Significance of World Television Day

On December 17 1996, the General Assembly proclaimed November 21 as World Television Day, commemorating the date on which, the first World Television Forum was held at the United Nations. States were invited to observe the Day by encouraging global exchanges of television programmes focusing on issues such as peace, security, economic and social development, and the enhancement of cultural exchanges. The United Nations's (UN) World Television Day is annually observed in many places around the world . The day recognises that television plays a major role in presenting different issue that affect people World Television Day is a day to renew governments', organizations' and individuals' commitments to support the development of television media in providing unbiased information about important issues and events that affect society.The UN acknowledges that television can be used to educate many people about the world, its issues and real stories that happen on the planet. Television is one of the most influential forms of media for communication and information spreading. It is used to broadcast freedom of expressions and to increase cultural diversity. The UN realised that television played a major role in presenting global issues affecting people and this needed to be addressed.
 

A doctor of psychology was doing his normal morning rounds when he entered a patient's room. He found Patient Number One sitting on the floor, pretending to saw a piece of wood in half.

Patient Number Two was hanging from the ceiling, by his feet.

The doctor asked patient number 1 what he was doing. The patient replied, "Can't you see I'm sawing this piece of wood in half?" The doctor inquired of Patient Number One what Patient Number Two was doing. Patient Number One replied, "Oh. He's my friend, but he's a little crazy. He' thinks he's a lightbulb." The doctor looks up and notices Patient Number two's face is going all red.

The doctor asks Patient Number One "If he's your friend, you should get him down from there before he hurts himself".

Patient Number One replies, "What? And work in the dark?"

********

* The psychology instructor had just finished a lecture on mental health and was giving an oral test.

Speaking specifically about manic depression, she asked, "How would you diagnose a patient who walks back and forth screaming at the top of his lungs one minute, then sits in a chair weeping uncontrollably the next?"

A young man in the rear raised his hand and answered, "A basketball coach?"

*******

* Teacher: Where is the English Channel?

Pupil: I don't know, my TV doesn't pick it up.

*******

* Teacher: Why does the Statue of liberty stand in New York harbour?

Pupil: Because it can't sit down!

********

November 15

Ven.Dr Kotagama Vachissara Thera was born in 1917.

Sir William Herschel, an astronomer ,who discovered planet Uranus was born in 1738.

Gerhart Hauptmann, German writer ,Nobel prize winner was born in 1862.

Baby Fae, who received a baboon's heart died at a hospital in California in 1984.

November 16

P.de S.Kularatne,a former Principal of Ananda College (1930-1940)and an educationist died in 1976.

William Holden,American actor died in 1981.

Domingo Corea (Edirille Rala), who bequeathed the whole island of Ceylon to the Crown of Portugal was born in 1580.

November 17

Ven.Malewana Gnanissara Thera passed away in 1982.

Prof C.G.Weeramantri, a former vice president of the International Court of Justice at the Hague was born in 1926.

Rock Hudson,American actor was born in 1925.

Viscount Montgomery, British Field Marshall was born in 1887.

November 18

Mahinda Rajapaksa, (Present Executive President of Sri Lanka) was born in 1945.

Ven.Prof.Kamburupitiye Wanarathana Thera passed away in 1998.

Linda Evans, American actress was born in 1944.

Ven.Halmillewe Sri Sumana Revatha Thera was born in 1888.

November 19

Indira Gandhi,a former Indian prime minister,(1966-1977) (1980-1984) was born in 1917.

Muhandiram Henry Amarasuriya,a Buddhist philanthrophist was born in 1872.

Edmond Hewawitharana,a brother of Anagarika Dharmapala, Buddhist revivalist died in 1915.

Ferdinand De Lesseps, French engineer who built the Suez Canal was born in 1805.

November 20

Bo Berek, actress (Tarzan-the Ape Man fame) was born in 1956.

Ian Smith, a former prime minister of Zimbabwe died in 2007.

Leo Tolstoy,the great Russian writer(War and Peace) died in 1910.

November 21

Voltaire, French philosopher was born in 1694.

William Beaumont, surgeon who studied digestion was born in 1785.

M.Sarlis ,temple painter and sculptor died in 1955.

Goldie Hawn, Hollywood actor (Butterflies are free,Foulplay,Private Benjamin) was born in 1945.

November 15

Palestine national day.

Coconut Development Board was established in 1971.

Musaeus College was founded in 1893.

November 16

United Nation Day for Tolerance and Non- violence.

November 17

Soviet spacecraft Lunar 17(unmanned)landed on the moon in 1970.

November 18

Law society of Ceylon was established in 1903.

Oman national day.

November 19

Monaco national day.

Internatinal Day for Prevention of Child Abuse.

Christopher Columbus discovered Puerto

Rico in 1493.

