Sharp drop in maternity deaths - UN Co-ordinator, Neil Bhune

By S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy South Group

When Sri Lanka became independent the number of mothers who died in child birth was 400 for every 100,000 births but today it has dropped down to four. Sri Lanka was a poor country then but today it is a middle income country.

The Foreign Secretary said that the credit goes to Sri Lanka for that and not the United Nations. But still the United Nations did the framework for that and also provided assistance for that, said the United Nations Resident Co-ordinator in Sri Lanka Neil Bhune.

He made these observations as the Chief Guest when he addressed the 63rd United Nations Day organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in association with the United Nations Association of Sri Lanka and the Kandy Support Group and held at the Dharmaraja College Auditorium in Kandy a week ago. This was also the first time that this celebration was held outside Colombo.

Neil Bhune said that though what most to you is your family, your community and the development work done by the government of Sri Lanka. The UN too does matter to you and makes the difference. The UN since 1945 has provided everyone the framework for everyone to interact the world. It has also provided the framework for every State to be sovereign and exercise all the characteristics of sovereignty- the responsibility of that sovereignty and the rights.

When the UN was started in 1945 there were about 55 States and now there are about 193 and the UN provides the framework for those countries to come and to be and serve its people. The UN has also traded a strong international community in the ashes of the World War II the world was fractured. But still there are many fractures. But there are many more things on which the world unites on and the world works together on.

Mr. Neil Bhune also said that the UN Secretary General in his message talked about global conflict goods and it is important for everyone to co-operate on is those public goods are to be preserved.

Neil Bhune also said that the UN also made the difference how people deliver individual rights. One of the things which impressed him most in Sri Lanka when it is in Colombo, Kandy, Hambantota or Jaffna is how much emphasis the people of Sri Lanka for the right of education. They really see education as a right. All credit should go to the UN and real benefits to you as a citizen of country which is a member of the UN.

Neil Bhune also said that the Principal of Dharmaraja College said in his speech that the meaning of Dharmaraja is King of Peace and the speaker from Kandy Dr. H. S. S. Nissanka who was the first student from this school to end up in International Relations also talked about the Universal Kingdom named in Buddhism which the UN represents. Fundamentally the UN stands on a recognition that we all share. We share responsibility to each other and we share compassion and those ties are very close to Buddhism.

Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohana said that the world has faced two wars which has brought untold sorrow to mankind and the world has suffered from it largely. The United Nations Charter came into existence on 24th October, 1945 to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.

He said that today Sri Lanka has succeeded in reducing the deaths of mothers at child birth to just 4 for every 100,000. The health services have improved and the credit should go to the government of Sri Lanka.

Dr. H. S. S. Nissanka - Chairman of the Kandy Support Group said that the UN Charter falls in line with the Buddhist concept and it be respected by all as it is revolved in bringing peace to the world. We must not only learn to respect it but also respect it.

Mohan Samaranayake - National Information Officer of the United Nations Information Centre in Colombo said that when the eminent scientist Albert Einstein was posed the question what will be the weapons which will be used in World War III, he had replied that he cannot answer that question. But he can tell what will be used in if there is World War IV.

That it will be sticks and stones - meaning that the world would be destroyed and man would get back to the primitive stages.

It has been 63 years since that destructive Second World War and since then we have not witnessed a destruction of that magnitude thanks to the UN Charter and the world leaders and their efforts.

Foreign Secretary quite rightly pointed that the credit for every success should go to the country and it has been done with assistance and co-operation of the United Nations.

Survey on child labour

by Richmond WIJESEKERA - Bentota Group

A national survey of children in employment especially as domestic servants will be conducted within the first half of 2009 with International Labour Organization, a high official of the Labour Ministry told the "Sunday Observer".

The ILO has provided 250,000 US dollars as assistance to conduct the survey.

The last child labour survey was done in 1999 by the Department of Census and Statistics. The survey recorded that 25,332 children were employed.

Since that survey almost a decade ago, no count of children in employment has been taken, he said.

However the Labour Department had 58 Assistant Commissioners throughout the country and a Labour Commissioner looking after the interests of women and children to whom complaints about children being employed could be made.

Public could make complaints on telephone number: 25873125 and prompt action would be taken.

All police stations also have a women and children section where complaints about child labour could be made, he said.

Italian tourism expert in N'Eliya

By P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

A renown expert in tourism Eliana Marchese Biancato from Italy was on a tour in Nuwara Eliya recently exploring tourist potentials in this part of the country, as already she is involved in hoteliring, Consultant of foreign investors and manages a Beach Resort in the Southern Province in addition to one Hotel Resort in Colombo.

Eliana who possess both the technical know-how and wide knowledge in the Hotel management, interior designs is a graduate of the Rome University qualified in a degree in Psychology, interior designing and holds a masters degree in Hotel management. She said that her family has the background in hoteliring and hotel management and has widely toured throughout and owning restaurants in Mexico and in Rome in addition to Fashion Shops in Italy.

She recalled that she was a victim of Tsunami in 2004 while she was in her own private Resort the 'Full Moon' in Unawatuna where her entire business was swept away and she was also injured and had fractured her leg forcing her to fly back to Italy for further medical attention.

Eliana says that if not for the ongoing turmoil in the country, Sri Lanka has great future and potentials in terms of tourism.

Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful countries in the world with enchanting and friendly people. She is confident that the ethnic conflict will be solved and peace will be restored.

Sri Lanka is second home for Eliana and she has a great desire for Pets, and travelled all the way from Colombo to Nuwara Eliya with her little cat.

She paid glowing tributes to the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club and said that the Golf Course and its surroundings were well maintained and it is one of the most beautiful courses in Asia, in addition Nuwara Eliya with its British Architecture and well built Bungalows adds to the beauty of the region.

