In brief
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Prime Minister D. M.
Jayaratne launched a project to reconstruct the places of
worship devastated due to the conflict. Here the Premier
hands over a cheque to rebuild a mosque in the East in the
presence of Eastern Province Governor Admiral Mohan
Wijewickrema. |
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Minister of Justice,
Athauda Seneviratne presents a tractor to a farmer at the
Vap Magul ceremony at Indurana Ruwanwella. It was organised
by Provincial Councillor and SLFP Chief Organiser for
Ruwanwella Dr. Parakrama Athauda to commence ploughing of
paddy fields. |
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Youth Drama
Festival - 2010: The National Youth Drama Festival of
2010 organised by National Youth Services Council was
inaugurated by Youth Affairs Minister Dullas Alahapperuma.
Here the Minister lights the oil lamp. NYSC Chairman Lalith
Peum Perera was also present. |
Jewellery found at Maligawa
by H. A. W. Hewawasam - Kandy Special corr.
The Maligawa Police Unit has found a bag of jewellery - worth over Rs.
3 lakhs said the OIC - IP Thushitha Halangoda. He said the contents were
handed over to the Kandy Police where the owner can claim it, proving
the authenticity of its ownership and identity.
The Diyawadana Nilame - Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara thanked the
Maligawa Police Unit for their exemplary job glorifying the service of
the National Police Service.
Six coconut projects for Kalutara
by Divakara MOHOTTI - Kalutara Group Corr.
The Agriculture Department has allocated Rs. 1.8 million to set up
six coconut projects in the Kalutara district.
According to the progress of the schemes more projects will be
launched the agricultural officials said.
Law student nabbed
by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE
A law student and a watcher have been taken into custody by the
Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Mount Lavinia police in
connection with a theft of a gold bracelet, four car tyres fitted with
alloy wheels and 27 bottles of whisky, from a residence at Mount Lavinia,
Police Media Spokesman SP, Prishantha Jayakody told the Sunday Observer.
Police said following a complaint made at the Mount Lavinia police
last week a law student from Dehiwela was arrested. Police recovered the
gold bracelet in his possession and a cab fitted with the stolen alloy
wheels.
According to police a watcher from Wellawatte had broken into a house
at Wattarappala road at Mount Lavinia and stole 27 bottles of foreign
whisky, four car tyres fitted with alloy wheels and a gold bracelet.
He had then sold the stolen property to a law student at Dehiwela.
Meanwhile police have launched an investigation into the missing 27
bottles of whisky.
Work begins on Mawala tank
by Mohammed NAALIR
Youth Affairs Minister Dullas Alahapperuma inaugurated the
construction work on Mawala tank in Uruwewa, Dikwella.
On completion of the project more than 600 farmers in the area who
underwent severe hardships in cultivating in their paddy lands due to
the lack of water will reap the benefits.
The project will be implemented under the Gama Neguma rural
development drive. The estimated cost for the project is Rs.40 million
and Matara District Secretariat has granted Rs. 33.85 million for the
project.
The Mawala tank will have a capacity of 40-acre square feet water.
The length of the dam is 100 meters and height 7 meters.
Due to the geographical location of the site the spill of the tank
has been modified in a funnel shape, according to the Zone Irrigation
Director D. P. de Silva.
Matara District Secretary W.K.K. Athukorala, Dickwella Pradeshiya
Sabha Chairman Krishali Muthukumarana, Zone Irrigation Director D. P. de
Silva and several others were also present.
Colombo-Jaffna bus fares reduced
On the directive of Transport Authority the ticket rates between the
Colombo-Jaffna transport service has been revised with a 35 percent
reduction.
Since the A-9 highway opened for transportation last year a large
number of bus operators began their services between the North and
South.
However, the rates of the tickets for the North-South bus services
were not regularised as certain bus operators were charging exorbitant
rates from Jaffna bound passengers.
Following the complaints made by the passengers and due to the
competition among the North-South bus operators, the ticket rates on
buses operating between Jaffna and Colombo have been reduced by 35
percent, sources said.
The new ticket rates for buses operating between Colombo and Jaffna
will remain between the rates of Rs.530 and Rs.1,035 sources
said.Meanwhile, Rs. 1 million tax will be levied from each bus operator’
who conducts passenger services between Jaffna and Colombo annually,
sources said.
-(AP)
Record crop for Maha expected
by P. Krishnaswamy
Farmers throughout the country, including those in the war-torn North
and East, have begun paddy cultivation for the Maha Season and the yield
is expected to be 15 - 20 percent more than the total requirement of the
nation, Additional Secretary to the Agricultural Ministry Shantha
Emitiagoda told the Sunday Observer. The excess production will be
reserved as buffer stock for contingencies, he said. A total of 750,000
hectares are targeted for the Maha Season, he said.
