Renovation programme for Mahiyangana

Mahiyangana, as you may all know, was hallowed by the Buddha’s visit. In fact, it was the first place in Sri Lanka to be visited by the Buddha; He made three visits to different places in Sri Lanka. It is now 2,600 years since the Buddha made this first visit to Mahiyangana.

This town has now been declared as a sacred area and would be renovated to mark the 2,600th anniversary of the Buddha’s first visit. The renovation and new construction work would be carried out under a systematic plan.

The plan would incorporate the renovation of shops and business establishments within the town area. However, no unauthorised constructions or buildings would be permitted by the Government in this area.

Contact lenses to double as TVs

A futurist in Britain predicts contact lenses will double as TVs in 10 years time.

"You will just pop it into your eye in the morning and take it out at the end of the day," said Ian Pearson in The Daily Mail.

While it's unclear why anyone would want such an annoying device, you'd change the channel with voice commands, the thinking goes, and body heat would run the electronics. The whole experience might then be more immersive, according to a related report commissioned by electrical retailer Comet. "We could even get to the point where we'll be able to immerse ourselves in a football game, making it feel like you're running alongside your favourite player or berating (scolding) the referee" the report states.

While the idea may sound far-fetched, it's actually rooted in technologies that are being developed. Already, glasses have been turned into private theatres.

More dramatically, last year engineers attached electronic circuit and lights to a regular contact lens as a proof of concept for future digital contact lenses that would zoom in on distant objects or display useful facts.

And this weekend, researchers announced a step forward in miniaturising transistors to the point that they'll be transparent - a key to creating informational displays on windshields or, one might imagine, contact lenses.

- LiveScience.com

1,265 complaints on child helpline

by Asha SENEVIRATHNE

Child abuse cases numbering 97 have so far been made on the child helpline ‘1927’ for this year. Around 1,265 complaints have been made on this hotline since it was set up in January last year, Child Development and Women’s Empowerment Ministry sources said.

The helpline has also received 21 complaints in connection with child abductions and attempted abductions, while 18 complaints had been received over incest. Six complaints had been made against child marriages, during this period.

According to sources, 36 incidents of teachers beating children and 85 incidents of parents, relations and others beating children have been reported to this helpline which is operated by the Ministry.

It also received 114 reports about incidents where children were prevented from attending school. The number of incidents reported on children being abandoned due to family disputes is 119. Incidents related to discrimination and neglect of children is 120.

The service was set up last year so that children can directly complain to the authorities, but it had been parents, teachers, neighbours and other adults who had made the majority of complaints.

Years ago, most of the incidents of injustices against children constituted child labour. Children being brought into towns and cities to work as servants for other people was the most common form of abuse.

But now they have taken many different forms. Modern technology has brought its own set of perils for children with children being vulnerable for abuse through pornographic movies, cellular phones and the internet.

Children getting unlimited access to these modern technologies without any parental supervision, control or guidance has led to these incidents, according to Ministry sources.

Another reason for the increase of child abuse incidents in the country has been mothers going abroad for employment, leaving their children in the care of other people.

Obesity on the rise among Colombo schoolchildren

It has been found that around 15 per cent of children attending schools in Colombo are suffering from obesity. This alarming trend is similar to the situation which now prevails in Western countries.

The main reasons which have been attributed to this growing trend are children’s addiction to fast food and soft drinks, parents’ negligence to provide their children with healthy and balanced meals, irregular meals and excessive amounts of fat and carbohydrate in meals.

This is a cause for worry as it could result in many short and long-term adverse effects on children. Short-term effects include physical problems such as aches and pains and lethargy, while the long-term effects include high cholesterol levels, blood sugar and high blood pressure.

Project to develop Galle

The town of Galle holds a special place in Sri Lanka’s history. Therefore, it is important that this town is preserved in a way that reflects its rich heritage and ancient glory.

Authorities have been directed by the President to implement the Galle Town Development Project, keeping these objectives in mind.

A Budget allocation of 100 million rupees has been made towards the project.

It would also take into account the problems posed by the population expansion and the cropping up of illegal structures in the town.

Some of the sectors that would come under the Galle Development Project are Karapitiya’s new shopping complex, Oroppuwatta office and shopping complex, new fish market, new bus stand and shopping complex and Kekiribokka housing complex.

Obamas poised to pick First Dog

This isn't just another wag-the-tail story: The Obamas are getting a dog in April and are looking for a rescue Portuguese water dog. First Lady Michelle Obama tells People magazine that the target date for the arrival of the family pet is after her daughters' spring break trip in April, though seven-year-old Sasha is convinced the dog is coming on April 1.

"So Sasha says 'April first.' I said, 'April.' She says, 'April first.' It's like, April!" said Mrs. Obama. The Obama girls - Sasha and 10-year-old Malia - attend the private Sidwell Friends school, which has spring break from March 20-29 and a day off for students on April 13.

The family wants a rescue Portuguese water dog who is the appropriate age and match.

"Temperamentally, they're supposed to be pretty good," Mrs. Obama said. "From the size perspective, they're sort of middle of the road - it's not small, but it's not a huge dog. And the folks that we know who own them have raved about them. So that's where we're leaning."

The first couple and their daughters have been going back and forth on possible names. Among the two Mrs. Obama mentioned - and nixed (rejected) - were Frank and Moose.

Barack Obama and his wife had promised their daughters that they would get a dog after the election.

- AP

Birth and death anniversaries from March 08-14

March 8

Death of Rapheal Tennakoon, Sinhala poet, in 1965.

March 9

Birth of Yuri Gagarin, Soviet cosmonaut and the first man in space, in 1934.

March 11

Death of Sir Alexander Fleming, Scottish bacteriologist, and the man who discovered penicillin, in 1955.

March 13

Birth of Gongalegoda Banda, a leader of the 1848 rebellion, in 1809.

March 14

Birth of Maxim Gorky, Russian writer, in 1868. Death of Karl Marx, who introduced the theory of Marxism, in 1883.

Special events which took place in history, from March 08-14

March 8

The Russian Revolution began at Petrograd in 1917. International Women’s Day.

March 10

Ceylon and India were joined by telephone cable in 1934.

March 12

The Girl Scouts Movement was started in the USA in 1912. The Colombo Art Gallery opened in 1932.

March 13

Galle was captured by the Dutch in 1640. The planet Uranus was discovered by Sir William Herschel in 1781.

March 14

Relics of Saripuththa and Moggallana, chief disciples of the Buddha, were brought to Ceylon in 1947.

Compiled by Asha Senevirathne