Preserving ancient archaeological site

The Department of Archaeology will take steps to renovate and protect ancient ruins at the Habbillavetiya archaeological site off Kebithigollewa in Anuradhapura.

The attention of Department officials have also been drawn to other important places around Kebithigollewa, Madukanda and Medavachchiya.The main feature at Habbillavetiya is a construction called 'aasanagharaya' (meaning the house for sitting).

Considered as the largest of its kind in the world, this building is 65 feet x 45 feet in dimension.

The Habbillavetiya site had first been explored by the late Professor Senarath Paranavithana, renowned archaeologist and former Director General of Archaeology.

Milk for Samurdhi children

Children between the ages of two and five, of Samurdhi recipient families in the Madurawala Secretariat Division in the Bulathsinhala electorate will receive a glass of milk daily in future. Arrangements to this effect have been made by the Samurdhi Development Authority.

Each child in this area would be issued with two stamps worth Rs. 200 every month. Either liquid milk or milk powder could be purchased with these stamps. Arrangements have been made to provide a daily glass of milk to more than 300 children in the area.

Protect wetlands for a healthy future

Wetlands are an important part of nature and their proper maintenance and management are vital for a balanced eco-system. Sri Lanka has its share of wetlands with some of them undergoing vast pollution on a daily basis. This should be stopped immediately and attention should be paid to protecting and conserving these wetlands.

The importance of wetlands to the ecology and the human population would be emphasised when the World Wetlands Day is observed on February 2 under the theme 'Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People'.

The day is commemorated on the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially at Waterfowl Habitats (Ramsar Convention) in the Iranian city of Ramsar on February 2, 1971.

The event was first observed in 1997. Since then, governments, non-governmental organisations and community groups all over 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.

This year's theme would introduce to the Ramsar community as well as the public, key topics that focus on the direct and positive effects of maintaining healthy wetlands on human health such as provision of food, clear water, pharmaceutical products; and the direct negative results on mismanaging wetlands that result in the impairment of health and even loss of life, water-related diseases, burning peatlands and floods.

This theme would be carried forward to the 10th meeting of Ramsar's Conference of the Parties to be held in Korea in October-November.

Committee to address Muslim students' issues

A committee has been formed by the Education Ministry to conduct a survey into the standard of Muslim education in Sri Lanka and to form a mechanism to find solutions for the problems which may lie in this area.

The committee initiated by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha, comprises Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of the South Eastern University, Jezima Ismail and Dr. A.G. Hussain respectively, Director, Social Cohesion Peace Education, Dr. J.M.B.K. Hajarjhan Mansoor and S.H.M. Jameel.

The move came about after a recent meeting between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the All Ceylon Muslim Education Conference, held at Temple Trees. The meeting was organised to highlight the problems faced by muslim students when receiving their education.

Closing the 'digital divide'

A project to provide students from rural areas with the opportunity of receiving a real-time (as it happens) interactive learning from experienced teachers has been approved by the Cabinet.

The proposal for the project titled 'Digital Divide' was submitted by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha.

The project also includes signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Dialog Telekom to launch the project. This would enable exclusive programmes to be telecast via a channel on Dialog Satellite TV to over 1,000 schools connected to the network.

The project would see lessons being conducted in a recording studio at the National Institute of Education and also being supplemented by a Learning Management System through which the interactive element will be facilitated.