Schemes to benefit students, teachers

Providing training in cadeting and scouting to students in local schools will be made compulsory from next year, as such training is very important in building a talented and disciplined generation, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said recently.

The President was addressing officials of the Education Ministry who had met him along with Education Minister Susil Premajayantha at Temple Tress for a progress review meeting of the Ministry. He emphasised the importance of a durable national policy to deal with the education sector and avoid the complications faced by students.

Among the other steps planned for the benefit of students and teachers are the provision of computers to 50,000 schoolteachers on an easy payment loan scheme before the next Teachers' Day in October, and the supply of electricity and water to schools without such facilities. These are earmarked to be the priority issues for next year.

Schools at every Divisional Secretariat would receive better facilities, while the project to upgrade schools will be implemented under the 'Isuru Pasal' concept, which was also reviewed by the President. He directed this programme to be started from under-privileged schools.

Attention was also focused on the school nutritional programme and the teaching of literature in schools.

The President drew the attention of the Education Ministry officials to the need to impart(give) a knowledge of Tamil to Sinhala students and vice versa.

The problems of some students not receiving textbooks in time, and also problems faced by teachers were discussed and the President advised them to take necessary action on these issues.

New super grade schools

The government aims to promote the education sector in the country through the development of 325 new super grade schools.

The first such school under this project will be started at the Sri Sumangala College, Panadura. This school received damages in the tsunami and its buildings were abandoned as a result.

The first year students could be admitted as soon as the super grade school is established within the next few months.

New reservoirs to provide drinking water

Action is being taken with regard to a proposal on constructing several new reservoirs, to provide an uninterrupted supply of drinking water to the people. The proposal had been made by Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply, Dinesh Gunawardena, recently.

Difficulties sometimes arise in providing drinking water to the people, due to the diminishing of the amount of water available to the Kelani River pumping stations during drought periods. The government is considering overcoming this problem, by constructing one large, two medium and several smaller reservoirs around the Ambatale Reservoir. Their sizes will be based on the geographical configuration of the area.

Accordingly, a large-scale Reservoir will come up within the Ruwanwella Electorate along the Kelani River, while a medium-scale reservoir will be based along the Wee Oya, a branch of the Kelani River. Small-scale reservoirs are to be sited at Puseli Oya in Seethawaka, Wak Oya, Glencose, Ambatale and Mulleriyawa. As an initial step towards the continuous supply of water from the Ambatale pumping station, two medium-scale reservoirs, Upper Mee Oya and Lower Mee Oya, will be constructed along the Mee Oya, which is a branch of the Kelani.

The Asian Development Bank has already consented to assist the preliminary investigations. The Irrigation Department has expressed confidence that construction work on the two reservoirs could be completed within the course of a year, once the investigation is completed. Through these, water could be supplied to the Ambatale pumping station even during the drought season.

The two proposed pumping stations, on the right bank of the Kelani River, too will benefit by drawing water from these reservoirs during lean periods.

Once the preliminary investigations are completed, a decision will be taken regarding the construction of the large-scale reservoir and the minor reservoirs.

Scientists create butterfly in lab

Scientists said they have created a distinctive (unique) red and yellow butterfly in the laboratory, by interbreeding two different species, in a way similar to what they believe has occurred in nature. The laboratory hybrid (combination) is nearly identical to a wild species of butterfly in Colombia, known as Heliconius heurippa.

"We recreated the evolutionary steps that may have given rise to Heliconius heurippa, a hybrid butterfly species, in the lab," said Jesus Mavarez, of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama City, Panama. Animal hybrids are thought to be very rare, because they are less able to survive.

The mule for example, a hybrid between a donkey and a horse, is sterile, (infertile) so it is an evolutionary dead-end. But some hybrids survive and establish new species.

The achievement by Mavarez and researchers in Colombia and Britain, which is reported in the journal Nature, suggests animal hybrids could be more common than previously thought.

The scientists began their experiments after noticing that Heliconius heurippa's distinct wing pattern was similar to two other species of butterfly. After interbreeding the two types, they found the laboratory hybrid was very similar to the wild species.

Reuters

Creative activities for children

The Lanka Children's and Youth Theatre Organisation (LCYTO) will commence its next session of 'Creative activities for children' this month.

The programme is conducted by Somalatha Subasinghe, the veteran playwright and theatre director and Dr. Chandana Aluthge, one of her senior theatre students.

Children from ages four to fourteen can take part in the programme.

This programme is conducted on Saturdays from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.

For details, send in a stamped envelope to: Coordinator, Lanka Children's and Youth Theatre Organisation, No. 166/1, Buddhist Institute Avenue, Parliament Road, Kotte 10100.

Kalana Mithuru conducts meritorious activities

The Kalana Mithuru Children's Club of Siddamulla, Piliyandala organised many meritorious activities this year too, as it has been doing over the past four years.

Some of the activities carried out this year were; releasing several bulls meant for slaughter, donating a bed to the Cancer Hospital, making a donation to the Sahanodaya Elders' Home and presenting 96 children of the Madduma Bandara School, Siddamulla with school uniforms, bags, shoes and school equipment.

The activities cost over Rs. 128,000 and were funded by the club members, their parents and people of the area. The project was organised under the guidance of Ms. Manel Abeysinghe, who initiated the Kalana Mithuru Club.

The children's club was set up by her to teach English literature to students.