World Teachers’ Day

The United Nations’ (UN) World Teachers’ Day celebrates the role teachers play in providing quality education at all levels. This enables children and adults of all ages to learn to take part in and contribute to their local community and global society.

Teachers are recognised for their contributions to society on World Teachers’ Day on October 5.

Various events are arranged in many countries around the world on or around October 5. These include celebrations to honour teachers in general or those who have made a special contribution to a particular community. The day may also be marked by conferences emphasising the importance of teachers and learning, extra training sessions for teachers, recruitment drives for the teaching profession among university students or other suitably qualified professionals and events to increase the profile of teachers and the role they play in the media. You too can do something special on this day to show how much you respect and apreciate teachers.

Two men stand on a cliff with their arms outstretched. One has some budgies lined up on each arm, the other has parrots lined up on his arms.

After a couple of minutes, they both leap off the cliff and fall to the ground.

Laying next to each other in intensive care at the hospital, one man says to the other, “I don’t think much of this budgie jumping.”

The other replies, “Yeah, I’m not too keen on this paragliding either.”

*******

Teacher asks a student,

“How do you spell the word CAT?

The student replied, “K.A.T.T.”

Teacher then says “But dictionary spells it as CAT.”

The student replies “I know that, but you asked how do I spell.”

*******

October 4

Chandra Manawasinghe, a journalist and lyricist died in 1964

Dharmasiri Gamage, journalist, lyricist and film director was born in 1939.

Dr. Senarath Paranawithana, archaeologist died in 1972.

Charleston Heston, Hollywood actor was born in 1924.

October 5

Dr. R.L. Brohier, surveyor, historian and writer was born in 1892.

Bob Geldof, Irish musician and singer was born in 1954.

Vaclav Havel, a former President of Czechoslovakia was born in 1936.

October 6

Solias Mendis, an artist who did the paintings of Kelaniya Temple was born in 1897.

Anwar Saddath, a former President of Egypt (1970-1981) was assassinated in 1981.

Richie Benaud, a former Australian cricketer was born in 1930.

Tony Greig, a former English cricketer was born in 1946.

Lord Alfred Tennyson, English poet died in 1892.

October 7

Desmond Tutu, a former Archbishop of Capetown, South Africa was born in 1931.

Ven. Batapola Anomadassi Thera passed away in 1989.

Edgar Allen Poe, American writer died in 1849.

Betty Davis, American actress died in 1989.

October 8

Juan Peron, a former President of Argentina (1946-1955) and (1973-1974), was born in 1895.

Neil Harvey, a former Australian cricketer was born in 1928.

Clement Atlee, a former British Prime Minister from 1945-1951, died in 1967.

Jesse Jackson, an American Senator and Civil Rights campaigner was born in 1941.

October 9

John Lennon, English musician and singer was born in 1940.

Ernesto Che Guevera, Latin American revolutionary died in 1967.

Willy Brandt, a former Chancellor of West Germany died in 1992.

C.P. de Silva, a former Minister and Member of Parliament (1956-1970) died in 1972.

October 10

Martina Navratilova, American tennis player was born in 1956.

Yul Bryner, Hollywood actor died in 1985.

R.K. Narayan, famous Indian writer was born in 1906.

Prof. A.V. Suraweera, a former Minister and Sinhala scholar was born in 1930.

October 4

World Animals’ Day

Mexico became a republic

Lesotho gains independence from Britain in 1966.

October 5

World Teachers’ Day.

Sri Lanka Foundation Institute was established in 1974.

World Habitat Day (First Monday in October)

October 6

Battle of Danture between the Portuguese and Sinhalese took place in 1594.

Jaffna University was inaugurated in 1974

October 7

German Democratic Republic formed in 1949

Walawe River Development Scheme was inaugurated in 1957.

October 8

Batticaloa University was inaugurated 1986.

October 9

World Postal Day

Uganda became a republic in 1963.

Cambodia declared independence in 1970.

October 10

Sri Lanka Army Day (Sri Lankan Army was established in 1949.)

World Mental Health Day

Panama Canal was opened by American President Theadore Roosevelt in 1913

Compiled by W.A. Rusiru JAYASURIYA

On October 10:

The Sri Lanka Army is 60 years!

Preparations are under way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army with much pomp and pageantry on October 10.

