15% Lankans disabled - Dy Minister

By Raja WAIDYASEKERA - Tissamaharama Special

"Fifteen per cent of people in Sri Lanka are disabled," said the Deputy Minister of Social Services, Lionel Premasiri. The Minister said so addressing a meeting at Katuwana National School.

The occasion was the distribution of wheel-chairs, milk foods to pregnant mothers, spectacles and provision of National Identity Cards.

An exhibition was held by various State Departments. Minister further said, the Ministry of Social Services looks after these disabled in collaboration with the Department of Social Services. He said that this sector of people are being provided with every facility. Those who deserve self-employment avenues have been provided with self-employment to enable to lead self-reliant lives without being burdens to others in society.

The Deputy Minister of Social Services further said that the country has reached a significant milestone in the Mahinda Chintana in an era when highly developed countries around the world face various problems.

He said that Colombo became a commercial city when the activities of the Galle Port were taken over by the Colombo Port.

He said that with the coming into existence of Hambantota Port, Hambantota too will become a commercial city. The only international airport at Katunayaka is not sufficient for Sri Lanka as such the proposed Weerawila airport is an urgent necessity.

The Deputy Minister of Social Services further said that those who are in the age group of 70 and served the country in various spheres will be paid pension. Plans have been already made to make this a reality.

The Minister of Rural Industries SPC V.K. Indika said that the Southern Development Authority was a white elephant during the previous UNP regime. But now it has proved to be effective.

Three villages to be developed

K. A. Perera - Wadduwa Special

Three undeveloped villages of Western Province in Kalutara, Colombo and Gampaha districts will be developed by the financial aid granted by the Provincial Council to commemorate the event of the completion of twenty-years of the Provincial Councils.

Under this development programme the village of Warakanda in Walaavita divisional secretariat division of Kalutara district, the village of Udawela at Dompe in Gamapaha district and the Pannagala village at Hanwella in Colombo district will be developed.

It is approved to allocate 9.9 million for each village.

The Deputy Secretary Local Government Institutes Chintha Chethiyadharma has informed the divisional secretaries of Walalavita, Dompe and Hanwella to commence the development of villages early.

Milk products on the increase in Hambantota

Raja Waidyasekara, Tissamarama Special

Eight hundred and ten farmers in Hambantota district have indulged themselves in liquid milk production in Hambantota district according to the Department of Animal Production and Health.

Volume of milk production was 1,15,938 litres in September 2008.

One hundred and thirteen poultry breeders have produced 1,73,950 eggs monthly. There are 337 farmers who produce 1,25821 litres of Buffalo milk number of curd pots produced is 1,23707. Yoghurt has been produced out of 28,623 litres of Buffalo milk, the assessment indicates.

Plantation area prone to child abuse and human trafficking

By P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

Deputy Minister of Justice and Law Reforms, Puthrasigamani pointed out that child abuses, and human trafficking for employment in Colombo and other areas from the plantation sector is on the increase in recent past.

He said despite the existing laws of the country, a good per cent of young children are being taken into outstations by the Estate brokers whose job is to find employment in outstation on commission basis.

He called upon the estate managements, the trade unions and the labour department to be vigilant and ensure that those who were responsible for such acts be brought to book and prosecuted. Mr. D. Mathavan, Co-ordinating Secretary to the Minister said that due to prevailing situations in the plantation sector where the youngsters being taken for employment by some unscrupulous elements, the young children were not only deprived of the education, but finally end up in criminal activities. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the parents and the plantation trade unions to keep a close check against the human trafficking, and ensure that their children were protected.

He told the youth to actively participate in all sports and cultural activities afforded by the ministry and its trade union, in order to become respectable citizens.

All in place for Unawatuna Beach Carnival

D. C. de Silva - Kahawa Special

Steps are underway for the Unawatuna Beach Festival and Carnival 2008 to be held from December 11 and onwards at Unawatuna Beach organised by the Habaraduwa Pradeshiya Sabha in collaboration with the Unawatuna Tourism Promotion Society and Max Radio TV Unit in order to attract more local and foreign tourists, to the area, on a proposal by the Habaraduwa SLFP organiser and SMIB Chairman Chandima Weerakkodi.

Preliminary discussion related to the programme was held a week ago at Galle. Governor's Secretariat presided over by the SP Governor Kumari Balasuriya.

Governor Balasuriya addressing the meeting said, "that, tourism in the Province should be promoted in order to earn-foreign exchange which is the need of the day. Tourism is the second revenue earner in the National Economy,".

"Sri Lanka tourism to some extent suffered a set back due to ethnic war in the past. But the situation has improved now," she said.

"International publicity is more important for the programme to be a success".

And I hope the programme would be a success according to participated agencies" she said adding that Mr. Chandima Weerakkody was an energetic character,".

"I also visited China during my trip to Japan and signed the agreement between Bentota and Jianseng of China to become sister cities," she said.

"NGO's and INGOS support will also helpful for the proposed festival to be a success," she said.

Mr. Chandima Weerakkody said, "the Unawatuna light festival was for the amusement of locals in the area hoping to attract more and more foreigners to Unawatuna to Unawatuna Bay Beach.

