More schools to be set up in Jaffna District

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Government has allocated Rs. 100 million to construct 23 new schools in the Jaffna District under the Vadakin Vasantham Programme, last month.

The funds were allocated by the Senior Presidential Advisor, Basil Rajapaksa at the request of Northern Province Governor, Major General G.A. Chandrasiri.

The new school buildings will be equipped with computer laboratories and libraries with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank.Governor Chandrasiri told the Junior Observer that with the dawn of peace, it is necessary to construct more schools and pre-schools for thousands of children, in these areas.

He said his objective is to uplift the level of education among children in the District by establishing new computer labs. He said there are nearly 59 schools in the Velanai Educational Zone and they need to be refurbished so that educational activities could be conducted under a better atmosphere.

The Governor also said that after reopening new schools in the district, students will be provided with educational equipment, sportsgear and other necessities to improve their education.

Dolphins' health shed light on human/ocean health

A panel of governmental, academic and non-profit scientists speaking at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) unveiled research suggesting that diseases found in dolphins are similar to human diseases and can provide clues into how human health might be affected by exposure to contaminated coastal water or seafood.

"Dolphins and humans are both mammals, and their diet includes much of the same seafood that we consume. Unlike us, however, they are exposed to potential ocean health threats such as toxic algae or poor water quality 24 hours a day," said Carolyn Sotka of the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative and lead organizer of the session. "Our ecological and physiological similarities make dolphins an important 'sentinel species' to not only warn us of health risks, but also provide insight into how our health can benefit from new medical discoveries." "Marine animal and ecosystem health are connected to public health and well-being," said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.

Dolphins May Offer Clues to Treating Diabetes in Humans

Research conducted in part by the non-profit National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF) has uncovered evidence that bottlenose dolphins may be the first natural animal model for type II diabetes. Further study of their genome may elucidate a possible treatment for a disease that accounts for an estimated five per cent of all human deaths globally, according to the World Health Organization.

These studies have found that healthy dolphins appear to readily turn on and off a diabetes-like state as needed. This "switch" mechanism is likely driven by the dolphins' very high-protein and very low-carbohydrate fish diet. Analyses have revealed that a fasting mechanism in dolphins may trigger a series of changes in serum chemistries that matches those seen in humans with diabetes."While some people may eat a high protein diet to help control diabetes, dolphins appear to have developed a diabetes-like state to support a high protein diet," according to Stephanie Venn-Watson, Ph.D., director of clinical research for NMMF.

"Shared large brains that have high blood glucose demands may explain why two completely different species -- humans and dolphins -- have developed similar physiological mechanisms to handle sugar.

"Additional evidence collected from this study shows that humans and dolphins may share similar chronic disease outcomes associated with diabetes such as insulin resistance, hemochromatosis (iron overload) and kidney stones.

-Science Daily

Separate Juvenile Courts to hear child offences

The Government has taken steps to establish separate Juvenile Courts to hear offences committed by children at the Colombo High Court premises. This has been decided following the large number of pending cases in the High Court. According to the Minister of Justice and Law Reforms, Milinda Moragoda, nearly 5,032 out of 14,966 pending cases in the High Court are child-related cases.

The construction work of the Juvenile Court building has already been completed. Arrangements will be made to recruit separate judges and trained staff too to hear child-related cases in these courts.

A special committee headed by Supreme Court Justice, Shiranee Tilakawardena has also been appointed to look into issues relating to juvenile justice and the setting up of Children's Magistrate Courts throughout the country.

News briefs

* The temporary IDP shelters at Manik Farm Relief Village are now being converted into classrooms by Army personnel.

As most of the IDPs in the village (Zone 5) have left, these shelters have been made available to accommodate 15 more classroom for students of Gamini Vidyalaya, Vavuniya.

* The first phase of the multi-combined power plant at Kerawalapitiya has been completed. President Mahinda Rajapaksa commissioned the second and final phase of the project on February 25.

Book launch

Lassana Mihiri, a guide to social and moral upbringing compiled by Pushpika Subashini Mullakande and her two sons, Thisath and Manuth Mullakande of Lyceum International School, Wattala was launched at the Punchi Theatre, Borella recently.