Survey on biodiversity

The first Biodiversity Baseline Survey (BBS) of Asia, which also encompasses the conservation of biodiversity in four protected areas in Sri Lanka - Wasgamuwa, Ritigala, Horton Plains and Adams Peak - was launched in Colombo recently.

The landmark survey was the result of 12 months of field work on the Protected Areas Management and Wildlife Conservation Project conducted by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The survey, which was carried out with the participation of 20 international experts, was funded to the tune of Rs. 80 million by the Asian Development Bank, the Netherlands Government and the World Bank.

The survey will help monitor the changes in biodiversity and assess the conservation of various plant and animal species. The BBS plays a vital role in meeting the requirements to protect the country's biodiversity for national and global benefit.

The protected area network includes most of Sri Lanka's biological diversity and is administered by the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Department.

The rich biodiversity of Sri Lanka has to be protected for the benefit of future generations.

Improving Pirivena education

Pirivena education or the education provided through temples to monks as well as others is a very important aspect of education.

The government, which has realised this, will soon launch a special fund for the development of the Pirivena education system in the country, Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said.

The Minister said that even though we have nationalised many of the estates which used to be owned by foreigners and introduced regulations to reform our land, nearly 1.3 acres of land plundered from temples have not yet been restored.

The Minister is having discussions with the President to correct this wrong, he said. The importance of the government paying more attention towards the uplift of Pirivena teacher training institutes to protect the Sasana and its education system was stressed. These institutions needed more facilities with regard to libraries and computers.

National waste management programme

'Pilisaru', a national waste management programme designed to create a clean and green environment which benefits both human life and nature, has been planned by the government.

This project is expected to provide a permanent solution to the problem of growing garbage mounds within the Colombo city, by 2010. The second phase of this programme was expected to be launched by the Environment Ministry with the support of Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministries and all Local Government authorities on April 2.

The support of the private sector is also envisaged for the programme. Although a local company is already carrying out an eco-friendly organic fertiliser manufacturing project using garbage, it faces many hardships as there's no proper method of sorting the garbage when it's released into the environment.

The Ministry in association with the Colombo Municipal Council is shortly expected to draw up a proper procedure to sort out garbage as degradable and non-degradable. Health officials are also expected to be consulted to get their input on the disposal of garbage from hospitals.

Concessions will also be provided for the promotion of organic fertiliser manufacture in the country.

Stamps on Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday has been commemorated in stamps by many countries and one of them is shown here. It depicts Christ rising from the grave in which he was buried. Never was there in history an incident when the dead body of a person was watched by guards for fear of it being stolen; this is exactly what happened in this case.

However, as it was foretold, he rose from the dead. The stamp shown here is from the Republic of Burundi, Africa. Old Masters' paintings had been chosen for such stamps and in this particular case, it is a painting of the 15th century artist P. Della Francisca (1420-1492).

The event refers to Chapter 24 of the Gospel according to St. Luke, which states: "On the first day of the week at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking with them some spices they had prepared.

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb and going inside, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. They were greatly perplexed about this when two men stood by them in dazzling clothing. Frightened, the women bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, why do you look for the living among the dead? He has risen!"

Easter Sunday is the greatest of all Christian festivals. The Pope will address the Catholic world today, in several languages, over TV.

Francis P. Gunasekera