CM to launch scheme to promote ethnic harmony

by W.P.B. Fonseka, Bingiriya Group Corr.

Under a new scheme launched by the Chief Minister of the North Western Province Athula Wijesinghe, steps have been taken to teach the Tamil language as a compulsory subject to Sinhala students of government schools in the North Western Province Students who study in Tamil medium too would get a chance to learn the Sinhala language as the knowledge of both languages will pave the way for the future citizens to live in peace and harmony. The Chief Minister has planned to recruit scholars who are well versed in both languages to teach in schools soon.

A senior official of the Chief Minister's office told that Rs. 1.5 million has been set aside for training officials for this purpose and for providing educational equipment to schools.

This new program will be launched next year, he said. Meanwhile to mark the Universal Teachers' Day that falls on October 6, a series of useful programs has been planned in government schools in the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts as per the instructions of the Ministry of Education. All school principals in the North Western Province have planned to felicitate retired schoolteachers and principals.

Mr. Athula Wijesinghe the Chief Minister of the NWP-PC has already instructed school principals to organise programs to educate students on the value and greatness of school teachers who dedicate their life to children by providing knowledge and in including human values.

The NWP-PC has allocated Rs. 1.2 million to mark the World Teacher's Day in the province. The students of government schools in the Bingiriya electorate have been provided with the opportunity of taking part in an essay competition and poetry competition on the valuable services rendered by school teachers'.

Winners will be awarded attractive cash prizes and certificates by the Department of Education, according to H.M. Dhanapala, a senior school principal at Bingiriya.

Meritorious act by bank staff

by G. A. Gunasena - Ginigathhena Special Correspondent

The Ginigathhena branch of the People's Bank in the Nuwara Eliya district did a meritorious act by offering the mid-day meal and the gifts for the inmates of the Suwasetha Children's Home at Vidulipura (Norton Bridge) recently.

The staff of the People's Bank Ginigathhena branch led by its manager B. K. Sam Perera had organised the event to mark the 46th anniversary of the People's Bank. The 36 parentless girls of the children's home who enjoyed the sumptuous meal and received the gift parcel from the staff members of the Ginigathhena branch of the People's Bank entertained their visitors by displaying their talents in singing and dancing.

The Manager of the People's Bank Ginigathhena branch Perera said that he would take steps to implement a new program for the future benefit of the inmates of the children's home with the assistance of the generous clients of his branch.