Expansion of herb villages

Sri Lanka has a rich base of medicinal herbs. The Indigenous Medicine Ministry would carry out an expansion programme with regard to its herb villages so that the country becomes self-sufficient in such medicinal herbs.

Over 300 varieties of perennial and seasonal herbal plants are being cultivated in the herb villages found in 18 districts. The Ministry provides the farmers who carry out the cultivation with the necessary infrastructure facilities such as agricultural equipment, seeds and planting materials and free extension services.

Sri Lanka had been importing herbal ingredients from India, China and Pakistan for decades. As a result of this programme, the country has been able to save nearly Rs. 200 million per year which otherwise would have been spent on importing herbal ingredients.

The herb villages expansion programme has also made arrangements to encourage bee-keeping and the cultivation of sesame so that honey and gingelly oil could be obtained for the manufacture of drugs. The Ministry plans to cultivate 5,000 acres with gingelly during the year.

This project would be implemented by the Herb Farmers Company through 3,000 farmers island-wide. The seeds would be provided free to the farmers and the gingelly harvest would be purchased by the company at a reasonable price.

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Facelift for herbal garden

The Indigenous Medicine Ministry would soon be taking action to redevelop the Nawinna Herbal Gardens. This unique herbal garden was started in 1962 and now has a range of medicinal plants, including rare varieties of herbs. The compound, which spans over 14 acres, has around 300 varieties of ayurvedic medicinal plants and around 100 rare creepers.

The garden will be opened to the public and schoolchildren after the redevelopment programme is completed.

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Zoo prepares to celebrate 200th anniversary

Did you read the articles on the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens which we featured in the Junior Observer some time ago? They may have informed you about a lot of new developments that have taken place at the zoo.

The development activities at the Dehiwala Zoo would not end there however.

More development and upgrading projects are on the cards with regard to the zoo’s bicentenary (200th anniversary) which would be observed in 2010.

The Department of Zoological Gardens has also planned a regional conference in Sri Lanka to mark the event.

Other important events which would be conducted to celebrate the anniversary are the publication of a book on the history of the zoo and the issuing of a commemorative stamp.

Work on the proposed new zoological gardens at Mirijjawila and Dickowita would also be expedited under this programme.

Sri Lanka’s first zoological garden was opened in 1810 in Slave Island in the area presently known as Kew Road. It was initiated by Sir Joseph Banks, Director Kew Zoological Gardens in England (thus the name of the road), on a request made in 1805 by then Chief Justice Sir Alexander Johnston. This was later shifted to Peradeniya in 1821 and then to Dehiwala.

Improving plantation sector schools

The Government plans to upgrade the standard of education in schools in the plantation sector so that equal opportunities of education are provided to all children of the country. This is in keeping with the Government’s ‘Education for all’ policy.

Under this programme, Rs. 322.5 million has been allocated for the improvement of physical resources in plantation sector schools. The programme would give priority to activities such as building classrooms and library buildings in schools and the provision of toilet facilities and computer rooms. Schools conducting classes upto GCE Ordinary and Advanced Levels would also receive laboratory facilities under this programme.

The National Institute of Education has also launched a training programme for teachers of schools with Ordinary and Advanced Level classes to improve the standard of education.

Meanwhile, a batch of 3,179 teachers have been recruited during the last few years to solve the shortage of English, Tamil, Mathematics and Science teachers in the primary classes of these schools.

There are 830 plantation sector schools in the Central, Uva, Western, Southern and Wayamba Provinces. Of them, 250 schools were provided with computer facilities last year.

Road reconstruction at Sri Pada

It is the Sri Pada season now. You may have been among the crowds that thronged the sacred site atop the mountain during the season.

If you have taken part in this pilgrimage, you would be familiar with the road from Nallathanni to the Sri Pada temple. The Government plans to reconstruct this seven kilometre stretch of road at a cost of Rs. 23 million.

Through the first phase of the project, the stairway from Nallathanni to Seetha Gangula would be reconstructed at a cost of Rs. 9 million.

The construction work of the project would be carried out by the Road Development Authority (RDA) with financial assistance from the Gama Neguma programme.

Also planned is the renovation of the stairway entering Sri Pada with 14,000 steps, the safety fence and drainage and disposal system. The Government also plans to reconstruct the main road network and all trunk roads in the Ratnapura District under RDA supervision.

Meanwhile, the Raja Mawatha Road from Ratnapura Sri Palabaddala to Sri Pada is being reconstructed with the assistance of the Army Engineering Unit.

Hindu cultural centre in Matale

The Muththu-Amman Hindu Kovil, which is situated in Matale, is a famous sacred place in Sri Lanka. It is presently visited and worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists in the country.

Arrangements have now been made by the Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Ministry to set up a Hindu Cultural Centre with all facilities in the premises of this kovil.

The Government has allocated 13 million rupees for the construction of the centre. After completion, it is expected to become the largest Hindu cultural centre in the Asian region.

Rollicking Riddles

How do rabbits travel?

By hareplane.

What clothing does a house wear?

Address.

What shoes should you wear when your house is flooded?

Pumps.

What did the sock say to the foot?

You are putting me on.

Why are potatoes good detectives?

Because they have many eyes.

What do you call a funny book about eggs?

A yolk-book.

Interact Band Fiesta

Holy Cross College, Gampaha will host a band show titled ‘Interact Band Fiesta’ at 6.00pm on March 21 at the college grounds. Many schools from Gampaha and other parts of the country will participate in this show.

Birth and death anniversaries from March 15 - 21

March 16

Death of G. B. Senanayake, Sinhala writer, in 1985.

March 18

Death of Rudolf Diesel, German inventor of the diesel engine, in 1858.

March 19

Death of Sir Arthur C. Clarke, futurist, science fiction writer and Sri Lanka’s most famous foreign resident, in 2008.

March 20

Death of Sir Issac Newton, British scientist and the person who discovered gravity, in 1727.

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Special events which took place in history, from March 15 - 21

March 15

Assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. World Consumer Rights Day.

March 18

The planet Pluto was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. This was later removed from the list of planets.

March 21

Dudley Senanayake became Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister for the third time in 1960.

Compiled by Asha Senevirathne