Child abuse: Parents too must be vigilant

Child Development and Women Affairs Minister Tissa Karalliyadda

Q: Strict laws are needed to curb the increase in instances of child abuse. What are your plans to control child -related crimes?

A:Above all it is very important that parents should take utmost care of their children. Don’t allow them to be alone and ensure that they are engaged in something constructive please keep a watchful eye with whom your son or daughter is keeping company. Human values are certainly on the decline. A draft Act to provide strict laws to deal with child abuse is being studied by the Attorney General. The lack of qualified and duty conscious officials poses difficulties to deal with the alarming increase in cases of sexual abuse and harassment of children.

Two more oil wells to be drilled

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha

Q: CAIRN Lanka has found liquid gas in two oil wells in Mannar Basin during the first phase of oil exploration. What is the next phase?

A: According to the agreement between the Sri Lanka government and CAIRN Lanka Ltd, two more oil wells will be drilled during the second and third phases. CAIRN had advertised for international providers to supply 3D Marine Seismic data which indicated their preparation for the fourth oil well. They may start drilling shortly.

Now that liquid gas is found in the first two oil wells pipelines have to be laid on the sea bed. The expert team will arrive in Sri Lanka soon.

Q: Will Sri Lanka be benefited by black gold in the near future?

A: The first phase of the oil explorations is really encouraging. The laboratory tests of the liquid gas samples from the two oil wells are indicative of future prospects.

Vegetable plants for scribes

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena

Q: You will present plant saplings as a New Year gifts to Media personnel on January 4. at your Ministry. What makes you to adopt this novel idea?

A: Self-sufficiency in food is our aim. Our annual food bill is around Rs. 2000 billion. We wish to strengthen our relationship with the media so that our campaign to grow more food will be taken to every nook and corner by the media. We will be giving them useful local plants so that they could develop their own home gardens.