Quick Look

Three friends die in crash

Raja Waidyasekera, Tissamaharama special corr

Three friends died in an accident at Dematagala, Udawalawa. The three died after the trishaw they were travelling in, crashed with a lorry. The trishaw was on its way to Embilipitiya.

Udawalawa Police said the accident occurred due to the carelessness of the trishaw driver. Police took the lorry driver into custody.

The victims were identified as Ajith Kumara, 39, K A A Thilakaratna,42, and Sunil Gunawardena, 44.

Udawalawa Police are investigating.

Repair road plea

Navaratna Banadara, Mahaweli systems group corr.

The road from Thune-ela area to the Handungamuva rural hospital is dilapidated, residents said.

A large number of families of Handungamuva,Thune-ela, Gembura, Maaraka and a cluster of hamlets of the Vasgamuva National Park area use this road to travel to Handungamuva Hospital.

They request the authorities to repair the road without delay.

Goods sent from MRIA

Raja Waidyasekera, Tissaaharama special corr

The first consignment of goods to be sent to a foreign country was accepted at the Sri Lankan cargo company premises at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport.

The goods weighing l90 kilos comprised material for a garment industry.

The consignment of goods were to be airlifted to Chennai.

Avurudu Mangalyaya on April 14

Raja Waidysekera, Tisamaharama special corr

The Avurudu Mangalyaya of the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya will be held on April 14 night, said Basnayaka Nilame Ruhunu Kkataragama Maha Devalaya Sashindra Rajapaksa said.

He said the milk boiling ceremony will be held at the auspicious hour on April 13.

The Kataragama Devalaya will be closed until April 14.

The Basnayaka Nilame said the budget of the devalaya will be read out and the first pooja will be held on April 14.

Boost for coconut cultivation

Raja Waidyasekera, TIssamaharama special corr

Steps will be taken to boost coconut cultivation in the Hambantota district, District Secretary Hambantota R C de Soysa said. He said 23,500 hectares of coconut were cultivated in 2011 and it has been targetted to cultivate 26,000 hectares in 2016.

De Soysa said coconut harvest in 2011 remained at 60 million nuts and it is targetted to obtain 80 million nuts by 2016.

The District Secretary said coconut cultivation will be given a boost under the Divineguma.


 

Death of Anura Thilakasiri Perera

Anura Thilakasiri, owner of the Serendib Enterprises, a member of the Ananda College 1975-1980 batch and photographer passed away on March 17, 2013 while holidaying in Dubai.

He also functioned as a newspaper agent of the Associated Newspapers Ceylon Limited. Funeral arrangements will be notified later.





 

Call to protect star tortoise

The star tortoises will soon be extinct if steps are not taken to protect them. This species of tortoises are slaughtered for flesh. The flesh is sold at high prices, sources said. It is said a star tortoise lives for more than a century.

Wheels moves for Hakmana road development

P P G Sugathadasa, Thihagoda group correspondent

The Hakmana Pradeshiya Sabha has taken measures to reconstruct and redevelop old and dilapidated rural roads in the division. Hakmana Pradeshiya Sabha chairman C H Halpage said over 32 roads are expected to be renovated under the programme. The roads are within the administrative purview of Wepathaira, Lalpe, Dematapitiya, Udupeellegoda, Denagama, Pananwela, Kongala, Narawelpita, Meelle, Tha-mbiliyapola, Ellewela and Kohuliyadda Grama Seva Divisions.

The estimated cost of these projects is Rs 64 million. The Southern Provincial Road Development Authority is funding the project.

Shocking fine on power pirate

P P G Sugathadasa, Thihagoda group corr.

A man who pirated power by manipulating the electricity metre was fined Rs 278,830 by Matara Chief Magistrate Udesh Ranatunga. Rs 10,000 was the fine and Rs 268,830 was the compensation due to the Ceylon Electricity Board, officials said. The officials said the man had carried out the power piracy for a long period. Colombo Special Investigation Division officials of the CEB and Akuressa Police made the detection.

Project to cultivate subsidiary food crops

P P G Sugahadasa, Thihagoda group correspondent

The Southern Provincial Agriculture Ministry initiated an accelerated project to cultivate subsidiary food crops in uncultivated paddy lands in the region.

Southern Provincial Agriculture Minister Vijaya S Weerasinhe said priority has been extended to grow gingelly, maize, kurakan, green gram and wheat in the proposed subsidiary food crop cultivation drive. As an impetus and encouragement to farmers, seeds, planting material, cultivation instruction and modern technology will be provided by the ministry.

The proposed cultivation projects are being carried out at Grama Seva division level in the Southern region on the instructions of Southern Provincial Council Agriculture Minister Vijaya S Weerasinghe.

“Extending the fullest cooperation to the government's food production drive is the main objective of this endeavour,” Weerasinghe said.

Buildings on verge of collapse

Raja Waidyasekera - Tissamaaharama special corr

Five state buildings close to the Puranawella Fisheries Harbor at Devnuwara are abandoned and on the verge of destruction.

The properties were awarded to the people through the state by a donor and philanthropist Haendrik Singho Naidabadu in 1938.