News in brief

Vital political decisions

Several vital political decisions would be taken at the 17th Convention of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to be held today at the National Youth Services Council auditorium, Maharagama.

Matters relating to future plans of the SLFP, current political issues and an all-island agro project to boost agricultural production would be taken up at the Convention which also marks the sixth anniversary of Minister Maithripala Sirisena assuming office as the General Secretary.

'Subject baskets'

The 'Subject baskets' is a new educational curriculum which is to be proposed by the Ministry of Education for students from grade 6 to 11.

According to the curriculum students will be able to select three subjects from separate "subject baskets" in addition to learning six core subjects including English, Mathematics and Science.

$3.2m grant from Japan

Japan will provide a US$ 3.2 million grant as further support to boost the humanitarian de-mining activities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Accordingly, five international Non Governmental Organisations (INGOs) will receive funds for one year, for de-mining activities in several locations in Jaffna, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

Five Tiger suspects killed

The Security Forces said yesterday they killed five suspected Tamil Tigers who were trying to plant mines near a defence line in the country's north. Soldiers observed the group on Friday in Eluthumadduval village in the northern Jaffna peninsula and shot them, an official at the Media Centre for National Security said.

Indian company to build 60-floor office

NEB Projects, an Indian company, signed an agreement with the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to build a 60-floor edifice at Battaramulla in the Sri Jayawardhanapura Municipal Council area. When constructed, it would become the tallest building in Sri Lanka.

Construction work on the Rs.13.2 billion project will commence soon and will be completed in four years. Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Dinesh Gunawardana monitored the signing of the agreement at his Ministry.

Celebrate Murali's feats - Symonds

Australian All-rounder Andrew Symonds has implored his home crowds to celebrate the feats of Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan if the spin wizard eclipses Shane Warne's world record this summer. Muralitharan, who has regularly been tormented by Australian fans, is poised to topple Warne as the highest Test wicket-taker this November on Australian soil, needing just eight more scalps to equal the leg spinner's 708 victims.

But Symonds said Muralitharan deserves to be shown respect if he achieved the milestone in either Brisbane (November 8-12) or in Hobart (November 16-20) later this year. "Definitely it would be embarrassing for us as a team if they didn't," Symonds told AAP.

"We respect him for his skills and for what he has done and I think it would be rude, straight out rude, if they didn't sort of respect him and give him the pat on the back he deserves," Symonds said.

NATA at Health Ministry

An office for the National Alcohol and Tobacco Authority (NATA) was opened recently at the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition. Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition, Nimal Siripala de Silva said that this was only an initial step and a land to build a new building would be acquired in the near future.

The Minister said that he was concerned about the implementation of the law and that steps would be taken in that direction. The public is invited to contact the authorities of NATA on the given contact details for inquiries and information .