Dengue eradication campaign:

Many school compounds littered with polythene

by Ananda KANNANGARA

With the ongoing Dengue Eradication Programme intensifying,the Environmental Ministry last week focused attention on the use of a large quantity of polythene by schoolchildren for various purposes, including wrapping of meal packets. The Ministry warned parents to avoid using polythene as far as possible and advise children who take polythene to schools to dispose of them properly. Polythene taken to schools and discarded all over the compound could easily block waterways and develop dengue breeding sites in the school compounds.

According to the Environment Ministry, a large quantity of discarded polythene and wrappers were found in school compounds and inside drains during the dengue breeding ground cleaning campaigns conducted last week by officials of the Presidential Dengue Task Force.

The Presidential Task Force on Dengue includes the Ministries of Health, Education, Environment, Defence, Disaster Management, Local Government and Provincial Councils, Public Administration, Housing and Construction and the Ministry of Urban Development.

Environment Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa told the Junior Observer that the Education Ministry has already made it compulsory for all schools in the country to carry out a one-hour cleaning programme on Fridays from 7.30 a.m. to destroy dengue breeding grounds.

He said such a programme would not only control dengue, but also other mosquito borne diseases. He urged the members of school environmental clubs to give preference to carry out regular mosquito breeding ground cleaning campaigns. Meanwhile, a senior official of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) said the dengue death toll had risen to ten in the city with the death of an 11 -year old child from Colombo 8.

He said conducting cleaning programmes regularly and destroying discarded plastic cans, polythene and tins was imperative at this juncture, with so many contracting dengue.

He therefore urged schoolchildren in over 9,000 schools countrywide to assist officials to eliminate the dengue menace from their respective areas, considering it as a national duty.

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What you can do ...

* Clean your school compound regularly - at least once a week.

* Do not throw litter everywhere – keep a bin to throw your litter in the classroom or just outside it.

* Ensure that no receptacles such as lids of your water or drink bottles, empty ice cream and yoghurt cups are strewn around.

* Put all polythene food wraps and polythene bags you take to school into the garbage bin – not in the garden. Your careless acts could cost a life.

* If and when you see any litter that could block drains or collect rain water, dispose of them immediately.

* Prompt action could prevent dengue breeding sites from developing , and save lives.

* Keep your school compounds as clean as you would keep your homes.

* Your cooperation is invaluable.

* Let's all help fight the dengue monster that has already killed many people in the country.

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[News in Brief]

by Rohana JAYALAL

Rubber cultivation expanded

The Ministry of Plantation Industry has taken measures to expand rubber cultivation in non traditional rubber plantation areas in order to meet the increasing demand for rubber in the world market. According to Ministry sources, there is a very high demand for natural rubber in the world market and Sri Lanka has not been able to meet this high demand due to insufficient local production. At present Sri Lanka produces about 150,000 metric tons of rubber and it is necessary to increase production by at least another 50,000 metric tons.

Sri Lanka has rubber cultivations in the Kalutara, Ratnapura and Kegalle districts. Pilot projects carried out in the Ampara and Moneragala districts have been found successful. Experiments were carried out to cultivate rubber in 10,000 hectares in the Ampara districtand this has proved successful. Experiments have also been conducted in the districts of Kilinochchi, Mulaitivu and Vavuniya as well.

The Rubber Research Institute has confirmed that the soil and environment in Mulaitivu and Vavuniya have also proved suitable for rubber cultivation. Opening up areas for rubber cultivation in these districts will also enable to generate employment opportunities for a large number of people in these districts.

100 acres of herbal plants to be cultivated 

The Indigenous Medicine Ministry will launch a programme to cultivate 100 acres of herbal plants in the country, ministry sources said.

At a discussion at the ministry, it was decided to launch this programme as a joint project with a leading Indian company, to develop the ayurveda plant industry.

 According to sources,the ministry expects to reduce importing ayurvedic herbs while guiding officers under the Ministry to produce Ayurvedic medicines with new technology.

 The programme will be carried out under three stages with Rs 30 million allocated for the first stage.

New entry point to Wilpattu National Park

The Department of Wildlife has planned to open a new entry point into the Wilpattu National Park for the benefit of visitors. The new entrance will provide access from the east side of the sanctuary near the Tantirimale area. It is scheduled to be opened to coincide with the Deyata Kirula programme in February next year.

 There is only one entrance to the Wilpattu National Park on the Anuradhapura Puttalam highway at present. The new entrance will provide easy access to those who visit the National Park.