Distribution of school text books

A systematic procedure has been introduced to distribute free text books to all Government schools in 2010 and measures have also been taken to transport the books required for next year to provincial distribution centres.

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha has instructed top officials of his Ministry to enlighten all school heads of the need for students to take proper care of the free text books. A sum of Rs. 1,000 million can be saved annually if students handle the free text books issued to them with care and hand them over to their juniors in the following year in good condition.

Meanwhile, the Educational Publications Department will set up regional sales centres to sell government school text books, and teachers' manuals to non-government schools with the objective of providing equal opportunities for all students in the country.

Accordingly, these regional sales centres would be set up in Hambantota, Kandy, Badulla, Kurunegala, Jaffna and Galle districts.

Commissioner General of Educational Publication Department, W. M. N. J. Pushpakumara said text books up to Grade eleven and additional text books of Grade 12 and 13 including teachers' manuals and syllabuses for GCE (AL) exam can be purchased from these sales centres. Adequate stocks of text books would be provided when and where it is necessary. Senior school teachers of different faiths would also be trained as resource personnel and they would visit schools and special sessions to uplift moral values among senior students from next year.

A husband made a call to the hospital to know about his pregnant wife.

But accidentally the call got connected to a Cricket stadium.

He asked "What is the condition?"and

he fainted after what he heard!

Guess what the reply was??

It was... seven are already out, three more will be out by lunch and the first one was a DUCK.

**********

How do you buy cat food?

Purrr can.

******

What monkey is always

exploding?

A ba-boom.

*****

Why can't you play games in the jungle?

Because there's always going to be a cheetah.

*****

What's black and white and eats like a horse.

A zebra.

*****

What do ghosts eat in Italian restaurants?

Spook-ghetti!

*****

Where do geologists go for entertainment?

To rock concerts!

**********

Compiled by W.A. Rusiru JAYASURIYA

September 20

* Meemana Premathilake,Sinhalese poet and journalist was born in 1918.

* Neville Kanakaratne, a former diplomat and a governor of the southern provincial council died in 1999.

* Annie Besant, English Theosophist who became President of the Theosophical Society after the death of Colonel Henry Steel Olcott died in 1933.

* Sophia Loren,Italian actress was born in 1934.

September 21

* H.G.Wells ,English writer and scholar was born in 1866.

* E.A.Nugawela, a former Minister of Education(1947-1952) and Minister of Health (1952-1956) was born in 1892.

* Passing away of Ven.Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera in 1890.

* D.B.Wijetunge, a former President of Sri Lanka (1993-1994) died in 2008.

* Sir Albert Fredrick Peiris,a former speaker of the Parliament

(1952-1956 and 1965-1967) died in 1967.

September 22

* Wilmot A.Perera, educationist,diplomat and founder of Horana Sripali died in 1973.

* A.C.(Bunty) de Zoysa ,lawyer died in 1983.

* Michael Faraday,English physicist who invented the Number of Principles of Electricity was born in 1791.

* Florence Gryffith Joiner,American athlete died in 1998.

September 23

* Ven.Heenatiyana Dhammaloka Thera,was born in 1900.

* C.W.W.Kannangara,a former Minister of Education (Father of the Free Education in Sri Lanka) died in 1969.

* Sigmund Freud, a famous Austrian psychologist and neurologist died in 1939.

* Augustus Caesar,Roman Emperor, was born in 63 B.C.

September 24

* Scott Fitzgerald,American novelist was born in 1896.

September 25

* Samuel Butler, English writer died in 1680.

* B.Y.Tudawe,a former Deputy Minister of Education (1970-1977) was born in 1915.

* Sir Robert Muldoon,former Prime Minister of New Zealand (1975-1984 )was born in 1921.

September 26

S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike, a former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (1956-1959) was assassinated in 1959.

* Dev Anand, Indian actor was born in 1923.

* T.S.Elliot,an American poet was born in 1888.

* Ian Chappell, a former Australian Cricketer was born in 1943.

September 20

Crown of the last King of Kandy was brought back to Ceylon in 1934.

Walt Disney's Disneyland welcomed 200 million guests in 1985.

Post Office Saving Certificate scheme was launched in 1938.

September 21

Malta gains independance from Britain in 1964.

International Day of Peace.

Belize gains independence from Britain in 1964.

People's Republic of China was proclaimed in 1949.

September 22

Bulgarian independence day.

State Pharmaceutical Corporation was established in 1971.