Under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Agriculture
Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana has prioritised seed paddy production
locally and installation of all mechanism to substitute wheat flour with
rice flour, Emitiagoda said.
The process of distributing seed paddy and fertilisers is now under
way with 300,000 bushels already distributed and 600,000 bushels in
hand. With the monsoonal rains already started farmers are engaged in
their traditional profession of feeding the nation, he said.
Cultivation of highland crops including black gram, green gram, red
onions and cowpea is also being encouraged with distribution of seed
grains and fertilisers. India has volunteered to supply seed grains.
Babul seized by CAVSF
by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE
A large quantity of packeted Babul was seized by the Central Anti
Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) following a raid on a licensed tobacco
wholesale distributing centre at Gasworks street Pettah recently. Fifty
six kilograms of illegally imported Babul was recovered, police sources
told the Sunday Observer.
According to Police the consignment of Babul valued at Rs. 50,000 was
illegally imported from India. The proprietor of the tobacco shop was in
the process of dispatching the packeted Babul to retail tobacco shops
where schoolchildren have access to them.
The proprietor of the tobacco shop with the consignment of Babul was
handed over to the Pettah police.
Last Friday the CAVSF raided a shop at School lane Borella and seized
a consignment of locally manufactured cigarettes. Following the raid
police took into custody a man and a woman with 1,820 cigarettes. “The
suspects contravened section 27 of the Tobacco and Alcohol act of 2006
where manufacture and the sale of cigarettes is prohibited.
A cigarette is sold at Rs. 10 in the open market. The suspects will
be produced before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s court,” police said.
Science and Technology exhibitions
The Ministry of Technology and Research has organised a series of
exhibitions on science and technology islandwide commencing on October
20, a spokesperson for the ministry said. Accordingly exhibitions will
be held in every district, including districts of the Northern and
Eastern Provinces. The final day will be November 10 - the International
Science day.
The Ministry hopes to identify new inventors from the local
communities. In order to upgrade these new products, the ministry plans
awareness programs on International Standards set for inventions.
A Series of lectures will be conducted parallel to the exhibition by
the Industrial Technology Institute on new research findings, especially
targeting small and medium-scale businessmen. The exhibition will
provide an opportunity for local producers attached to ‘Vidatha’ centres,
to promote and find a better market for their products.
All the institutes for scientific research under the purview of the
ministry will be conducting seminars and workshops on new inventions for
the local communities and schools.
-(DY)
Mihimadala program at Convention Centre
The Mihimadala Exhibition and the International Conference 2010 will
be held from October 21 - 23 at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention
Centre in Colombo.
The theme this year ‘Prevent Global Warming; Conserve Biodiversity’.
The exhibition is organised by the Young Zoologists’ Association of
Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Biodiversity Secretariat, Department
of Wildlife Conservation, National Zoological Gardens, Ruk Rakaganno
(The Tree Society of Sri Lanka).
The international conference will be in the final part of the
Mihimadala program with the participation of both local and
international delegates.
The conference will bring together both local and international
experts and amateurs from various disciplines. Sri Lanka will be able to
draw from the experiences from the international experts in particular,
to find solutions to common environmental concerns.
The exhibition will comprise 50 stalls from government, non
government and other organisations.
Another 50 stalls will be for eco-friendly and nature related
products from the private sector.
- (DY)
Young lad needs help
Nine and a half year old Roshad Carey Peiris of 54, Amuna Road,
Seeduwa is afflicted with a Tumour in midbrain (Astrodome) and underwent
treatment at the Apollo Speciality Hospital, Chennai, India, in July
this year.
The Senior Consultant in Medical Oncology and BMT of the Hospital has
advised further renew of the case after three months.
His parents who are already in debts due to the earlier treatment,
appeal to the generous public for funds, which is expected to cost
around Rs. 2,000,000.
Contributions could be made to the care of T.D.I. Peiris, Sampath
Bank, Borella Branch A/C No. 100453672863.
Lumbar surgery: he needs help
Aruna Nishantha (38), of 373, Makola South, Makola has been diagnosed
with bilateral sciatica due to a condition in the lumbar spine.
Consultant Neurosurgeon, Dr. Sunil Perera recommends surgery, the
Lumber (L2/3) Discectomy at the Central Hospital.
The operation is estimated to cost around Rs. 400,000 (Rupees four
hundred thousand), inclusive of hospital and equipment charges and
professional fees, and his wife Mrs. W. P. S. Senadheera appeals for
financial assistance to the generous public.
Contribution may be remitted to A/c No. 047020196971 of the Hatton
National Bank, Biyagama.
For details, please contact: 0776293517. |
