Milk distribution programme

A programme to provide milk to children of low income families got under way at Badalkumbura in the Moneragala Divisional Secretariat. The Government under the Nation Building Ministry has allocated Rs. 500 million for this programme which will be carried out through Milk Collecting Societies at village level.

Priority will be given to children between the ages of two and five years. This programme is organised by the Nation Building and Livestock Development Ministries in collaboration with District and Divisional Secretaries and Samurdhi Assistant Commissioners. The first phase has seen the programme being initiated in 113 less developed DS Divisions.

The Samurdhi Authority has also launched a programme to boost milk production in the country through the distribution of cows.

Short-term memory ability may predict IQ

U.S. psychologists have found people with high IQs might be able to remember more than the four objects an average person can store in short-term memory.

That ability, said University of Oregon psychology professors Edward Awh and Edward Vogel, varies from person to person, but an individual's capacity of short-term memory is a strong predictor of their IQ and scholastic (academic) achievement.

One theory psychologists have considered is that memory capacity might be influenced by the complexity of items being stored. The researchers discovered that even when very complex objects had to be remembered, people were able to hold four items in active memory. However, Awh said, the clarity of those items was not perfect, and some people had much clearer memories than others.

Knowing the number of things a person can remember tells you nothing about how clear a person's memory may be, Awh said. So even though people with high IQs can think about more things at once, they are not guarantees about how good those memories might be.

Water treatment plant for Hikkaduwa

A waste water treatment plant was opened in Hikkaduwa recently as part of the Hikkaduwa Coastal Zone Waste Management Project. It was a joint effort between the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Hikkaduwa Urban Council and the Australian Government, which contributed over Rs. 360 million for the project.

The sewage treatment plant is a sustainable, environmental friendly liquid waste management system that will help reduce negative environmental effects in the area. The project has created livelihood opportunities and health benefits to the poorer sections of the Hikkaduwa community.

The project is helping reduce poverty by turning waste recycling into successful income generating ventures.

More than 4,000 women are participating in waste management, micro-finance and micro-enterprise programmes, which has already seen savings of over Rs 15 million. A well-planned waste management system has been a long awaited requirement in Hikkaduwa.

There have been many concerns about unplanned and uncontrolled tourism development, polluted storm water run-off, poorly treated sewage and disposal of garbage close to waterways.

Southern schools learn about pollution prevention

A project to educate schoolchildren about preventing pollution of coastal areas and sea beaches was launched in the Southern Province by the Authority for the Prevention of Marine Pollution.

Twenty schools in Galle, 13 schools in Matara and 20 schools in Hambantota are taking part in the project. Activities such as essay writing and painting competitions, staging of plays and cleaning of the beach are included in the project. Marine cadet platoons are also expected to be opened in the selected schools.

New museum in vihara premises

The Department of Archaeology is establishing a new local museum in the premises of the historic Vilgamvehera Vihara of Trincomalee. The event marked the completion of 117 years of the Department.

Addressing a gathering of schoolchildren who were present at the event, Director-General Archaeology, Dr. Senerath Bandara Dissanayake appealed to them to voluntarily participate in activities to protect archaeological sites.

He explained that there is a dearth(scarcity) of professionally trained workers in the archaeological sector and the interaction and co-operation of the public and the authorities is extremely important to the conservation of archaeological sites, especially those in remote parts of the country.

The Director General said a crash programme will be introduced by the Department for the conservation of archaeological sites in the newly liberated Eastern Province. The Department has already approached Lanka Patuna and Kalladi, two historic sites in the Verugal-aaru area of Eastern Sri Lanka.

Book on computer hardware

Janaka Maduwantha Dias Senanayake, a Grade 10 student of Nalanda College, Colombo has released a book titled 'Computer Hardware Engineering Technology' in Sinhala. The book was launched at the Auditorium of the Kurunegala Public Library to coincide with the World Children's Books Day.

Janaka has developed an interest in computers from a young age and after following a computer hardware and software course, decided to write this book with the knowledge he had gained.

Besides following his studies and immersing himself in computers, Janaka is also a member of the school hockey, badminton and swimming teams and also takes part in singing and media activities for the school.

He was selected among the first three students in the Best Junior Nalandian contest in 2006. He has also displayed his talents through media such as TV and radio by taking part in programmes such as Atlas Creative Club, ITN and Sirasa Punchi Panchi.