Beach festival would include day and night, music and other entertainments. Water sports will also be included in addition to other events," he said.

"Unawatuna Bay Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world, it could be an ideal venue for the beach carnival," he said.

105 houses for low income families

by Eric Tilakaratna, Nuwara Eliya Central

With a view to solve the housing problem among the low income families in Nuwara Eliya District, the Samurdhi Development Authority has made arrangement to construct 105 houses.

Priority will be given to the families of widows and the disabled while the Authority provides Rs. 50,000 to each family for this purpose.

The Samurdhi Development Authority expects the contribution of the well-wishers and donors for the success of this program. The entire construction activities of this project are expected to be completed before this year.

Scarcity of firewood

by W.A.T.S. Wijesinghe, Pothuwatawana Group

Scarcity of firewood causing the whole area in the Wennappuwa electorate and suburbs has become a great burden to housewives when going to prepare meals in the kitchen. They find nothing to burn as they live in a small block of land and undergo much difficulties in the kitchen and take hours for cooking.

Due to firewood scarcity some housewives have cut off one night preparation of meals and cook for the mid day with dinner to save burning. Taking the opportunity those having coconut lands in the area sell coconut products used as firewood to the area persons and outsiders at exorbitant rates.

One-man effort produces power

by Mahaweli Systems

A micropower plant built by a young man has helped three families in a hamlet off Deraniyagala to light their homes.

However, there are 29 families in this hamlet who have to utilise oil lamps for they have no facilities to create their own electricity generators or they have not been provided with electricity yet.

P. W. Priyanta Kumara of the village Pihimbiyakanda in the Polgaswaththa graama niladhhaari division in the Deraniyagala divisional secretariat area has produced a micropower generator to light up his home and there are two other families benefitting from his project. Priyantha had to allocate a sum of Rs. 60,000 for his venture.

Meanwhile the Kegalle district local government body of the Deraniyagala Pradeshiya Sabha has made a plan to provide electricity to Pihimbiyaakanda.

T'phone facilities for schools in Matugama

K. A. Perera - Wadduwa Special

The Minister of Education Services Nirmala Kotelawala has allocated funds to provide telephone facilities to all the schools in Matugama Education Zone.

Already seventy-one CDMA telephones valued each have been distributed among schools.

Nirmala Kotelawala, the Minister of Education Services said that funds have been set apart to provide telephones to every school and also expect extend such facilities to difficult area schools.

Further he stated that the principals of difficult area schools and the staff are facing lot of inconvenience due to lack of communication.

It is possible to achieve efficiency in school administration to contact the officials of the Education Zone without delay in an emergency to carry out duties of schools within a short period. All the schools will be provided telephones.

13,000 home gardens in Kalutara district

K. A. Perera - Wadduwa Special

Thirteen thousand home gardens will be set up in Kalutara district to increase the food production, said S. Happuarachchi - the District Secretary of Kalutara.

The massive home garden project in Kalutara will be implemented under the direction of the Deputy Commissioner of Agricultural Services S. A. K. L. Wijenayaka and the Deputy Agricultural Directress Damayanthi Perera.

The District Secretary said that the officers attached to Agricultural Research Unit, Samurdhi Officers, and the Instructors of Agriculture visit villages and encourage the farmers to participate in the grow more food campaign.

The necessary instruction will be given to farmers in training classes conducted by the Agricultural Department.

It was also approved to hold home garden competitions among farmers on divisional basis and finally in district level. The cash prizes and certificates will be awarded to encourage the farmers to participate in food drive campaign actively.

Environment laws should be respected - Provincial Minister

Sigiriya Group

"We have to preserve and protect the environment. As citizens of the country it should be our foremost responsibility. Under no circumstances, we cannot advise or order the authorities have a blind eye on those who break the laws to protect the environment", said the Central Provincial Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Champika Wijeratne at a discussion held with the media personnel in Matale recently. He said so, at the discussion answering to the claims forwarded by the sand miners in Bowatenna and Abanganga areas.

It was revealed at the discussion, there are about 100 families in Naula, Nalanda, Hapugasyaya and Bogasboballa who have their lives earned by sand mining.

They claim that prevailing environmental laws make their business difficult.

They say one mining section has been granted 15 permits by which 210 loads of sand could be piled. A fee of Rs. 225 is levied by the Provincial Secretariat and a sum of Rs. 13,000 for annual renewal. Lorries are not permitted close to the river, reported to be the claim of the sand miners.

Explaining further, the Provincial Minister said we have a scheme under Mahinda Chintanaya for development of villages.

They are being implemented when it get completed all the hurdles will disappear.

Boom in fresh water fishing

by Raja Waidyasekera - Tissamaharama Special

Fresh water fishing opens new horizons for fishermen in Hambantota district.

The fresh water fish breeding project at Walawa left Bank development project has achieved a tremendous success.

Eleven tanks in the area have been brought under the programme and 1,64,000 fingerlings have been released to the tanks.

The Japan Korelli variety of fish has gained made popularity among consumers.

The fiherman in Hambantota request the authorities concerned to set up fresh water fish breeding projects in the lagoons of Hambantota to provide livelihood to lower income group families and unemployed youth.

The Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu Programme also has given a new lease of life to the fresh water fish industry.