November 20

Biyagama Investment Promotion Zone was inaugurated in 1983.

Rolls-Royce, British automobile manufacturing company was founded in 1906.

Universal Children's Day.

Africa Industrialisation Day.

November 21

World Television Day.

Bosnia and Herzegovina national day(proclaim independence from Yugoslavia in 1995.

Compiled by W.A. Rusiru JAYASURIYA

Milk Super Centres in schools

by Rohana JAYALAL

The Government has embarked on a project of providing fresh milk and milk based products to school children in a bid to improve the nutritional levels while providing the best price for farmers, Vice Chairman of the National Livestock Development Board, Roshan Gunawardana said.

The school principals in the Colombo, urban and suburban areas who are keen to set up milk super centres in their schools could now seek assistance from the National Livestock Development Board.

The project is expected to make students healthy, Gunawardana said. Under this project, measures have been taken to set up Milk Super Centres in schools.

He pointed out that such centres have already been set up in 25 schools and four Milk Super Centres were set up in four schools in Colombo District - St. John's Boys' School, Nugegoda, Rahula Balika Vidyalaya, Malabe, Rajasinghe MMV, Hanwella and Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo. This project would help wean students from soft drinks, he pointed out.

He said these Milk Super Centres have achieved a net profit over Rs. 20,000 a month.Profits are expected to be invested for the improvement of the welfare facilities in each school and to set up Milk Super Centres at schools islandwide.The Ministry will provided a grant of Rs. 200,000 with equipment for milk chilling and freezing to each Milk Super Centre to make this project a success, the Minister said.

Gunawardana said this project will increase local milk production and reduce the amount of foreign exchange spent on the import of milk powder. It would also increase the value addition of milk products.

Newly designed satchels a long felt need

Awareness programmes are presently being drawn up to educate teachers, parents and also school children about the newly designed satchels or schoolbags to be introduced islandwide, commencing next year.

This move which comes following a report in 2007 by a University Professor highlighting the permanent disabilities sustained by school children due to the weight of the bag, aims to introduce a specially designed bag that would equally distribute the weight of books and also be more comfortable for the school children to carry. However, as changing the design of the bag alone would not help in reducing the health hazard to children, the Ministry of Education will also take steps to restrict the use of CR books and also refrain from printing heavy textbooks in the future.

Plans are now under way to print the present textbooks in three volumes, containing the subject material needed for each term, in one volume.

The authorities hope to make the specially designed bags available by next year and ensure that all school children, numbering over four million, carry these bags by 2011.No doubt, those of you who were struggling with the heavy load of contents in your schoolbags each morning, will now heave a sigh of relief; no more aches and pains. No more hunch backs!

Universal Children's Day is on November 20

The United Nations' (UN),Universal Children's Day which was established in 1954, is celebrated on November 20 each year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide. UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, promotes and coordinates this special day, which also works towards improving children's welfare. Many countries, including Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, hold Universal Children's Day events on November 20 to mark the anniversaries of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child which was adopted by the Un General Assembly on November 20, 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child which was adopted on November 20 1989.

However, other countries hold events on different dates, such as the fourth Wednesday in October (Australia) and November 14 (India).

Universal Children's Day is not observed in the United States, although a similar observance, National Child's Day, is held on the first Sunday in June. In Sri Lanka Childrens Day is celebrated on October 1.

.On December 14, 1954, the UN General Assembly recommended that all countries should introduce an annual event from 1956 known as Universal Children's Day to encourage fraternity and understanding between children all over the world and promoting the welfare of children.

It was recommended that individual countries should choose an appropriate date for this occasion.

At the time, the UN General Assembly recommended that all countries should establish a Children's Day on an an appropriate date. Many of the countries respected this recommendation and the Universal Children's Day has since been annually observed on November 20.

July winners of the Essay Competition 'Learn about America'

Age 12-14 years - Tourist Attractions in the United States of America

1st Place: I.L. Asmath Rahna, Marjan Muslim Ladies College, Sammanturai.

2nd Place: M.A.B. Randilini, C.W.W. Kannangara Central College, Mathugama.

3rd Place: W.M. Madara Madushani Wijesooriya, Holy Family Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Kurunegala.

Age 15-16 years - The native Americans/First Americans

1st Place: Piumi Madumali Jayalath, Rathnawali Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha.

2nd Place: Devmini Thilakshi Perera, Gateway College, Kandy.

3rd Place: Linda Warnakulasuriya, Kuda Kusum Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela.

Age 17-18 years - Importance of July 4 - Independence Day to U.S. Citizens

1st Place: Ishani Divajini Chandrasena, Wayamba Royal College, Kurunegala.

2nd Place: Jayani Wickrama Seneviratne, Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda.

3rd Place: F. Zafra Fuaiz, Royal Institute, Maharagama.