Training on life saving for Kalutara Youth

by K.A. Perera, Wadduwa Sp.

A workshop was held at Kalutara to train twenty youth representing the Kalutara district to rescue people in an emergency due to floods and also to educate them on disaster management.

The practical training was given to them at Beruwala. The Beruwala Pradesiya Sabha, The Ministry of Disaster Management and the Kalutara district Disaster Management Unit have assisted in the training programme. The practical training was given to them in Bentara river.

Mr. Mahinda Samarasinghe the Minister of Disaster Management distributed the certificates who completed the course successfully. Mr. Piyal Nisantha de Silva the Chairman of Beruwala Pradesiya Sabha, Mr. U.D.C. Jayalal the secretary Beruwala Pradesiya Sabha.

Saman Wedage O.I.C Alutgama police participated at the ceremony.

Pimbura hospital to be upgraded soon

by K.A. Perera, Wadduwa Special

Mr. Mahinda Samarasingha the Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights said that the Pimbura, hospital in Agalawatta electorate is one of the oldest hospitals opened during the British period in Sri Lanka.

He gave an undertaking that a fully-qualified accident unit would be opened soon. Specialist doctors an operating unit and the necessary medical equipment would be provided with the opening of the accident unit, he added.

At present there is an accident unit only at Nagoda, Kalutara General hospital. The new accident unit, will certainly benefit the residents of Bulathsinghala, Aglawatta and Matugama and the estate population in the district.

Progress made in domestic gardening

by K.A. Perera - Wadduwa Special

The growing of vegetables and fruit saplings by the house-holders in Kalutara district is very encouraging.

The programme had been implemented under the direction of S. Happuarachchi the District Secretary of Kalutara, with the collaboration of the Asst. Commissioner of Agricultural office, Kalutara, the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Kalutara and The Authority of Samurdhi office.

The government officers of Agriculture have taken special interest to grow vegetables in the available space of their offices and in home gardens, setting as example. The farmers in rural areas too have taken special initiative to grow vegetables in the home gardens.

The District Secretary in an interview to 'Observer' said that already a survey in progress to assess the best vegetable garden in the Divisional Secretariat division.

In government offices where there are no adequate space to grow vegetables, they have adopted new methods to plant vegetables. This method could be seen in urban area government office premises.

A.A. Nayanaswarnakanthi the Agricultural officer incharge of Pelawatta Agricultural Service Centre and a team of Deputy Agricultural research officers give necessary instructions to grow vegetables in office premises.

The necessary seeds and other equipment essential to grow vegetables give free to encourage them.

O.I.C - Megahatenna Police K.V.P.C. Dipal and other police officers also extend their fullest co-operation in the campaign of growing vegetables.

According to a survey of "Sunday Observer" a model vegetable garden has been set up under the construction of District Secretary of Kalutara in the premises of Kalutara Secretariat under the guidance of Mrs. Champa Upasena, the divisional secretary of Walalavita a model vegetable garden has been opened at the premises.

The Agricultural Service office has received requests from other Government Departments to advise them to prepare their land to grow vegetables.

Rajarata poet honoured

by Senapura D. Nissanka - Anuradhapura East Group

Renowned poet from Rajarata, Dhanapala Nissanka was awarded "Kalabhooshana" title by the Department of Cultural Affairs at a ceremony held recently at John de Silva Memorial Theatre, Colombo.

Dhanapala Nissanka who hails from Sabaragamuwa, although later settled in Anuradhapura, has contributed a large number of literary works to various periodicals and national dailies. He has five poetry books to his credit. He wrote "Neth Pedheema" in 1956 while he was still a student at St. Benadette's College, Polgahawela and published in 1960.

Next book is "Surathalee" a story based on Alfred Tennyson's 'Dora'. while another one is the biography of late P. B. Alwis Perera one of the leading poets of Kolamba Yugaya. The other two books are "Sira Mediriye Sita Liyu Kavi" and "Sameepa Dasun" which was approved by the National Library and Documentation Service Board and printed with its funds.