September 23

National Day of Saudi Arabia.

Lady Ridgeway Memorial Children's Hospital was inaugurated in 1910.

September 24

Guinea Bissau gains independence from Portugal in 1974.

First nuclear powered aircraft carrier U.S.S.Enterprise was launched in 1960.

September 25

Bronze money was introduced for the first time in Ceylon in 1862.

North Colombo Medical College at Ragama was inaugurated in 1981.

Mother Sri Lanka's dialogue competition

by Ananda KANNANGARA

A record number of 1200 students from public, private and international schools in the country will take part in a series of dialogue competitions at the grand finale of the 'Mother Sri Lanka' school programme, to be conducted in Colombo, during the early part of November.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who initiated the 'Mother Sri Lanka' programme will be the chief guest on the occasion.

The programme is conducted under the theme 'What can the children of Sri Lanka give back to our country'.

Speaking to the Junior Observer, Director, Strategy and Perceptions Management Unit office, of the Presidential Secretariat, Janaki Kuruppu said such an innovative dialogue competition on an important theme was being conducted for the first time in Sri Lanka.

She said that over three million school children in the country had already taken part in the competition which was conducted in all provinces other than in the Jaffna peninsula. Pointing out that children from their very early years must know what they could do for the country she said the objective of this programme was to encourage them to be partners in the country's future development activities.

She said our country is entering a new stage in her history- a new era of peace and prosperity, where the people of this wonderful country can unite and engage positively to re-make their future.She also said the programme was first started from the schools in the Southern Province in February this year and thereafter extended to schools in the Eastern, Sabaragamuwa, Wayamba, Central, North Central and Uva provinces.

The 'Mother Lanka' committee has also decided to establish Mother Sri clubs in all schools and conduct regular programmes to achieve the objective of the programme. Ms. Kupruppu also said the professional expertise of the Sri Lankan citizens and their families in over 400 Lankan associations around the world will also be sought towards the development of the programme.She stressed that all Sri Lankans, especially children irrespective of their caste, creed and religion must help the country's development activities at this crucial moment when the country is completely free from terrorism. "The programme will also be extended to the Northern District in January next year," she added.

Celebrating the Ramazan Festival

'Eid ul Fitr' the Ramazan Festival is celebrated at the end of Ramadan after a period of 30 days fasting. It is a happy occasion when Muslims mark

the accomplishment of fasting and thank the Almighty Allah for giving his servants the opportunity to fast and worship and also the self control to succeed in fasting, in the month of Ramadan.

The festival begins at the first sighting of the new moon.

Muslims after attending special Eid prayers visit friends and family dressed in their best clothes .Special foods is served to the guests. Greetings of Thakabal Allahu Minna Wa Minka (O Allah accept us and others)are exchanged.

The Ramazan Festival which comes after a month long fasting, generates immense satisfaction among children and adults due to the successful completion of fasting on the command of Allah.Let our fervent prayer on this Holy day of Ramazan be for peace, harmony, tolerance, understanding and brotherhood.

Kent Ridge Junior + Developing Future Leaders Programme:

A resounding success

Protinex Life - Kent Ridge Junior+, an innovative programme introduced by Kent Ridge (Pvt) Ltd, with the Junior Observer as media sponsors during the school vacation for children of 10-15 years to develop their leadership qualities was successfully concluded at "Jana Kala Kendraya" on August 29. It was a resounding success with sixty two children from different schools such as Royal, Visaka, Ananda, Vidura, Bishop's, Wesley, Janadhipathi Balika, Kalutara Balika, St. Bridget's, Loyala College, St. Lawrence , St. Joseph's, Gateway, AIS, CIS, Lyceum, Musaeus, St. Peter's, Holy Family Convent, Good Shepherd's and St. John's, Panadura participating in this programme. It wsa facilitated by well experienced outbound trainers.

"My brother and I attended this programme and it was an amazing experience! The most important thing is that all the children who had come, went with happy faces and big smiles!", said Madhurima Mantha of India who is a student of Colombo International School.

Protinext-Life stimulated the new initiative by being the Strategic Partner along with Junior Observer as the Media Partner while HNB came forward as a Silver sponsor.Dr. Senaka Dharmathilaka Director Havelock City, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest at the Certificate Awards Ceremony, stressed the importance of a leader's ability to get along with the people and harness the best out of people.

The next Kent Ridge Junior Programme is scheduled to be held on October 17 at "Jana Kala Kendraya."

Participants at the programme