Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardene inaugurated construction work on the Digavapi Water Supply Scheme at an estimated cost of Rs. 486 million. The much awaited community project will benefit 16000 villagers around the historic Degavapi temple. Food and Nutrition Minister, P Dayaratne, Parliamentarians Sriyanee Wijewickrema and Sarath Weerasekera, E.P.C. Tissa Thevarapperuma and Water Supply Board Working Director Nimal Piyaratne were also present.

The annual exhibition and trade fair of the members of the Colombo District Nisco Co-operative Society, affiliated to the National Youth Services Council was organised at the National Youth Centre, Maharagama. It was opened by Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dallas Alahapperuma. Here the Minister inspecting one of the items at a stall. Pic: Wehelle Piyathilake, Maharagama Special Cor.

Boost for fresh water fishing industry

by Mohammed Naalir

Plans are afoot by the Eastern Province Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry to release 450,000 fingerlings to the small reservoirs in the Eastern province, to develop the fresh water fishing industry.

This program envisages to uplift the economic and living standards of the people in the province who underwent untold hardships due to LTTE terrorism for nearly three decades and was also victimised by tsunami catastrophe, according to Batticaloa district fisheries officer S. Jayaroopan.

Under this program 120,000 fingerlings have been released to 4 tanks in Batticaloa District including Kunjankulam tank in Vakarai where the internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been resettled.

These fingerlings will grow from one kilo to two kilos in six months and thereafter they could be netted for consumption, Jayaroopan said.

Tamil recruits complete Police training

by Beruwala Cor.

Three hundred and seven Tamil Police recruits including WPCs will passout from the Police Training School in Kalutara on January 7.

The Tamil constables were mainly from the Northern Province and they were trained in handling the police duties in Tamil, sources said.

The new batch of Tamil Police Constables will be posted to the police stations in the North and East to deal with the issues in Tamil, sources said.

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasooriya will take the salute of the new Tamil Police constables at the passing out parade.

A generous gesture

A group of children from low-income families who will be entering Grade 1 in January 2011, were gifted with stationery items at the Swarnabodhi Vihara, Wellawatta, at a function held last week. The event was sponsored by Coordinating officer Lions Club and social worker Lion S. Gunawardene. Thirty two children received books, bags, uniform materials and other items and five persons were given Rs. 5,000 each to begin self-employment ventures.

Addressing the participants, Viharadhipathi Ven. Kiriveldola Piyananda Thera said that it was a meritorious act for the wealthy to help the needy. Lion Gunawardene, Wellawatta North Grama Seva Niladhari Anandatissa Malalgoda and R. P. Ranjith also spoke.

Nawalapitiya first in the island

P.B. Kirindeniya N'pitiya Gr. cor.

Rural Development Society, Nawalapitiya South grama niladhari division, has won the 1st place in the island out of 4,600 rural development societies in the country. It is revealed that this particular society has contributed a lot for the welfare of the area.