A botanical garden in Hambantota

Almost all of you may have visited at least one of the main botanical gardens in Sri Lanka. The island's largest botanical garden, as we all know, is in Peradeniya. But this might soon change as the government has now decided to set up the largest botanical garden in Hambantota.

Hambantota is in the dry zone and this is the first time that a formal botanical garden is being set up in the dry zone. A special place will be provided in the garden to the display of flowering plants and trees endemic (unique) to the dry zone.

Local experts in the botanical, gardening and horticultural sectors will oversee the construction, which will begin next year. The project is expected to be completed in three years. A land of about 300 hectares has already been acquired by the Ministry from the Mahaweli Authority in Mirijjawila.

The initial investment for the project is estimated to be around Rs. 100 million. Cabinet approval will be sought if more funds are needed to successfully complete the project. The possibility of obtaining foreign funds will also be explored.

The project is being launched with the objective of raising awareness among both locals and foreigners about the many different types of flora and fauna, while also providing educational opportunities for schoolchildren and university students.

Another aim is to attract more tourists to the country, which will bring in more foreign exchange.

Rapid extinction of birds recorded

US scientists say human activities have caused some 500 bird species worldwide to become extinct since the year 1500 and the rate is rising.

The Duke University scientists said the 21st century extinction rates likely will accelerate to approximately 10 additional species per year unless societies take action to reverse the trend.

Without the influence of humans, the expected extinction rate for birds would be roughly one species per century, according to Stuart Pimm, a professor at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences and one of the report's principal authors.

"What our study does, for the first time, is provide a well-justified and careful estimate of how much faster bird species are going extinct now than they did before humans began altering their environments," said Pimm. "Extinction rates for birds are hugely important, because people really care about birds," he said.

"People enjoy them, and bird watching is a big industry. So, we know the rates of bird extinctions better than the rates for other groups of species."

Programmes to boost education

All of you, even the very youngest ones, would have heard of the budget being presented by the government every year. The budget details the income and expenditure of the country for the coming year, and every sector in the economy and society is accounted for in it.

The education sector, which is very important to you, is not forgotten. Every year, a certain sum from the total GDP is allocated for this vital sector. This year, at the Budget 2007, which was presented in Parliament recently, three per cent of the GDP was allocated to provide quality education to children.

A record sum of Rs. 2.6 billion will be spent by the government next year on school uniforms and books (Rs. 1.2 billion for uniforms and Rs. 1.4 billion for books) for the four million Lankan student population.

The government expects to provide solutions to the problems which have been hampering the education field. Among the plans for next year are developing hostels and laboratories in universities and promoting higher education.

The allocation for capital expenses has also been doubled through this year's budget. There are also plans to recruit 3,000 new teachers before the end of this year, which will bring the total number of teachers recruited during the year to around 21,000.

A large number of development programmes are under way in the education sector, which will result in many job opportunities being created in the island for those fluent in English and computer science.

Among the projects is a special programme to teach Sinhala, English and Tamil to schoolchildren. A new programme called 'Samata English', which aims to improve the English knowledge of schoolchildren, was also launched.

'I Know UK' winners receive prizes

The winners of 'I Know UK', the art competition about modern Britain, received their prizes from British High Commissioner, Dominick Chilcott, at a ceremony held recently.

The British High Commission, in October, invited some 60 randomly selected schools from different parts of Sri Lanka to take part in this competition.

The competitors had to submit paintings of their impressions of the United Kingdom. The prizes comprised art supplies and books about Britain. The winners of the art competition were: 6-11 years - Imalka Udawatta of Kg/Mw/Mayurapada MMV (first place), Y. Navodi Hansika of Mayurapada MMV (second place), and M.J. Lahiru Ishan Saranga of MI/Dudley Senanayake MV (third place). 12-15 years - S.A. Shashini Dinali Dharmasiri of Ferguson High School, Ratnapura (first place), J. Ruwan Manoj of WP/HO/Bandaragama Central College (second place) and Asitha Liyanage of Bandaragama Central College (third place).

16-19 years - Sajith Lakshan Abeywardena of H/Walasmulla MMV (first place), S.A. Hansani Gunasekara of Kalutara Balika MV (second place) and H.P. Thilini Bagya of B/Sri Janananda MMV (third place).

The runners-up were: 6-11 years - Dilhara Lakshan Dediyangala of Dharmadhutha College, Badulla. 12-15 years - J. Ashan Sangeeth of Dudley Senanayake Adharsha MV, Y.A. Muneer Mohammed of Mayurapada MMV, B.P. Ramanayake of Mayurapada MMV, M.K. Hansani Nisansala of Dambulla National School, B.M. Madusanka Chanaka of Hatharaliyadda Central College and E.M. Anuradha Niroshini of Hatharaliyadda Central College. 16-19 years - K.R.S.T. Sandamali of Mayurapada MMV, W.N. Sisira Kumara Wijerathne of B/Lunuwatta National School and W.A. Lasitha Chathuranga Pushpakumara of Dharmadutha College.

Lankan students at int'l camp

Four Sri Lankan students who are St. John Ambulance Cadet First-aiders got the opportunity of participating in the Seventh Pentecost World Camp in Germany.

They were Arthihai Srirangan and Rathigashini Ramachandran of Hindu Ladies' College, Wellawatte, Anushka Kasun Rajapaksha of Mahanama College, Kandy and Dumindu Nayanajith Silva of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa.

The camp was organised by the Johanniter Jugend, which is a member of the St. John Ambulance International First-aid organisation, with support from the Youth Group of Wurzburg. Thousands of participants from countries like Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Italy took part in the camp.

Dumindu and Anushka got the opportunity to work as newspaper reporters at the site while Dumindu also won third place in a climbing event.

The plight of migrants in focus

Tomorrow (December 18) is International Migrants Day, when migrant-related issues will be highlighted around the world. The day had been declared by the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the date in 1990 when the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (Migrant Workers Convention) was adopted.

The Convention came into effect on July 1, 2003 and says all migrants, irrespective of their immigration status, should be able to enjoy certain fundamental rights including the right to be free from poverty, the right to equality before the law and in conditions of work, and the right to urgent medical care.

It had been ratified by over 34 states as at 2000 while all states have been urged to do so. The Migrants Day focuses attention on the millions of migrants who have lost even their basic fundamental rights.

The UN General Assembly has stressed the need to make further efforts to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants.