Tsunami warnings are only a test

Don’t panic if you hear any tsunami warnings being issued between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the coming days in the Hambantota, Matara and Galle districts. With frequent earthquakes taking place in the region, steps have been taken to check out the functional abilities of the tsunami pre-warning towers erected in the ten districts of the country. The Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights issued a public statement informing the public about these testings and requested them to stay calm during these times.

The testings began on September 1 from the Kalutara district and warnings, by way of sounding an alarm bell with the message being issued in several languages, took place between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thereafter, it was carried out in Colombo, Gampaha, Puttalam, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts on different days at the scheduled times.

It will be carried out in the Hambantota district on September 15, Matara district on September 17 and Galle district on September 19.

So, be alert to these warnings all those of you who are in any of these districts and educate yourselves as to what you should do in the event of a real tsunami warning. You must not panic because there is enough time for you to get to higher land and safely before a tsunami reaches our shores. It is good to be prepared for such a situation at all times.

September 13

*Brahmachari Valisinghe Harischandra, Social reformer died in 1913.

*Wilson Hegoda, photographic lecturer died in 1984.

September 14

*Dante Alighieri, Italian poet died in 1321.

*Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam was born in 1853.

*Keppler Wessels, a former South African captain was born in 1957.

*Princess Grace of Monaco died in 1982.

September 15

*Agatha Christie, a famous English novelist was born in 1890.

*Jean Renoir, French film director was born in 1894.

September 16

*Lee Kwan Yew, a former Prime Minister of Singapore (1959-1990) was born in 1923.

*Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit, German inventor of the mercury thermometer died in 1736.

*Asanka Gurusingha, Sri Lankan cricketer was born in 1966.

*Cholomondley Gunawardene, a former Minister of Public Works was born in 1916.

September 17

*Anagarika Dharmapala, who dedicated his life to restore Buddhagaya, was born in 1864.

*D. J. Wimalasurendra, pioneer hydro-electricity engineer was born in 1874.

*Cyril Gardiner, philanthropist, died in 1996.

*William Gopallawa, a former Governor General of Sri Lanka was born in 1897.

*J. R. Jayewardene, the first Executive President of Sri Lanka was born in 1906.

September 18

*Abraham T. Kovoor, rationalist, died in 1978.

*Dag Hammerskjold, of Sweden, a former Secretary General of United Nations

died in 1961.

*John Attygala, a former Inspector General of Police died in 1980.

*Hector Kobbekaduwa, a former Minister of Land Affairs died in 1983.

*Mrs. Vivienne Gunawardene, a former Deputy Minister of Local Government was born in 1916.

September 19

*Boralesgamuwe G. H. Perera, a Sinhalese poet died in 1948.

*George Cadbury, English pioneer chocolate manufacturer was born in 1839.

September 13

*Peace Treaty between P.L.O. and Israel signed by Yasar Arafath and Yitzhak Rabin at White House U.S.A. in 1993.

September 14

*First National Hospital Lotteries draw was held in 1955.

*Gregorian Calendar was adapted in Britain in 1752.

September 15

*National Day of Costa Rica.

September 16

*Global Ozone Day, observed for the preservation of the ozone layer.

*National Day of Mexico.

*Malaysia became independent in 1963.

September 17

*Institute of Fundamental Studies was open in 1981.

*Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, Kotte was inaugurated in 1984.

*New Supreme Court complex at Hulftsdorp was inaugurated in 1988.

*National Tree Planting Day.

September 18

*National Day of Chile.

*Thulhiriya Textile Mills was

inaugurated in 1969.

*New York Times commenced

publication in 1851.

September 19

*Iraq invaded Iran in 1980.

What do you comb a rabbit with?

A hare brush.

****

Which rodent won the basketball game?

The porcupine because he had the most points.

****

How do you catch a squirrel?

Climb a tree and act like a nut.

*****

What’s the difference between a guitar and a fish?

You can’t tuna fish.

*****

Where do mermaids see movies?

At the Dive-In.

**********

A site foreman had ten very lazy men working for him, so one day he decided to trick them into doing some work for a change.

“I have got a really easy job today for the laziest one among you,” he announced. “Will the laziest man please put his hand up.”

Nine hands went up.

“Why didn’t you put your hand up?” he asked the tenth man.

“Feeling too much lazy”, came the reply.

**********

Pre-schools and day cares at IDP camps

by Ananda ANNANGARA

A massive programme titled 'Help the Children in IDP Camps' to develop the educational activities and upgrade the nutrition status of over 1,000 children under five years was launched by the Justice and Law Reforms Deputy Minister V. Puthrasigamoney at Vavuniya recently. According to the programme, the Deputy Minister is responsible to set up day care centres and pre-schools, and also provide the children with educational equipment until their return to their original homes.

The Deputy Minister thanked the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry for launching a special nutrition programme in Menik Farm last month and said that this health programme would benefit not only children, but also expectant mothers who need various vitamins to improve their health conditions.

At a press briefing in Colombo,Minister Puthrasigamoney said that out of the 1,000 children, nearly 400 had become orphans due to the war situation in the past.When interviewed by the Junior Observer, the Deputy Minister said his officials have been instructed to make regular visits to all IDP camps, considering it is a bounden duty of every citizen to help another section of the community when in need.

The Deputy Minister also stressed the importance of helping children and adults in IDD camps and said the Government too has taken every step to provide all infrastructure and other welfare facilities for them.

Colombo International Book Fair:

An event not to be missed

In less than a week, the BMICH, Colombo, will become a hive of activity with thousands of people thronging the place... What's happening at this popular venue on September 19? If you are not aware, then keep the date free, because it is the opening day of the Colombo International Book Fair (CIBF) which will be held for the eleventh time, with many new features added by the organisers this year. The Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha will officiate as chief guest at the opening of the fair and one of the highlights will be the presentation of cash awards and books to the best performers at the 2008 year 5 scholarship, GCE O' Level and GCE A' Level examinations.

A series of open air cultural shows including dramas, poetry readings, theatre and music fetes under the theme 'Naadathala' will be a novel experience the visitors could have this year at the book fair organised by the Sri Lanka Book Publishers Association with the BMICH as co-organiser and supported by Booksellers and Importers Association of Ceylon and the Samastha Lanka Poth Velanda Samagamaya.

The fair which will be held over a period of nine days. comprises 360 stalls run by local booksellers and publishers and 40 stalls by foreign publishers from countries such as the UK, USA, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Pakistan and Germany.

The 400 stalls will be located in ten sections with two at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Centre, four in the outdoor exhibition area in front of the Centre and four in the lobby areas of the main hall of the BMICH, according to the Secretary General of CIBF, Upali Wanigasuriya.

So, don't miss out on visiting the Book Fair because it'll open the door to a wonderful world.

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

The United Nations'(UN) International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is celebrated on September 16 every year. This event commemorates the date of the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987. The theme for 2009 will be "Universal participation: Ozone protection unifies the world"

On this day primary and secondary school educators throughout the world organise classroom activities that focus on topics related to the ozone layer, climate change and ozone depletion. Some teachers use educational packages from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) that have been specifically tailored to address topics about the Earth's ozone layer. Other activities that are organized by different community groups, individuals, schools and local organizations across the world include: the promotion of ozone friendly products; special programmes and events on saving the ozone layer; the distribution of the UNEP's public awareness posters to be used for events centered on the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer; and the distribution of awards to those who worked hard to protect the earth's ozone layer.

The UN's International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is a global observance.

In 1987 representatives from 24 countries met in Montreal and announced to the world that it was time to stop destroying the ozone layer.

In so doing, these countries committed themselves, via the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, to rid the world of substances that threaten the ozone layer.

On December 19, 1994, the UN General Assembly proclaimed September 16 to be the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date when the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed in 1987. The day was first celebrated on September 16, 1995.