In Brief

Basil on ITN, Rupavahini

Senior Presidential Advisor, Basil Rajapaksa MP will participate in a program titled ‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’ on Rupavahini and ITN at 9 p.m. today.

He will discuss disarmament, development and democracy.

Priority for senior citizens

The government has informed all State institutions to give priority to people over 60 years when they need various services. Special identity cards are also being issued to senior citizens at provincial secretariat level by the Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare.

Competitive examination

The Commissioner General of Examinations, Anura Edirisinghe said that the competitive examination to recruit graduates to fill vacancies in schools under the Western Province Education Department’s program will be held on August 24.

State income up Rs 49 billion

State income recorded Rs. 261.4 billion during the first five months of this year, an increase of 23 per cent to Rs. 49 billion compared to the corresponding period in 2007. This is 59 per cent of the total income (Gross Domestic Product).

Green villages program

People will be made aware of the sources of energy from the natural environment such as wind power, electricity from firewood and solar power in their own villages under the green villages program.

They would also be trained on indigenous technology for agriculture without using chemicals. Plant sanctuaries will be set up islandwide to conserve plants which bear flowers and fruits which are becoming extinct and rain water tanks will also be introduced.