News in brief

Ban on Indian poultry products

The import of poultry products from India has been temporarily banned, following reports of a bird flu outbreak in the Indian city of Manipur. Livestock Development Ministry sources said there will be a temporary ban on imports of all birds and chicken flesh from India with immediate effect to prevent contamination and the spread of the disease into the country.

LIOC's new lube blending plant

The India Oil Corporation-owned Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC), the second player in the local petroleum market, plans to commence the operations of its new lube blending plant by September. LIOC has set up the plant in Trincomalee where the company has its petroleum storage facility leased from the government, with the hope of penetration into the lubricant market of the country.

Rupee firms slightly

The Sri Lanka Rupee firmed slightly on Friday for a second day, inching away from life lows, while shares ended slightly higher as retail investors bought select shares, traders said. The rupee ended at 111.76/111.79 per dollar compared to Thursday's close of 111.77/111.80.

US marines on fact-finding mission

A US Marines team, led by an American Colonel, is touring the East on a fact-finding mission. Preparations are being made for an upcoming visit by high level US military medics as part of a humanitarian assistance programme.

Lanka - newest member of ARF

Sri Lanka has become the newest member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama will lead the country's first delegation to the ARF meet scheduled to be held in Manila on August 1 and 2. Bangladesh joined the ARF earlier this year. Pakistan and India are also members of the ARF, which includes the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as well as the United States, China, Russia and Japan, among others.

Delay in monsoon rains hit cultivations

Sigiriya Group Cor.

The Matale District agricultural office will be unable to achieve their target of paddy and vegetable production due to delay in monsoon rains.

A spokesman for Department of Agriculture at Matale said though they planned to cultivate 8,000 hectares of paddy it has been reduced to 5,000 hectares. Vegetable cultivations too face the same fate, except for Big onions. The cultivation of tomatoes would continue as planned. But other subsidiary crops such as chillies, pumpkins wheat and green grams will be affected.

Hadabima Authority to help rural farmers

By Sigiriya Group Cor.

Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka has agreed to set up a Trading Centre in Matale for the benefit of the rural farmers who cannot sell their products.

A spokesman for the 'Hadabima' said Rs 5 Lakhs was spent on the centre. The vegetable growers of Matale are unable to get a price for their products. Tomato cultivators are the worst affected.

Couple robbed at gunpoint

Sigiriya Group Cor.

A couple travelling in a three-wheeler, with Rs. 5 Lakhs, was waylaid at Tenna Junction in Matale. According to the Matale Police a motor-cyclist had followed the three-wheeler and robbed the money at gunpoint.

SLASI Young Computer Scientists Competition

The Sri Lanka Association for the Software Industry (SLASI) has organised the 'Young Computer Scientists Competition' for the sixth consecutive year, modelled on the Asia Pacfic ICT Awards (APICTA). This is an annual event to rcognise scientific achievement. Over 250 students between 9-12 will partcipate in the contest.

Former Matale Police Inspector remanded

by Z. M. Razik in Kandy

Former Headquarters Inspector, Matale police Sisira Kumara Jayasekera was remanded till August 3 by Nalin Perera, High Court Judge, Kandy when he was arrested on warrants issued by court and produced in court on Wednesday by a special police team. Shaminda Wickrema. State Counsel, told court that Sisira Kumara Jayasekera is an accused in three cases of abductions and wrongful confinements alleged to have taken place between 1989 and 1990.

Illicit liquor affects Plantation families

An alarming rate of liquor consumption in the plantation sector by plantation workers is causing major problems to plantation families. According to security officials there is an increase in illicit brewing and the sale of liquor has gone up. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, during his recent visit to Nuwara Eliya urged Government Officials to take stringent measures against the sale of illicit liquor.

Ranaviru Upahara tribute

The Ranaviru Upahara Day' organised by the Nalanda Junior Old Boys' Association will be held on August 2, in memory of those Nalandians' and other martyrs who have sacrificed their lives to protect the citizens, law and order, humanity, unity and the motherland for the 5th consecutive year since 2002.

This is an effective payback & Memorial service not only for the Nalandians who have given their lives whilst on duty but for all fallen heroes and it's a vital national need to be aware, understand and recognize the armed forces responsibilities and appreciate, respect & payback, best to the ability. The objective of the memorial day is to update and persuade the students and society thereby enabling them to appreciate the importance and also encourage to joining in the essential national protection duties.

Students donate water filters to paediatric ward

Students of the Republican International School Nuwara Eliya gifted a pair of water filters to the paediatric ward at the school premises. The gifts were received by the consultant paediatrician Dr. A. P. Senanayake and other officials.

Navin to promote Indian investments

Minister of Investment Promotion Navin Dissanayake will leave for India today on a seven-day official visit. The main objective of the visit is to promote Indian investments in Sri Lanka.

The Minister will have discussions with India's biggest entrepreneurs regarding new investment opportunities in Sri Lanka. He will meet entrepreneurs from Aditya Birla Group, Larsen and Toubro Ltd, Mahindra and Mahindra Group in Mumbai and Omaxe Ltd, Emmar MGF Land (Pvt) Ltd in New Delhi. He will also meet young political leaders of India including Rahul Gandhi of India Congress Party to discuss the present political and economic situation of Sri Lanka.