Provincial News

War no hindrance to education in the N&E - Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony

by A.W. Gunawardhana, Matara Central Corr

The ongoing war has caused no serious impact on education in the northern and eastern parts of the country. Parents in fact take a keen interest in providing a quality education to their children, said Rt. Rev. Harold Anthony Perera, Rector of Galle Diocese addressing a gathering of religious dignitaries of all faiths held at St. Mary's Convent, Kotuwegoda, Matara recently.

He said during our tour we tried to impress the people in the north and east that their southern counterparts do not harbour any ill-will or misunderstanding towards them. A 'peace bridge' is essential to forge confidence between the north and south so that all elements of suspicion or distrust could be eliminated. The path could also be paved, "to live and let live."

Thihagoda Sasanaraksaka Mandalaya secretary and Nagabodi Viharaya and Nagarukkaramaya incumbent Ven. Angunna Badulle Gnanadassi Thera said, it has become a habit for some people to look at other religions with an "squint" eye when it should not be so.

Every religious leader had been preaching to enlighten the man on the right path for the ultimate good of the mankind. People of war-torn areas in the north and east are always living in fear and suspicion. They are under the misconception that their southern counterparts are their enemies.

It should therefore be the prime duty of all religious dignitaries to work hard to erase out such fears. Rev. Fr. Charles Hewawasam of the church of Our Lady of Matara said that an organisation called Karitas SED Galle did its best to bring about harmony among the people of different religious faiths during the tsunami disaster.

Karitas provided houses to many tsunami hit families who were rendered homeless.

Ven. Dodampahala Amarasiri Thera said, "Karitas Sed" did a marvellous job in catering to the needs of the tsunami hit people irrespective of religious differences. Several others including Moulavis also spoke. A large number of religious dignitaries participated at the occasion.

Scarcity of reeds hits handicraft

by Eheliyagoda Special Corr

The scarcity of reeds, the major raw material for a number of local handicraft industries has posed a serious problem to the craftsmen in Sabaragamuwa, it is reported. Unless some remedial measures are taken, many craftsmen feel that the shortage would endanger their livelihood.

They appeal to the authorities for help to get over the difficulty of procuring an adequate supply of the raw material.

Forget differences and unite to develop country -Rajitha Senaratne

by Divakara Mohotti, Kalutara Gr. Corr.

When the country is facing a crisis its people should stand united in forgetting differences of caste, creed and politics and move forward to help the government. In the case of media too if the protagonists do not unite their efforts will be of no use, said Construction and Engineering Services Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.

He said so addressing a media work-shop held under the auspices of the Kalutara district Media forum at Garden Beach Hotel, Kalutara North recently.

The occasion was organised by Media and Information Ministry in association with the Information Department.

Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said the masses should rally round the government and help implement the development projects so that they could in the end reap the benefits themselves.

Nation Building Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardana said that the media could promote politician as well as cause their downfall.

They are so powerful that they can even relegate them to political wilderness.

On the other hand one who started his political career as a Pradeshiya Sabha member could also reach the level of Cabinet Minister, the minister pointed out.

As politicians we receive not only plaudits but brick bats as well and yet we could remain unmoved amidst such torment and continue the progressive work we had undertaken.

Kalasuri Edwin Ariyadasa said "one should be born in the south of Sri Lanka and receive education in Colombo and live in the Kalutara district, as the saying goes.

This has become true in the testifying to this case of most of the members in the media fraternity.

Unity among the communities is a must for the national development. Differences of caste, creed, language, religion etc. are detrimental to the national fabric.In a free society bias entitled to their personal openions but they should renounce their personal and contribute their lot to the country's well-being, he pointed out. Our ancient kings did nothing to harass their subjects. Taxes ware collected as the bee absorbs honey from the flowers. The country was fully developed and the lives of the people too were improved greatly, he said. Media and Information Ministry Secretary, A. Dissanayaka, Director of Information A. Pelpita, Kalutara GA S. Hapuarachchi, Kalutata U.C. Chairman, M. S. M. Mubarak, "Divaina" Editor G. Sumanasekera and Amal Jayasinghe also spoke.

