Restoring Ruhuna heritage sites

The southern areas of Ruhuna have a rich culture and heritage which have been further strengthened by the legacy left behind by the Portuguese and Dutch in Galle. The area is rich with many places of archaeological and cultural value.

According to a new programme launched by the Ministry of National Heritage, these places are expected to

 be given a new lease of life. The Ruhunu Cultural Triangle programme which covers the Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts will carry out excavation and restoration of objects of historical, religious and archaeological value to their former glory.

The programme will see a museum being built in the Galle Fort to boost tourism in the district while another museum and a tourist information centre will be established at Kataragama. Restoration of the Katuwana fortress is also in the pipeline.

The programme, which started in 2006 and which will go on till 2009, is funded by the Government of the Netherlands. Funds to the tune of Rs. 702 million has already been released for this project under the Sri Lanka-Netherlands Cultural Cooperation Programme.

Nanocrystals in action

Researchers have taken a major step towards being able to take 'photographs' of individual nanocrystal molecules in action.

An international team led by University College, London (UCL) researchers at the London Centre for Nanotechnology have obtained a full 3-D image of the interior of nanocrystals by using a process known as coherent X-ray diffraction imaging.

The technique, which involves measuring and inverting (turning the other way around) diffraction (breaking up a beam of light into separate bands) patterns, will ultimately help to develop X-ray free-electron lasers. That will allow single-molecule imaging and make it possible to assess defects more accurately in any given material.

UCL Professor, Ian Robinson, who led the study, said: "This new imaging method shows the interior structure of atomic displacements (shifts) within single nanocrystals; they can be obtained by direct inversion of the diffraction pattern.

We hope one day this will be applied to determine the structure of single protein molecules placed in the femtosecond beam of a free-electron laser.

The technique is detailed in the journal Nature.

Banning of polythene products

The use of polythene has become a severe problem in our country. They are so widespread and their use is so common that it's very difficult to get rid of them. At the same time, they are posing serious environmental problems due to their non-degradable nature.

The worst culprits are those polythene products which are below 20 microns. These include varieties of 'sili sili' bags, lunch sheets and grocery bags.

Although a ban was imposed on the use of such products from this month, the government has now decided to grant a grace period of three months to the public to stop their use, considering the widespread use of these products by the local public.

However, the ban will be strictly enforced on the producers and vendors of polythene products below 20 microns as they had been educated on the harmful effects of these products on the environment, and had been given ample warning about the regulations that will come into force.

The Central Environmental Authority has already carried out raids on many shops selling polythene products below 20 microns.

The government plans to move beyond 20 microns in the future and ban polythene products even above that mark. All polythene products containing lower than 40 microns are banned in India, while certain Western countries have banned polythene altogether. Meanwhile, most polythene manufacturers have expressed their willingness to convert to the manufacture of degradable polythene.

Accordingly, the demand for oxy-biodegradable bags has increased.

There is only a 4 to 5 cents price difference between degradable bags and non-degradable bags and manufacturers do not need to make additional investments to convert to oxy-biodegradable polythene.

Only a change in the raw materials being used is needed.

Lyceum, Panadura bags productivity award

by Ananda Kannangara

"As educationists, it is our duty to mould students by developing their knowledge, skills and attitudes, so

that they could play a major role in society", Principal of Lyceum International School, Panadura, H.L.B. Gomes said.

He was speaking at a ceremony held to pay tribute to the management, staff and students of the school for their contribution in winning the All Island Trophy for Productivity in the Private and International School Sector - 2005.

The National Productivity and Quality Awards ceremony was held at the BMICH recently under the patronage of Education Minister Susil Premajayantha. Principal Gomes said that students were instructed to follow the 5S system which immensely helped to improve the qualitative production and the team work, which led to the award. "During this period, we encouraged staff members and students to indulge in various educational activities by conducting lectures and training programmes," he said.

The Principal said in addition to educational activities, the students and their parents were also involved in various community projects such as helping needy students in Welikanda and projects for the well-being of mentally-retarded children at selected areas in the country.

Stage play for children

A new production of the Children Skills Development Programme (CSDP), a children's stage play titled 'Tak Tik Tuk Rooopa Pettiya' will be staged at the YMBA, Borella at 2.30pm today.

The play, which gives a message about the link between children and television, has now been staged 200 times.

After the event, some instant competitions will be held for the children. The presentation of certificates to the winners as well as all participants of the 'Aluth Avurudu Prarthana' national competition organised by CSDP will also be held after the play. The CSDP has requested all participants of these competitions to be present at the venue on this day.

For more details, write to: No. 51, Sri Dharmarama Road, Dematagoda, Colombo 9 or call: 0112-672718, 0112-689536 or 0714-113457.