Maintain your standards

October started on a high note with many special international days and events dotting the calendar in the first week itself. This momentum is continued into this week, with many events being commemorated. The trend starts today with the World Standards Day observed on October 14.

This Day pays tribute to the efforts of thousands of experts worldwide who collaborate within the

 International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to develop voluntary international standards that facilitate trade, spread knowledge and disseminate (spread) technological advances.

This year's theme for the event is 'Standards and the citizen: Contributing to society'. Standards solve problems in all spheres of activity and a world without standards would soon grind to a halt.

The lack of standards would affect all areas from transport and trade, the internet, information and communication technologies, government, banking, healthcare, air traffic control, emergency services, disaster relief and even international diplomacy.

International standards are necessary in the modern world, and make many everyday tasks easier and safer. Without standards, it could be difficult or even dangerous to carry out ordinary, daily tasks. Safety standards protect us at work, at play and at home.

Through their work in the development of standards, the IEC, ISO and ITU help open up markets, promote environmental protection, safety, security, health and access to information, and to break down barriers between rich and poor nations.

Their standards also support technological innovation, healthy commerce and fair prices.

Greenland snow melting at record pace

A U.S. study shows an overall rise in the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, with high altitude snows melting at 150 per cent more than average.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)supported research showed the amount of snow that has melted this year over Greenland could cover the surface size of the United States more than twice.

Marco Tedesco of NASA's Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology at the University of Maryland used satellite data to compare average snow melting from 1988-2006 with this summer's conditions.

He found that in areas more than 1.2 miles above sea level, melting occurred 25-30 days longer this year than the observed average during the previous 19 years.

"When snow melts at those high altitudes and then refreezes, it can absorb up to four times more energy than fresh, unthawed snow," said Tedesco.

"This can affect Earth's energy budget by changing how much radiation from the Sun is absorbed by the Earth versus that reflected back into the atmosphere.

United Press International

Institute to study water-borne diseases

Water-borne diseases are very common in regions like Asia and Africa, and when one starts spreading, it is very difficult to control it. That is why it is important to do more research on such diseases, so that they and their impact on the population could be minimised.

A Research and Training Institute on water-borne diseases was opened recently at Korakahawewa along the Anuradhapura-Puttalam main road with the objective of conducting research and investigations into these diseases.

The building for the project cost Rs. 25 million, and was constructed by the Water Resources Board in co-operation with some local and foreign companies. Both infectious and non-infectious diseases are caused and spread by drinking water.

The origin of many such diseases could be traced back to water resources. The new institute will carry out training programmes on such diseases for the public, Government and non-governmental representatives, schoolchildren and teachers.

The timing of the opening of this institute is opportune as research and experiments are currently being carried out in the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts to control the renal diseases which are spreading there. The consumption of polluted water is one of the primary causes of renal diseases.

Need for new education policy

A new National Education Policy which will comprise new rules and regulations aimed at finding permanent answers to all the problems which are currently hampering the education sector is now in the pipeline. The Education Ministry is now making plans to formulate such a policy.

Education activities of the country are presently carried out by the Ministry under the powers vested on it by the Free Education Act of 1939.

Despite this Act been amended from time to time, it is still not strong enough to cater to the education sector of this era. The need for new policies has been identified for the provision of qualitative and quantitative services in the education sector.

Essay competition winners

The award winners of the English Medium Essay Competition 2007 conducted by the Sri Lanka-Thailand Society were announced recently.

The winners of the 10-15 age group are: Daham Siriwardena of St. Peter's College, Colombo 4 (first), Radhya Gamage of Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda (second), Lochana Ranaweera of Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda (third) and Osuru Nawagamuwa of Royal College, Colombo 7, Diduni Pushpakumara of Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara, Lihini Weerasinghe and Vasana Ranasinghe of Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda, Ahalya Ravindran of Ramanathan Hindu Ladies College, Colombo 4, Indrachapa Palliyaguruge of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 8, V. Sharuja of Ramanathan Hindu Ladies College, Colombo 4, Marian Fernando and Niranjala Senaratne of Holy Family Balika Madhya Maha Vidyalaya, Marawila, Janaka Wijewickrema of Mahinda College, Galle, R. A. Malsha Lahiruni of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo 7 and Jaminy Prabaharan of Ramanathan Hindu Ladies College, Colombo 4 (all merit awards).

The winners of the 15-20 age group are: Chamila Gunathilake of Debarawewa Central College (first), Dinali Dabarera of Holy Family Balika Madhya Maha Vidyalaya, Marawila (second), Subangini Nadesparan of Ramanathan Hindu Ladies College, Colombo 4 (third) and Dilhanie Sathievel and Madusha Weerakoon of Girls' High School, Kandy, Rukshani Panangala and Sandalekha Karunaratna of Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda, Sakina Zoeb of Burhani Serendib International School, Colombo 4, Praveeni de Silva of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo 5, Ruwanga Weerasekera and Nekitha P. de Silva of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya, Gayathri Pathiratna of Ferguson High School, Ratnapura, Chamika de Silva of Ananda College, Colombo 10, Imalka Edirisinghe of Colombo South International College, Dehiwela and Fathima Niyas of Zahira College, Mawanella (merit award winners).