Schoolchildren must join energy saving drive

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka last week appealed to 4.5 million schoolchildren in the country to make their individual contribution towards the Government's proposed 'Electricity Conservation Programme' by using less electricity, especially during the peak period between 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.

Addressing a conference at Ananda College auditorium, Colombo. Minister Ranawaka requested schoolchildren to make it a habit to switch off non-essential lights in their homes and gardens during daytime and night time.He said children could set an example even to elders on how to conserve electricity, especially during peak hours, since many elders do not obey repeated requests on energy saving.

The Minister also asked children to note the high cost, incurred by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) when generating electricity and warned them to minimise using high voltage home appliances, such as refrigerators, electric irons, water motors, bulbs in their residences and gardens, during the peak hours.

He said according to the Ceylon Electricity Board 2000 mw of electricity is currently consumed in Sri Lanka during peak hours.Minister Ranawaka said if consumers could follow CEB instructions, the country could save eight billion rupees of the national income.

He said schoolchildren should be aware that Sri Lanka is using 80 per cent electricity from fuel, gas and coal and they lead to environment pollution, climate change, natural disasters such as floods, droughts and storms.

The Minister requested children to use power sparingly even in their school premises to save electricity for tomorrow.

A record percentage of students excel in O/Ls

The 3980 students who excelled in the GCE (OL)Examination obtaining nine 'A's which includes a visually impaired student from Taxila College, Horana who did the examination in braille , were commended by the Minister of Education, Bandula Gunawardane. He said the number could be increased from next year with the implementation of new education policies. According to the examination Department, approximately 443,298 students sat the GCE (O/L)Examination last December out of which 12,795 students have failed all the nine subjects.He said he was glad to note that the number of students who had obtained a pass mark in the English language last year stoo d at a record percentage of 44.57 when compared to 2010 results which stood at 42.36 per cent.The percentage of students who obtained a pass in Science too had increased from 61.72 to 62.40 this year. He also said a record number of students - 53. 3 per cent had obtained pass marks for Mathematics and this number too could be increased next year by appointing additional teachers to schools before the end of the year. A record number of 114 students from Ratnavali Balika Vidyalaya ,Gampaha have obtained nine 'A's in the examination this year.

-A.K

Easter Sunday and the Great Fifty Days

The foundation of the Christian faith is life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter, which celebrates Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead, is the oldest and holiest Christian festival, the climax and centre of the liturgical year, and the holy day to which all other holy days point.

However, Easter doesn't fall on a set date every year. The most commonly stated rule for determining the date of Easter is that it is the first Sunday that follows the first full moon after the vernal equinox.

Therefore, Christian churches in the West celebrate Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox on March 21. Easter is observed anywhere between March 22 and April 25 every year. Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar to calculate when Easter will occur and typically celebrate the event a week or two after the Western churches, which follow the Gregorian calendar.

The week preceding Easter is called Holy Week and includes Maundy Thursday, which commemorates Jesus' last supper with his disciples; Good Friday, which honours the day of his crucifixion; and Holy Saturday, which focuses on the transition between the crucifixion and resurrection.

The 50-day period following Easter Sunday is called Eastertide and includes a celebration of Jesus' ascension into heaven.

On Easter Sunday the Christian church celebrates God's great triumph over sin, death, and the devil. Contrary

to what many people think, Easter is not a single day. It is actually a season that begins on Easter Sunday and continues for seven full weeks.

The seven-week cycle is known historically as the Great Fifty Days or the Week of Weeks.

During this time, the church celebrates the Lord's resurrection, His appearances to the disciples after Easter, His post-resurrection teachings, His ascension into heaven, and the disciples' eager anticipation of the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Ascension Day --the 40th of the Great Fifty Days -- is frequently commemorated with a special evening worship service since it always falls on a Thursday.The Easter season is the most joyful and festive season of the Christian year.

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Japanese art competition:

Sri Lankan children show their colours

A children's art competition was organised by the Keisho Art Centre of Anjo, Aichi, Japan recently. Many Sri Lankan children who took part in the competition won awards and certificates . We feature some of the winning entries here.

The prize of Education Superintendent, Anjo City was won by H.P. Ishani Vidurangana of Lindsay Girls' School, Colombo. (Painting no.112), the Chu Nim Newspapers' prize by Sevmini Jayasundara of Girls' High School, Kandy (Painting no.146), the prize of Cultural Association, Anjo, by Hanshani D. Meegahaarchchi of Gothami Girls' School, Colombo (Painting no. 113) and Yasendri Neha Paul of Musaeus College, Colombo (Painting 114) and the prize of Keisho Art Centre ,Anjo City by Thishali Ukwattage (Painting 107) and Janidu K.Meegoda of S. Thomas College, Mt Lavinia (Painting 136)