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| Sunday, 16 October 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Child-friendly website from Plan Plan Sri Lanka, which marks its 25th year of working for Sri Lankan children, has launched a website detailing its work in this country. The new website, www. Plan-Lanka.lk gives special emphasis to Plan Sri Lanka's ongoing efforts to rebuilding lives and communities that were shattered by the tsunami. The website reflects Plan's focus on children, with its colourful child friendly pages, and cheerful cartoon and photographic illustrations. Special features include children's pages highlighting articles and drawings sent in by children from villages where Plan works, stories written by sponsors about their visits to their sponsor children in Sri Lanka, and an archive of the recent newsletters, research reports, educational material and community awareness campaigns published by Plan. The site also contains a wealth of information on the work that Plan is carrying out in Sri Lanka, including sections detailing specific issues facing Sri Lankan children and the communities that they live in, and the projects that Plan is carrying out to help improve their situation and promote children's rights. "As a child-centred community development organisation, we always involve children in the planning and implementation of our projects, making sure that they are given an opportunity to express their own viewpoints, and tuning in to their aspirations for the future," Plan's Country Director, Mingming Evora said. After the devastating tsunami, Plan Sri Lanka focused much of its relief work in the Hambantota district, where Plan has had a development programme since 1996. The organisation has already committed US$ 17 million (1.7 billion rupees), to its tsunami relief programme, and hopes to further increase its contribution as work progresses. As described on the pages dedicated to 'Supporting Tsunami Survivors' on the site, Plan has, to date, commenced work on the construction of three villages to house 365 families who lost their homes in the tsunami. The three villages, Yayawatta (200 houses), Egodabedda (38 houses) and Bata-ata (127 houses), are being built on land provided by the Government in the Hambantota district. The layout of the villages and the designs of the houses were finalised in consultation with the men, women and children who will live in the new settlements. Plan has also committed to supporting the construction of 130 houses on individual plots of land (on family's own land) in Tangalle on a self-help basis. With seven schools in Hambantota having been destroyed by the tsunami, Plan has undertaken to build a new school complex, the Ruhunu Vijayaba Maha Vidyalaya in Tangalle, Hambantota, which will provide primary and secondary schooling for 3,000 students. Plan will also rehabilitate or upgrade 12 other schools affected by the disaster. Plan has also implemented several projects for the benefit of all tsunami-affected children, including the publication of books and the production of a video to be used as tools to help children to get over the psychological trauma of the tsunami. The new website was developed for Plan Sri Lanka by Clinch Pvt. Ltd, in partnership with Eureka Technology Partners. ############## The holy month of fasting is on Ramazan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims, started on October 6 throughout the world. This is the most important month in the Islamic calendar and commences with the sighting of the new moon, even if it is reported by only one person. The period of fasting will end with the Ramazan festival on November 4. Ramazan is observed yearly to remind Muslims of the declaration and establishment of human rights in the Koran, which started to be revealed in such a month, more than 14 centuries ago. During the month, Muslims offer prayers, read and listen to the Koran daily, and observe strict self-discipline through fasting. They give to the poor and have more contact with other Muslims. Fasting has always been an important part of religious life, discipline and experience in almost every faith. ########### Night camp, novel concept at kindergarten
Students of the school's Upper Kindergarten wait with bated breath for this event, when they will spend a night at the school premises, away from their parents' arms. The objective of the camp is to teach the children to be independent and to learn to carry out good habits like eating, cleaning, washing and meditating before sleeping, on their own. A camp fire is lit during the night where fire works displays, teachers' dramas and other activities for students take place. After a good night's sleep at the school premises, the children wake up and have a wash. They involve themselves in religious and other activities, have
breakfast and leave for their homes. The parents give their fullest
cooperation to this event and all the students have enjoyed it year after
year. |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
The night camp organised annually at the Nagoya Narithasan
Kindergarten, Ranpokunagama is an event which is much looked forward to,
by the students, teachers and parents. 
