Primary and secondary schools from 2008

A committee was recently appointed by the Education Ministry to study the possibility of classifying the schools under primary and secondary categories.

According to Education Minister, Susil Premajayantha, the intense competition which currently exists to admit children to National and Navodya schools could be minimised only if better infrastructural resources and educational facilities are provided to less developed schools.

Under the proposal, primary and secondary schools will be set up with primary school principals handling all administrative duties including year one admissions.

With the formation of primary and secondary schools from 2008, the Ministry expects to change conventional public attitudes towards less developed schools.

Tree cultivation project

Some of you may have heard of the 'Devadara' tree, which is used to manufacture various herbal medicines. These medicines, which are very expensive, are currently imported to the island from India.

A plan has now being launched by the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine to cultivate Devadara trees in Sri Lanka.

Under the Ministry's 'Osu Govi' Villages project, a feasibility study on cultivating this plant in the area of Pattipola has already started.

Indian officials who examined the Pattipola area have deemed(considered)it suitable for the cultivation of this tree. After the initial examinations, a large stock of Devadara seeds was granted by India to the Minister of Indigenous Medicine.

The Ministry is also exploring the possibility of planting Venivalgata, as an alternative to pynus, following the instructions of the Indian experts.

Wetlands and Fisheries, this year's theme

'Wetlands and Fisheries' will be the theme for this year's World Wetlands Day, which is observed on February 2. The theme has been selected in recognition of the importance of fish and fisheries to all people around the world. The events will be observed under the slogan 'Fish for tomorrow'.

The objectives of the event are the sustainable management of fish and other marine populations, especially the varieties that are commercially fished; supporting sustainable aquaculture practices; effectively managing wetlands and other important fish habitats to protect and conserve fish products; and increasing the awareness among buyers about the fish that are consumed.

The World Wetlands Day is commemorated on the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, on February 2, 1971.

It was first observed in 1997. Since then, governments, non-governmental organisations and other groups from all corners of the world have got together to celebrate the day by taking action to raise awareness about the value and benefits of wetlands and to promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

These activities include seminars, nature walks, festivals, launching new policies, announcing new Ramsar sites and promoting wetland conservation through media such as newspapers, radio and television.

Wetlands are among the world's most productive environments. They are rich in bio-diversity, providing water and other primary resources upon which many species of plants and animals depend for their survival.

Multi-storeyed building for disaster warning centres

The Cabinet has granted approval to a proposal to set up a multi-storeyed building to house the National

 Tsunami Early Warning Centre, National Multi Hazard Early Warning Centre, Emergency Operation Centre and Data Collection Analysis and Research Centre. The proposal was submitted by Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe.

Two multi-hazard early warning towers have already been set up at Hikkaduwa and Ampara, while the third tower is to be set up in Jaffna. These towers have been erected by UN ESCAP with no cost to the Government.

The Disaster Management and Human Rights Ministry plans to install 150 to 200 such towers in other parts of the country this year with funds from the Treasury and with assistance from donors.

The government of the Netherlands has agreed to provide a grant of US$ 7.93 million to the disaster management, communication and response capacity development project; the funds should be used within two years.

Gimhani's third book launched

The third book written by 10-year-old schoolgirl Gimhani Upeksha Waduge, titled Giant Becomes Human was launched recently.

It's the story of three children and a giant. The illustrations, all in colour, have been done by H. C. Rathnayake while the computer design and printing have been carried out by C&R Creations, Chilaw. Warusawithana Laboratory, Chilaw is the publisher of the book.

The schoolgirl's other publications are Three Little Girls and Their Pets and The Blue Butterfly. A Grade 6 (English medium) student of Carmel Girls' Central College, Chilaw, Gimhani reads, writes, swims, plays the piano and observes nature in her spare time.