Many school labs lack equipment

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane said steps have been taken to deploy Zonal Education officials to make frequent visits to their respective schools and look into the needs and shortages of educational equipment in each school.

Minister Gunawardane told the Junior Observer that although school authorities hold regular discussions with their respective Zonal Educational officials on various matters pertaining to their schools, he has received information that some schools, especially in the rural and remote sectors, still face shortages of certain equipment for science and computer laboratories.

“It is our duty to provide a good education to the 4.3 million schoolchildren in the country. Therefore, all schools whether they are in urban, rural or remote areas should be provided with the necessary educational equipment without further delay,” the Minister said.

He said apart from few schools, all the other schools have modern science and computer laboratories and the Government's main intention is to establish such laboratories in all the schools in the country before long.

He further said that not only educational equipment, but also adequate sports gear should be provided so that they could improve their sporting abilities and succeed in their endevour of taking part in local and international sports events.

Referring to the teacher shortages in schools, the Minister said the issue will be solved soon giving priority to the recruitment of teachers for science, mathematics, accountancy, e conomics, English and Information Technology.

The Minister also spoke of the interest shown by many schoolchildren to learn foreign languages and said more teachers will also be appointed to teach Chinese, French, Korean and Japanese languages in addition to the English language.He said most school leavers secure tourism related jobs both here and abroad and learning foreign languages will be beneficial to them.

Muslims fast during the Holy Month of Ramadan

Every healthy adult Muslim man or woman must fast during the holy month of Ramadan which is the fourth principle of Islam. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is for 29 or 30 days according to the visibility of the crescent moon. For Muslims the month of Ramadan is unique, as it is a month full of blessings.

In this month lies the night that is better than a thousand months.

Regarding the breaking of fast, Allah has said anyone who invites a person to break their fast will be provided with forgiveness of his sins and will be saved from fires of hell.

During the first 10 days one should pray for Allah's mercy (Rahmath), second 10 days for (Magrifath) and third 10 days for Allah's to save us from hell fire.Fasting is obligatory during the month of Ramadan alone, because it is the blessed month of the Islamic calendar and in this month the Holy Quran was revealed to mankind, through the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).The merits during fasting is seventy times greater when compared with other months.

Rapid decline of coral reefs shown

More than 2,600 of the world's top marine scientists recently warned that there is a rapid decline of coral reefs around the world and urged immediate global action on climate change to save what remains.

The consensus statement at the International Coral Reef Symposium, held in the northeastern Australian city of Cairns, stressed that the livelihoods of millions of people were at risk.

Coral reefs provide food and work for countless coastal inhabitants globally, generate significant revenues through tourism and function as a natural breakwater for waves and storms.

The statement, endorsed by the forum attendees and other marine scientists, called for measures to head off escalating damage caused by rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, overfishing and pollution from the land. “There is a window of opportunity for the world to act on climate change, but it is closing rapidly,” said Terry Hughes, convener of the symposium, held every four years, which attracted some 2,000 scientists from 80 countries.

In the Caribbean, for example, 75-85 per cent of the coral cover has been lost in the last 35 years.Even the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the best-protected reef ecosystem on the planet, has witnessed a 50 per cent decline in the last 50 years."That means what's good for reefs is also critically important for people and we should wake up to that fact,” he said.

“The future of coral reefs isn't a marine version of tree-hugging but a central problem for humanity."More than 85 per cent of reefs in Asia's ‘Coral Triangle’ are directly threatened by human activities such as coastal development, pollution, and overfishing, according to a report launched at the forum .

[News in brief]

by Rohana JAYALAL

Port City of Colombo to to be opened in October

The Port City of Colombo spanning 230 hectares consists of reclaimed water front. The reclamation work will be carried out at a cost of 900 million U.S.dollars.The initial infrastructure will be completed within 39 months,Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA)sources said. The project will be launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in October. He said that the area will be developed as a Port City with proper planning to equip it with roads, water, electricity and communication facilities and to set up shopping areas, a water sport area, a mini golf course, hotels, apartments and recreation areas such as marinas, as a modern city. The SLPA envisages an investment of 15 billion U.S.Dollars in creating these facilities within the Port City. According to SLPA sources the project will change the geography and outlook of Sri Lanka.

Botanical Gardens at Mirijjawila

First Dry zone Botanical Gardens in Sri lanka at Mirijjawila,Hambantota will be vested with the people in 2016.Director General,Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens,Dr Cyril Wijesundara said. The construction work commenced in 2006 .It was set up to conserve and protect the plants and ayurvedic herbs,,Dr Cyril Wijesundara said,