Air guns to keep away monkeys

by Sumathipala Deeyagahage - Southern Province Roving Corr.

The Coconut Cultivation Board has taken steps to issue air guns to cultivators and home gardeners in the Galle District to protect their agricultural crops from damage caused to them by monkeys.

Under this project cultivators in many areas in the district have already started using air guns to scare away animals damaging their crops. The rubber bullets fired from those air guns cause only physical pain without injuring the animals. The cultivators say that the new device has a determent effect on the intruding animals.

These air guns, imported from Germany by a private firm are sold at Rs. 15,000 each. The Galle Assistant Regional Manager of the Coconut Cultivation Board however said, that the air guns are sold at a concessionary price to the cultivators on the recommendation of the Coconut Cultivation Board.

Estate lines gutted by faulty wiring

by P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

In the recent past a number of estate workers lines in the Dickoya, Bogawanthalawa, Hatton, and Nanuoya areas were completely gutted and hundreds of families were rendered homeless. They were temporarily accommodated in dwellings, schools and kovils. A few days ago ten line rooms were completely destroyed by fire at Langdale division of Desfford Group Nanuoya.

According the estate management the reason for fires were found to be the faulting wiring undertaken by unqualified or inexperienced persons. Meanwhile, some of the recently put up housing units by certain agencies and NGOs have collapsed due to poor workmanship. "Hundred year-old Lines constructed by the British have stood the test of times " the workers remarked.

Seven hospitals upgraded in South

by Sumathipala Deeyagahage - Southern Province Roving Corr.

Seven District Hospitals in the Southern Province have been upgraded to the Base Hospital level by the southern provincial Health Ministry. Steps have been taken to commence the development work of the seven hospitals at a cost of eighty million rupees.

In addition to the funds provided by the Southern Provincial Council, several organisations such as the UNICEF, The Sri Lanka Red Cross, CARE and the Sinhala Foundation of Singapore are also providing financial aid.

Elpitiya, Balapitiya, Kamburupitiya, Deniyaya, Tissamaharamaya, Tangalle and Walasmulla district hospitals have been upgraded.

Storeyed buildings will be constructed to house new wards, operation theatres, dental surgeries, accident service unit, labour rooms and quarters for doctors, nurses and minor employees.

Work has already been started on several buildings.

Rural communities would be largely benefitted by these development projects, Provincial Health Minister, A. G. C. Piyasiri stated.

Industrial villages, boom to the youth

by Rakwana Group Corr.

The youth with skills should be encouraged and provided with the necessary facilities so that they could become creative-minded and contribute their lot to the national development.

It is therefore, our duty to provide every possible assistance they need, said Rural Industries Minister, Premalal Jayasekera at the opening of the Pussella new industrial village recently.

The industrial project was completed at a total cost of five million rupees. Addressing the crowd, the minister said, our youth need training and direction in order to venture into the industrial field.

The education too needs changes with the progress of time. Similarly, the rural industrial base needs to be further expanded so that more employment opportunities could be provided to the youth.

Rural Industrial villages of this nature is in the long run a big boom to the country. Our government whilst giving priority to rural industries has also launched several infrastructure projects to sustain the rural industrial base, he said.

Safety measures for fruits and vegetables

by Anuradhapura Group Corr.

Anuradhapura Post Harvest Technology Institute has made arrangements to supply plastic packs to farmers as a means to minimize the damages caused to fruits and vegetables when they are transported.

A considerable damage is caused to the produce whilst being transported Senior Research Office, PHI, D.P.P. Samarasinghe said.

As in advanced countries if our farmers too get used to new methods, the damage to the produce such as fruits and vegetables could be largely curtailed while preserving the freshness as well as natural quality, he added.