A fillip to Nuwara Eliya holidaying

by P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

Elaborate arrangements are being made to make the forthcoming April holiday season in Nuwara Eliya a grand success.

Nuwara Eliya Municipal authorities in conjunction with the Festivities Committee and other social and sports organisations have drawn a special programs to make the season full of fun and frolic for the holiday seekers.

Motor, horse and boat races, exhibitions, sports such as golf, cricket, football etc. will add glamour to the festive mood of the season.

Meanwhile, some leading hoteliers and tourist operators expressed belief that the tourist industry has been able to pick up with the increased tourist arrivals.

Matugama bus travellers appeal to transport minister

by K. A. Perera, Wadduwa special corr

The bus travellers of Pasdun Rata are facing immense difficulties as the bus services run by the Matugama depot are gradually degenerating. They have appealed to the Transport Minister Dallas Alyahapperuma to take early steps to provide a better service to the public.

A survey by the "Sunday Observer", reveals that the Matugama depot operates buses in sixty-five routes covering Agalawatta, Matugama and Bulathsinghala electorates.

It was found that at least 94 buses are required to provide a more efficient service, but at present there are only 30 buses with the depot to operate on those routes. Break downs also occur frequently. The bus service between Agalawatta and Walalavita is in a state of near collapse. The buses which received under Japanese aid are unable to operate.

Forty buses which are about fifteen years old are reported to be unserviceable.

Bus services on the main roads are also crippled and the night services have deteriorated. Meanwhile there is a shortage of drivers and conductors in Matugama depot as some of them have been transferred to other depots with no replacements.

The depot Manager Ranjith Silva said that the bus service could be improved if replacements for condemned buses are made and operate the maximum number of adequate stocks of spare parts are supplied to repair those buses for the convenience of the buses which are parked in the depot for some time.

Six water supply schemes to Mulkirigala

by Tissamaharama, Special Correspondent

Water Supply Minister, Mahinda Amaraweera laid the foundation stone for six water supply schemes in Mulkirigala electorate recently.

A sum of Rs. 28 million has been allocated to the project under the Community Water Sanitary Programme. The six water supply schemes to be constructed are Katuwana Scheme - Rs. 4,427 million, Walasmulla Scheme - Rs. 5,538 million, Middeniya Scheme - Rs. 541 million, Meemahakoladeniya - Rs. 4,674 million, Dangalakanda Scheme - Rs. 3,703 million, Rukkalpitiya Scheme - Rs. 4,461 million.

30 Houses for low-income families

by Weligepola Group Correspondent

Ratnapura National Housing Development regional office has launched a project to construct 30 new housing units for low-income families living in the most uncongenial areas in the Embilipitiya divisional secretary's division.Initially each beneficiary family will be given a sum of Rs. 100,000 and a fifteen perch block of land where the housing unit is to be constructed. Surveying of land at Thorakotuyaya where the new housing project will be located has already been commenced, it is reported.

Physician on wheels

The traditional custom is for the patients to visit the, 'Vedamahattaya', the local physician seeking treatment. Ayurvedic physician, H.R. Piyasena of Thibbotuwawa, Eheliyagoda however in his humble way goes on his bicycle in search of his patients without entertaining them at his clinic.

For the past three decades it has been his routine to visit daily the local police station, post office, temple, schools, churches, banks and other establishments to offer his consultancy service to the sick.

'Vedakama' is a noble profession, he always reiterates.

Gem stone Artist

Eheliyagoda 'Ruby Star Arts' founder Rohinie Ratnaike has mastered a novel art of embellishing cloth paper, hard-board etc., with gemstones creating images of human, animal, bird or any other eye catching scenery.

She has already exported some of her creations to America, Japan and Thailand and hopes to export them to United Arab Emirates as well.

Some of the precious stones used for this artistry are Sapphire, Ruby, Topaz, Serpentine, Rabaha and Crystal.