She insisted that the environments should remain unpolluted.

Sri Lanka safe for tourists - German philanthropist

by Richmond WIJESEKERA - Bentota Group Correspondent

"Sri Lanka surprised me and conquered me. Thanks to the people, their friendly attitude, kindness and generosity in keeping with Asian values. Sri Lanka is our second home. We love this country, its people, the archaeological treasures and the sunny beaches, said German Philanthropist Jorg Sperling.

He was addressing a ceremony at Sambodhi Home, Galle recently.

Further speaking he said, that he is unhappy about the adverse propaganda that is carried out about Sri Lanka by some people in Germany. They spread false stories about this country and the so-called ethnic problem.

"Although there is some terrorist activity here, it is not a hindrance to tourists who want to visit this country. Sri Lanka is safe for travel. When I go back to Germany, I shall make it a point to bring the true facts before the public through the press," he said.

"After Tsunami I visited 8 times to Sri Lanka, and I managed to donate many thousands of rupees to the constructions work of the fully damaged Sambodhi Building, with the help from donors of Germany and the Protestant Church, Hauptkirche St. Nikolai, Hamburg, Germany.

He also said that he will bring more donations from Germany, next year as well.

New digital electricity meter

by Pathmasekera NISSANKA - Rambukkana Group

With a joint venture between Lanka Electricity Company (Pvt) Limited and Ante Metering Company Limited of China, a new electricity Meter (Digital) manufacturing company was declared open at Bandaragama by Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka recently.Minister of Power and Energy W. D. J. Senevirathne has instructed the Lanka Electricity Company (Pvt) Limited introduce new digital electricity meter for the consumers to solve the problems of scarcity of electricity meter in the country.

Secretary of Power and Energy M. M. C. Ferdinando, representative of Chinese government Lue, LECO Chairman Champany Padmasekara, LECO General Manager Susantha Perera, LECO Director Sumith Parakrama and Project Director Narendra also participated at the occasion.

Measures to increase production of apples , pears

By: S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy South Group

Measures will be taken to encourage the growing of local apples and pears in the Rahangala, Walapane and Gonakelle areas in the Nuwara-Eliya district to restrict the import of these fruits and increase the production locally said the Central Provincial Council Minister of Agriculture Jayaratne Dissanayake.

He made these observations when he addressed the media on the progress of work done and steps taken to safeguard the local farmers.

He said that pears grown in Gonakelle area in Walapane has been successful and this was displayed at the recent Agricultural exhibition and they were big luscious fruits and these cultivators should encouraged. In Rahangala and Gonakelle 3,000 plants will be distributed to be grown in small time orchards and home gardens which will supplement the income of the cultivators. Minister Jayaratne Dissanayake said that following the cyclone of 1977, the pear trees in Nuwara-Eliya stopped bearing fruits and it is thirty years since then. Since they were of no use occupying valuable garden space, most residents have uprooted the pear plants while some of them are still having them in their gardens as memories of the past. Since the pear plant stock is still there, action will be taken to graft a scion to these plants to make them bear fruits again. If they are successful, then you will have Nuwara-Eliya pears again.

Central Province Minister Jayaratne Dissanayake further said immediate steps have been taken to safeguard the big onion growers in the Dambulla area.

The harvested onions will be purchased by the Government and stored in store rooms and released to the market from time to time depending on the demand without flooding the market and supply exceeding the demand.

Work begins on first ever open air Zoological Garden

by B. W. Eheliyagoda- Kegalle Special

The work on the second zoological gardens in Sri Lanka which is expected to be completed in three stages at Pinnawala in the Rambukkana Electorate in Kegalle district. The work in the initial stage will be completed by the end of this year 2008 according to Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council officials. The government is spending one hundred million rupees for the construction of the first stage.The new zoological gardens' will be the first open air zoological garden of its kind in Sri Lanka, the total extent of this garden will be 123 acres.

The present Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and its entire area of land along with another 35 acres acquired from Nagolle agricultural school.

The total area will be 123 acres of this open air zoological gardens. The government has compensated the owners of the private lands, which were acquired for the garden. On a number of occasions in the past, Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Maheepala Herath had discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and took steps to expedite the construction work of the proposed zoo. With the completion of the open air zoological gardens, a new economic awakening in that locality is expected. Construction of large scale tourists resorts along with other business establishments, providing hundreds of employment opportunities for the people in the area is widely expected. It was revealed that annually more than one million tourists will visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, this is in addition to many thousands of local visitors visiting the elephant orphanage during week-ends.

This indicates in the near future the zoological gardens along with the Elephant Orphanage will contribute funds in large amounts in the conservation of foreign exchange in a big way improving the living conditions of the rural families there.

A rare pig - mushroom

Eighty-six-year-old V. D. J. Appuhamy, bird, animal and nature lover mason of Mahingoda very close to Eheliyagoda town processes an unusually grown pig-mushroom

"I found this large sized mushroom grown directly from the ground behind my house. I have not seen such a large but edible sparkling white mushroom during my life time" Appuhamy told the Sunday Observer

Photo & text by Nimal Wijayatunga Eheliyagoda Special

Toddy tappers face hardship

by K. A. Perera - Wadduwa Special

The toddy tapping season in Kalutara district is coming to an end. This would mean nearly ten-thousand, who are seasonally engaged in the local toddy tapping industry will lose their income. the toddy season this year ended early due to unusual weather conditions which affected toddy tapping.Minor employees of the tapping industry generally take to fishing during the off season.

With the on set of evening showers, the fishing season in the coastal region has commenced providing employment to a large number of people in the coastal area between Panadura and Beruwala. The fishing season will continue from November till the commencement of the South-West monsoon.