Parking restrictions outside schools

On your way to school or while travelling on the road, you may have seen many vehicles parked along the roads with their engines still running. This is especially so near schools.

The sound from the running engines disrupts the students at work while the vehicles also emit harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, which, besides causing environmental pollution, increases the possibility of schoolchildren being affected with cough, asthma and other respiratory diseases.

This problem has received the attention of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA). Accordingly, the CEA has decided to prohibit the parking of vehicles near schools and pre-schools with their engines running, from next year.

There are special air pollution meters which are used to gauge the quality of the air around us. Sri Lanka currently has only one such meter, which is installed near the Colombo Fort railway station.

The CEA has received aid to the tune of Rs. 100 million from India for the purchase of two more pollution testing meters. They are expected to be installed in Kandy and Colombo next year.

Cat survives 19 days with jar on head

Tabitha Cain has fed a feral (untamed) cat she calls Wild Oats for several years, but now she's thinking of changing the feline's name to Survivor.

That's because she says the cat survived for 19 days with a peanut butter jar stuck on its head.

"We tried to get her, but being the type of cat you can't catch, she kept running and hiding," said Doretha Cain, Tabitha's mother.

The family saw the cat several times with the jar on its head and tried in vain to catch it. But after not seeing the cat for a week, the Cains feared the worst.

"I thought she was going to die with that jar on her head," said Tabitha Cain, 25. Later, they found the once chubby cat, too thin and weak to flee. They caught her with a fishing net and used some oil to get the jar off her head.

They gave her water and treated her wounds and a couple of days later she began to eat again.

"I've heard of cats having nine lives, but I think this one has 19 because she survived 19 days," Doretha Cain said.

Memphis veterinarian Gerald Blackburn said he's heard similar stories of pets getting trapped for days or even weeks at a time and surviving. Blackburn said the cat may have lived off of its excess fat.

AP

O/Ls for displaced children

This year too, the Department of Examinations is conducting the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination for displaced Sri Lankan students who are currently residing in Chennai, India.

The exam, which started on December 10 will conclude on December 20, and is being conducted with the assistance of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

This is the second time that the GCE O/L examination was held for the benefit of displaced Sri Lankan students in India. The first time it was done was last year. Ninety eight students sat for the exam from Chennai in 2006.

This year, 105 students from the Sri Lankan refugee community were expected to sit for this examination. They were among the 529,120 students appearing for the O/Ls in Sri Lanka from all parts of the country.

The decision to conduct the O/Ls in Chennai had been made by the government in 2006 as this exam is vital for the future of all Sri Lankan students to either continue their education or to seek employment.

The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Nation Building and the Department of Examinations in Sri Lanka and the Ministry of School Education in Tamil Nadu have all contributed to the successful conducting of the examination in Chennai.

Hajj festival this week

December is a month of festivities. Another special occasion that falls this month is the Hajj festival which is celebrated by Muslims all over the world. This year, it falls on December 21.

Hajj or the pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca) in Saudi Arabia, which is the birthplace of Islam, is central to the Islam religion. This journey is made annually by millions of Muslims from all corners of the world. They are brought together to share a "moving spiritual experience".

All able bodied men and women try to make this journey, and although children are not under obligation to do so, many do visit the holy city with their parents. The practice dates back to the time of Prophet Abraham and should be followed by Muslims at least once in their lifetime.

Before setting out on Hajj, pilgrims should set right all wrongs they had committed, pay all their debts, plan enough funds for the journey as well as to support the family members left behind and prepare themselves for good conduct during the pilgrimage.

Treshan, on his way to a Guinnes Record
 

by Leslie Fernando

Trashing Wambeck of St. Benedict's College established a new Sri Lanka record by floating on water on December 6 at the Sugathadasa Stadium diving pool. The 14-year-old Treshan, the year nine student proved his skills on water for a period of six hours in five different acts.

He started on this record breaking attempt around 8.55 a.m. and stayed in the water until 2.55 p.m. Treshan was allowed a five minute interval after each act of meditating on water, book reading, floated with both legs and hands tied, held both feet with his hands and floated normal style.

Treshan from his tender age has shown much interest in floating while performing different acts. The coaches who spotted Treshan's talent motivated him to attempt to go for the Sri Lanka record.

Treshan's main ambition will be to break the Guiness World Record in this area, said Amara Galanga, his mother. All assistance was extended to Treshan by Donald Abeysinghe, Chairman Sugathadasa Stadium Sports Complex by providing the pool free of charge. Donald Wijetunga of Sports Ministry Technical Committee supervised and judged the feat.

Treshan's father, Gerald Wambeck, who also offered all support, was there to see his son's achievement. Gerald's two brothers Anton and Basil represented Sri Lanka in soccer at international level.

Deepika Liyanarachchi, the officer in charge of swimming at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool, and other staff also supported Treshan.

Sri Lankan scouts to Thailand

A Sri Lankan scouts contingent comprising 20 scouts representing the Sri Lanka Scout Association will leave for Thailand today to participate in the Chiangmai International Scout Camporee 2007, which will be held from December 18 to 24 at Mon Come On Camp, Chiangmai, Thailand.

This international camporee is organised by the National Scout Organisation of Thailand to commemorate the Centenary Celebrations of the World Scout Movement. A variety of both on-side and off-side activities, such as adventuring, hiking, cycling, craft and engineering skills, archery, climbing, elephant riding, bamboo rafting, scout projects, cultural night, friendship games and tours will be organised for the scouts.

They will be able to make new friends with scouts from many countries.

The Sri Lanka contingent will be led by Shantha Madurawe, National Training Commissioner of the Sri Lanka Scout Association.