Formally set up on October 10, 1949, the Army initially functioned as a ceremonial force. But this highly skilled and disciplined outfit proved its mettle as a great combatant force when challenged to fight the LTTE terrorists. Together with the other two Armed Forces, the Air Force and the Navy, and with the support of the Police force, the Army battled successfully with the LTTE, which was labelled as one of the deadliest terrorist organisations in the world.Today they've freed our Motherland from the jaws of the tiger terrorists after 30 years of eithnic war and even succeeded in silencing the mighty roar of the once elusive Tiger leader, Prabhakaran. They are now hailed as the heroes of our Motherland.

A fresh focus needed

The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

The United Nations chose the theme, 'Planning our urban future' to raise awareness of the need to improve urban planning to deal with new major challenges of the 21st century.

This is because urban settlements in all parts of the world are being influenced by new and powerful forces.

In both developed and developing countries, cities and towns are increasingly feeling the effects of climate change, resource depletion, food insecurity, population growth and economic instability.

These factors will significantly reshape towns and cities, physically and socially, in the century ahead.

Many developing countries will, in addition, continue to experience rapid rates of urbanisation, along with its most serious negative consequences - overcrowding, poverty, slums with many poorly equipped to meet the service demands of ever growing urban populations.

With over half of the world's population currently living in urban areas, and this number set to rise to two-thirds in another generation, there is no doubt that the "urban agenda" will increasingly become a priority for governments, local authorities and their non-governmental partners everywhere.

Unfortunately, current urban planning systems in many parts of the world are ill equipped to deal with these major urban challenges of the 21st century This is why urban planning needs to be given a fresh focus starting on World Habitat Day 2009.

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day on October 10 raises public awareness about mental health issues. The Day promotes more open discussion of illnesses, and investments in prevention and treatment services. WHO statistics for 2002 show that 154 million people globally suffer from depression, only one form of mental illness.

Mental, neurological and behavioural disorders are common in all countries around the world, causing immense suffering and staggering economic and social costs. People with disorders are often subjected to social isolation, poor quality of life and higher death rates.

World Post Day Observances

World Post Day marks the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union's establishment and is annually held on October 9. The union aimed to create and maintain a structure for the free flow of international mail around the world.

From the earliest times in history, "postal services" existed in the form of messengers who travelled large distances on foot or horseback. In the 1600s and 1700s, many countries set up national postage systems and entered into bilateral agreements for the exchange of mail between countries.

By the late 1800s there was a large web of bilateral agreements that made the distribution of international mail complicated, nontransparent and inefficient.In 1863, Montgomery Blair, Postmaster General in the United States of America, organised a conference of representatives from 15 European and American countries.

During this conference, the delegates laid down a number of general principles for mutual agreements on international postal services, but did not create an international postal agreement.

On September 15, 1874, Heinrich von Stephan, a senior postal official in the North German Confederation (an area that now forms parts of Germany, Poland and Russia), opened a conference in Berne, Switzerland, with delegates from 22 countries.

On October 9, 1874, the delegates signed the Treaty of Berne and established the General Postal Union.The number of countries that were members of the General Postal Union grew rapidly and the union's name was changed to the Universal Postal Union in 1878.

In 1948, the Universal Postal Union became a specialised agency of the United Nations. The 16th Universal Postal Union Congress was held in Tokyo, Japan, from October 1 to November 16, 1969. During this conference the delegates voted to declare October 9 each year as World Post Day.

Value of Pranama Scholarships increased

The value of Pranama Scholarship offered for students who excelled at the Year 5 scholarship examination has been increased by 50 per cent while students who excelled at the G.C.E. Ordinary Level will have their scholarships doubled.

The value of the scholarships for the students who achieved the best results in their districts at the G.C.E. Advanced Level has been increased by 75 per cent while the value of the scholarships for Merit winners has been increased by 40 per cent.Consequently, selected Year 5 scholarship winners will each receive Rs. 90,000, G.C.E. (O/L) winners Rs. 72,000, and students placed first in their districts at the G.C.E. Advanced Level Rs. 126,000. The scholarships for national merit award recipients have been increased to Rs. 35,000.Additionally, special cash awards of Rs. 25,000 will be presented to each of the students who achieved the highest marks islandwide in mathematics, biology, commerce and arts at the G.C.E. (A/L) examinations in 2008, irrespective of whether or not they are the children of policyholders. If, however, a policyholder's child has achieved this distinction, he or she will qualify to receive both awards, the districtwise scholarship and the special cash award.These scholarships which have been increased by another 160, will be on offer to children of the company's policyholders who obtained their policies on or before December 31, 2008 from all districts of Sri Lanka. The total value of the new scholarships that will be on offer is Rs. 3.58 million.

Ceylinco Life said it has commenced the collection of applications from eligible students across the island, and will close applications on November 30 for the next batch of annual scholarships to be presented at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in January 2010.