Quick Look

Passion play

The Passion Play, ‘Aho Mage Senageni’, organized by the parishioners of St Francis Xaviour Church, Halpe, Katana will be staged at the church on March 29 at 7 pm.

The drama will be staged again in the Halpe Church premises on March 31 at 7 pm.

Indika Ranaweera directed the drama under the Auspices of parish priest of Halpe Rev Fr Amila Gomes and Assistant Parish Priest Rev Fr Suranga Fonseka.

Boost for crop cultivation projects

P P G Sugathadasa - Thihagoda group correspondent

The Southern Provincial Agriculture Ministry has taken the initiative to enhance agricultural crop cultivation projects in the region.

Besides paddy cultivation, growing of green gram, gingelly, maize, kurakan, cowpea and other supplementary food crops have been given priority.

Cattle farming, bee keeping and mushroom cultivation will be promoted with the aim of encouraging self - employment avenues, a senior official attached to SPC Agriculture Ministry said.

Instructions pertaining to agriculture crop cultivation, technical-know how and planting material will be provided by the ministry, the official said.

Extending a further boost to the government's food production drive is the prime objective of this endeavour, Southern Provincial Agriculture Minister Vijaya S Weerasinhe said.

Coconut prices sky rocket

Navaratna Banadara, Mahaweli systems group corr

A coconut usually available between Rs 25 to Rs 30 in Hettipola-Vilgamuva, Mahiyanganaya, Minipe, Padiyathalaava and Viyaluva areas is sold between Rs 55 and Rs 60 now.

It is revealed that middlemen increase the prices of coconuts after purchasing it from cultivators in Bibile and Kurunegala.

Chairs for community organisations

Navaratna Banadara, Mahaweli systems group corr

A group of community organisations in Yatavaththa received plastic chairs from Central Provincial Council member Parakrama Dissanayake.

Dissanayake utilised CPC funds allocated for community development to purchase the chairs.

Blood donation

Navaratna Banadara, Mahaweli systems group corr.

A blood donation was organised for the sixth time by a community organisation in Mahiyanganaya.

The Sumaga Prathibhaana Sansadaya Mahiyanganaya organised the blood donation at Sanghamiththa Ramaya opposite the Mahiyangana Base Hospital in the Pujaa Nagaraya.

The Health Ministry Blood Bank collected the blood from donors.

Army Private injured in trishaw mishap

Amila Prabath Wanasinghe and Sampath Sanjeewa

An Army Private was critically injured and admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital when the three-wheeler he was travelling, ran off the road and fell into the Malwathu Oya near the Malwathu Oya bridge on the Anuradhapura Villachchiya road.

The three-wheeler which was damaged was fished out from the Malwathu Oya by Anuradhapura Police.

Investigations are continuing.

Second kidney transplant successful at Karapitiya

Richmond Wijesekera, Bentota group correspondent

The second kidney transplant at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, Galle was performed successfully by a team of surgeons under Dr Ranjuka Ubeysiri and Dr Sanjeewa Heiyantuduwa. K Yeshan, 25, who underwent the kidney transplant is a resident of Hikkaduwa.

His father K A Nimalaratna, 52, was the donor of the kidney.

Dr Heiyantuduwa said the father and son are in good health.

The team of surgeons included Harsha Gmage, Kolitha Karunadsa, Gayan Ekanayaka, Theja Jayasekera and anaesthetists Kesari de Silva and Nalin Nanayakkara.

Giant croc dies after being run over

Batticaloa group corr

A giant crocodile which caused fear and inconvenienced fishermen and students and the public in Kanchirainkuda died after being run over by a heavy vehicle while it was crossing the Akkaraipattu – Pottuvil road on its way to the Kanchirankuda wewa. A fisherman was hospitalised last week after being attacked by the crocodile.

Yunani Medical Faculty for Eastern University

Batticaloa Group corr

A Yunani Medical Faculty will be set up at the Eastern University shortly, Economic Development Deputy Minister M L A M Hisbullah said.

He said a Yunani Hospital will also be set up at Kaththankudy for the benefit of students at the proposed Yunani Faculty.

The Deputy Minister disclosed this when he visited the plot of land bought to set up the proposed hospital on an inspection tour recently.

Woman killed by jumbo

Yasaratne Gamage

A 55 - year - old woman who was seriously injured following an attack by an elephant in Gallewa, succumbed to her injuries at Galgamuwa Hospital.

The victim was identified as I M Wimalawathi.