on the occasion, Kanchana Jayaratna said the government was providing electricity to all the villages in difficult areas. "Today there is a rapid development in rural villages."

By providing the basic infrastructure facilities to villages in difficult areas, the disparity between towns and villages could be reduced. It is our responsibility to support the children to have proper education. We see electricity as an essential requirement," he said.

Nutrition for pregnant women

M.I. Azhar - Maligaikadu group correspondent

The Sainthamarathu Al Ameen Sri Lanka has taken steps to issue a bag of nutritious food items monthly, to pregnant women in the Sainthamarathu divisional secretariat area. The aim of the program is the enrichment of health standards of pregnant mothers in the area.

President of Al-Ameen Sri Lanka, M.A.M. Mansoor said that this programme was to be implemented shortly among 50 pregnant mothers selected by family health workers.

Power piracy at court official’s residence

Priyadarshani Kahawala, Ingiriya Central Group Corr

The Colombo Special Investigation Unit checked a house owned by a female officer of the Horana magistrate court and arrested an inmate of the house for allegedly pirating electricity.

The suspect produced before court was fined Rs 10,000 by Horana magistrate Mahinda Ranasingha and also ordered to pay Rs 46,859.60 to the Ceylon Electricity Board as arrears for the electricity pirated. The suspect is a resident of Walikala, Pokunuwita.

Meanwhile, a manager of a leading reception hall in Millaniya town who allegedly pirated electricity was fined Rs 10,000 by the Horana magistrate and also ordered to pay Rs 72,306.98 to the CEB as the amount outstanding.

The raids were carried out under the supervision of investigation officer P D Ajith.

Coastguard saves drowning man

Coastguard life savers rescued a man aged 21 who fell into difficulties while swimming at Galle Face.

The man identified as Sachin was swimming at Galle Face when he was dragged away by the current and fell into a sea pocket and started shouting for assistance. On hearing him shouting, his friends alerted coastguard lifesavers. Leading Seaman W H G H Pathmasiri reacted swiftly and swam towards Sachin with a torpedo for about 25 meters.

The torpedo is a life saving accessory used to rescue a drowning persons. Sachin was brought ashore safely and his condition was found stable. He is a residence of Walgama, Aturugiriya.

Dutch tourists waylaid in Batticaloa

Sivam Packiyanathan

Two unidentified persons snatched the purse of two Dutch tourists at Kallady, Batticaloa last week.

The purse contained 700 euros, Rs 60,000 and two mobile phones. The tourists complained to Kattankudy Police. The incident had taken place while the tourists were returning to their hotel at Kallady from Navalady beach. Kattankudy Police are investigating.