Quick Look

New equipment to detect dengue within one hour

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Health Ministry will shortly commence experiments at the Lady Ridgway Hospital and IDH on new equipment used to perform the Dengue Combo Test.

The new equipment can be used to diagnose dengue patients within one hour.

It takes 48 hours to diagnose dengue patient at present, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, a Full Blood Count (FBC) is needed to diagnose a dengue patient.

The new equipment provides the report within one hour. The equipment provides accurate reports for seven days from the inception of dengue.

A shipment of the equipment worth Rs 2.5 million provided by Standard Diagnostic, a private company was handed over to the Epidemiology Unit by Health Ministry Secretary Dr Nihal Jayatilleke recently.

Drama discussion

A discussion on late Prof Ediriweera Sarachchandra’s drama application and modern dramatic art will be held at the SLFI Auditorium, Colombo on August 15 at 3.30pm under the patronage of Professors Tissa Kariyawasam, Sunanda Mahendra and Michael Fernando.

A Government Information Department press release said dramatist Jayalath Manoratna will deliver The Professor Sarachchandra Memorial Lecture.

Other speakers include Attanayake M Herath, Dhamma Dissanayake and Jackson Anthony.

The research works titled Ves Muhunu ha Vishpaurushayanaya and Mahasamayama ha Etic Natyavedaya written by Information Director General Prof Ariyaratne Athugala will also be launched on this day.

Another highlight will be the launching of the Mahasamayama stage play’s website. The discussion is organised by the Government Information Department in association with the SLFI and ECRS.

BCIS Movie of the Month

The Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) will screen A Man for All Seasons as the BCIS Movie of the Month on August 11 from 3pm at the BCIS Auditorium, BMICH. A Man for all Seasons is a film released in 1966 and is based on true historical events. Directed and produced by Fred Zinnemann, it won six Oscar Awards and five British Academy Awards. Entrance is free.

Reserve seats today by calling Chamila at the Digital Resource Centre on 2698019 or 2676980.

Photo exhibition

A photographic exhibition and a discussion will be held to coincide with the 100th day screening of Sugath Samarakoon’s latest cinematic venture Vijaya-Kuweni. The exhibition will take place at the Public Library Auditorium on August 12 from 10am to 1 pm. The discussion will be held at the same venue on the same day from 2 pm to 5 pm.

Essay competition

An essay competition will be held to promote unity and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

Those who wish to participate in the competition should register their interest before August 15 by e-mail to [email protected].

The competition is open to Sri Lankans. Entries can be submitted in Sinhala, Tamil or English.

Entries should be based on similarities between the languages and/or culture and/or religious beliefs and practices of the peoples of Sri Lanka or significant changes to environmental policy and practices following the end of the Sri Lanka’s conflict in 2009.

The best essay on each topic will receive Rs 10,000 while the second and the third places will receive Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000.

Over 100 Indian companies participate in plastics show

Out of a total exhibitors of 125, over 100 exhibitors from India are participating in Sri Lanka’s first ever B2B International Plastics Exhibition - SRI LANKA PLAST 2012, which will be inaugurated by International Monetary Cooperation Senior Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama and Indian High Commissioner Ashok K Kantha today.

Sri Lanka 2012, organised by Enterprising Fairs India Pvt Ltd and co-organised by Plastics and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka, will be held at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre (SLECC) from today to August 12.

It is supported by CIPET – Central Institute of Plastics Engineering Technology, India, the Central Environment Authority of Sri Lanka and the High Commission of India. Parallel to the exhibition, a seminar jointly organised by the Plastics and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka and the Indian Plastics Institute, Chennai chapter on theme ‘Opportunities and Advancements in Plastics Processing’ will be held tomorrow.

Veteran SLEPer Ananda Dassanayake no more

Former MP and Sri Lanka Freedom Party Senior Vice President Ananda Dasanayaka passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

He represented Parliament for 17 years from the Nuwara Eliya district. After graduating from the Peradeniya University, Dassanayake served as a teacher. He was later elected as a Senator. He was the last living Senator in Sri Lanka and was one of the most senior members of the SLFP. He served as the Uva Province Governor for four years and also served as the Southern Province Governor for three years.

The cremation will be held at Public Cemetery, Gampola tomorrow at 2.00pm.