Reconstructing churches damaged by tsunami

Cabinet approval was recently granted to a memorandum on fund allocations for Christian churches damaged by the 2004 tsunami and also to reconstruct and rehabilitate churches which have been in existence for over 100 years.

Among the ancient Christian churches and places of religious significance in the Southern Province which are in

 need of urgent reconstruction and rehabilitation is the Matara Shrine, which celebrates its centenary this September. Among the work that needs to be done here are the repairing of the Mission House, office, kitchen building and other items.

It has also become necessary to rehabilitate Christian churches with over a 100 years of history and holding cultural significance. These are some of the ancient churches which need attention under the programme: Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Tangalle; Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Hambantota; Church of Our Lady of Sindradi, Mattakottuwa, Puttalam; St. Sebastian's Church, Alawwa, Kurunegala; St. Anthony's Church, Kadalana, Moratuwa; and St. Anthony's Church, Nainamadama.

Funds to the tune of six million rupees has been approved by the Cabinet to the Religious and Moral Uplift Ministry to carry out this reconstruction and rehabilitation work on a priority basis.

Improving plantation sector schools

You may have heard about the inequities in the education system in different sectors of the island. Schools in the plantation sector are some of those which face the highest level of inequities with a severe shortage of facilities.

There are about 819 plantation sector schools managed under Provincial Councils and the standard of education in them is rather low. They lack teachers even for the basic subjects. However, these schools are just as important as the other schools in the country and the children attending these schools also deserve a quality education especially under the 'Education for All' concept.

With this objective in mind, the Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha on the recruitment of teachers for Tamil Medium schools in the plantation sector. Accordingly, 3,179 Tamil Medium teachers and 600 Muslim teachers were recruited.

Local talent bags int'l awards

Bimashi Maduka Chathurangi Abeykoon (12) of K/Hettimulla Bandaranaike Maha Vidyalaya has won the Grand

 Prix Award for Sri Lanka at the fourth Mitsubishi Asian Children's Enikki Festa 2006-2007 held in Japan recently. She flew to Thailand for the awards ceremony and study tour which was held from July 22-26. Eight Sri Lankan children in total won awards at this event where 22 countries took part.

After the International Screening Committee was held in Tokyo, the jury selected a Grand Prix winner, a Mitsubishi Public Affairs Committee Award winner and a National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan (NFUAJ) winner from each country.

While Bimashi won the Grand Prix Award, the other two awards were won respectively by Charini Lasindra De Silva and Sasini Navoda Wickramathunga.

Excellence awards were also won by Naduni Nayanahara Kasthuriarachchi, P. Ashan Isurange Perera, Rusiri Jayoda Illesinghe, T. Kaveena Nissanka Arachchi and U. Aneesha Hasini Gunathilaka.

Bimasha, Charini, Naduni and Aneesha are students of the First Art Foundation of Hettimulla, Kegalle. This organisation, set up to improve the artistic talents of children, has presented its students at many national and international aesthetic events.

More irrigation projects in the pipeline

Cabinet approval has been granted for the development of two irrigation projects in the country. One is the Kospothu Oya project in the Kahapathwala village of Thumpane, Kandy, while the other is the Mahagona Wewa project in Dambulla.

The Kospothu Oya anicut scheme comprises seven small anicuts constructed across the Kospothu Oya and has the capacity to irrigate about 250 acres. However, due to the lack of water, only 200 acres is being cultivated during the Maha and 150 acres in the Yala seasons at present.

The project will see a new tank being built across the Kospothu Oya, upstream of the anicuts, to increase the supply of water. The project, which is estimated to cost around Rs. 25 million will benefit about 250 farmer families.

The Mahagona Wewa, an ancient tank which is now abandoned, had been constructed across the stream Kekulagoda, a tributary of the Mahagona Oya, between 276AD and 302AD by King Mahasen. Only 17 ha. of land is currently cultivated with water from a small anicut.

The proposed project envisages a reservoir being built across the Kekulagoda stream to irrigate 250 ha. of new land with paddy and other crops. The project, which will see an expnditure of Rs. 70 million, will be carried out in 2007 and 2008.

Awards for outstanding children

The Children Skills Development Programme (CSDP) plans to award 50 selected children who have displayed their skills in various fields at the Universal Children's Day activities for this year.

Children who have displayed their talents in education, cultural and sports activities and those who have contributed to social activities will be considered for awards. This programme is organised both to reward their efforts and to encourage other children.

Interested children can get further details about the awards by sending a self-addressed and stamped envelope to Children Skills Development Programme, No. 51, Sri Dharmarama Road, Dematagoda, Colombo 9 or by calling 0112-672718 or 0112-689536.

The 50 winners will be selected by a panel of judges.

The national competitions connected to Children's Day (in the fields of art, essays, posters, short dramas, singing, song-writing, acting, announcing, debating and dancing) and presenting awards to media personalities and organisations will also be held at this ceremony.