Environment Observation Centre at Muttettuwegama

An Environment Observation Centre which had been constructed at a cost of Rs. 33 million recently was opened on a wetland at Muttettuwegama in the Galle district. The project to set up the centre had been implemented by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in collaboration with the Coastal Conservation Department. Also, the funding for the project was allocated by the Asian Development Bank and the Government of the Netherlands.

The centre was a long-felt need for all stakeholders in the environmental field who required better educational and research facilities in the field. The centre has as its main objectives the provision of environmental education to schoolchildren and environmental research facilities to local and foreign university students and developing tourism in the area. The project will provide direct and indirect benefits to residents of Muttettuwegama and nearby villages.

Prize-giving of Mirigama Council

The Mirigama Children's Council organised a prize-giving recently to present awards and certificates to those who took part in its oratory and essay competitions and environmental projects held in connection with Children's Day 2008. The prize-giving was held at the auditorium of Hapitigma Training College, Mirigama.

The chief guest was Commissioner, Department of Probation and Child Care Services, Sarath Abegunawardana. Administrative Officer, Mirigama Divisional Secretariat, H.P.P. Jayawickrama, Senior Manager, Lodestar Pvt. Ltd., Namal Premarathna, Principal, Hapitigama Training College, Chandrasiri Pathirana were among the guest.

The Mirigama Children's Council was initiated by Child Rights Promotion Officer, Chintha Ramani according to a programme conducted by the Department of Probation and Child Care Services to improve the hidden talents of children. The Council which consists of children's clubs in the Division perform many services in the educational, environmental, cultural and social areas.

It is encouraged by the Mirigama Divisional Secretariat which pays special attention to the promotion of children's rights.

Special events which took place in history, from February 22-28

February 23

* National Day of Brunei

* National Day of Guyana

February 25

* National Day of Kuwait

February 28

* Sri Lanka's first air mail service commenced in 1930.

* The first aircraft landed at the Ratmalana Airport in 1935.

Birth and death anniversaries from February 22-28

February 22

*George Washington, the first American President, was born in 1732.

*Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout Movement, was born in 1852.

February 23

*John Keats, English poet, died in 1821.

*D. R. Wijewardene, the founder of Lake House, was born in 1886.

February 24

*Pani Bharatha, Kandyan dancer, was born in 1920.

*Rev. Walter Stanley, poet, died in 1938.

February 26

*Victor Hugo, French writer, was born in 1802.

February 27

*H. W. Longfellow, American poet, was born in 1807.

*Ananda Rajakaruna, Sinhala poet, was born in 1885.

*Dr. Colvin R. de Silva, national leader died in 1989.

February 28

*Stephen Spender, English poet, was born in 1909.

Conservation of animals in S. Asia

Our region, South Asia, has hundreds of unique animal species. Some of these animal species can be seen at the Dehiwela zoo. But zoos do bigger things than just displaying animals for visitors. One of the most important of these tasks is the conservation of animals for the future, especially those facing the danger of disappearing completely from our lands.

While the eight countries in our region - Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh and Afghanistan - have individually done such programmes in their zoos, they have now decided to work together to save animals in South Asia.

Each country will also strengthen laws on wildlife conservation and zoo management in line with recommendations of the South Asian Zoo Association. Its ninth annual conference was held in Colombo from February 10 to 15. The conference's main theme this year was Zoo Legislation and Regulation. Several experts from non-South Asian countries too participated.

Sri Lanka pointed out that it has already raised the standards of the Dehiwela Zoological Garden and the open zoo at Pinnawala.

The Department of National Zoological Gardens has designed the first ever safari park in Sri Lanka which is 500 acres in extent, in Ridigama. This will house a large number and variety of animals.

It is sure to become very popular among local and foreign tourists. Although Sri Lanka has several national parks such as Yala, Wilpattu and Wasgamuwa, this will be the first purpose-built safari park.

Zoo and wildlife staff will visit several countries which operate successful safari parks to get a better understanding and knowledge on safari parks.

Even countries with little or no wildlife resources, such as Singapore, operate safari theme parks which are highly popular among foreign tourists.

African countries are famous for their huge safari parks featuring the big cats and elephants.

Baden-Powell's 152nd birth anniversary

The 152nd birth anniversary of the founder of the World Scout Movement, Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell (B.P.) falls today, February 22. He was born in Paddington, London on February 22, 1857, the son of the Reverend Baden-Powell, a Professor at Oxford University. B.P. was given his first lessons by his mother and later attended Rose Hill School, where he gained a scholarship to the Charterhouse School. While at Charterhouse, he began to exploit his interest in scouting and woodcraft.

In 1876, he went to India as a young army officer and specialised in scouting, map-making and reconnaissance.

Later he was stationed in the Balkans, South Africa and Malta. He returned to Africa to help defend Mafeking during its 217-day siege at the start of the Boer war.Returning home in 1903, he found that he had become a national hero. He also found that the small handbook he had written for soldiers ("Aids to Scouting") was being used by youth leaders and teachers all over the country to teach observation and woodcraft.

In 1907 he held an experimental camp on Brownsea Island at Poole, Dorset, to try out his ideas. "Scouting for Boys" was published in 1908 in six fortnightly parts and became the handbook of a new and ultimately worldwide Movement. Scouting spread quickly throughout the world.In Sri Lanka, the first Scout Group was started in Matale Christchurch College in 1912.

The same year, he married Olave Soames .

The first international Scout Jamboree took place at Olympia, London in 1920, where B.P. was unanimously acclaimed as Chief Scout of the World.

On January 8, 1941, at 83 years of age, B.P. died and was buried in a simple grave at Nyeri within sight of Mount Kenya.

The commemoration rally and the Founder's Day to mark the 152nd birth anniversary of Lord Baden-Powell, organised by the Sri Lanka Scout Association was held at the `HODOREE', Homagama District Scout Camp at Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya yesterday.

Year of English, IT

2009 was declared as the Year of English and Information Technology by the Government of Sri Lanka. The declarartion was officially made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo recently. He did so in the presence of Chairman, Infosys Technologies Ltd. and 'Father of IT in India', Dr. N.R. Narayana Murthy and Chairman, ICT Agency of Sri Lanka, Prof. P.W. Epasinghe.

Leadership skills for children

A children's leadership workshop would be conducted free of charge by Children Skills Development Programme (CSDP) from 9.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. on February 22 at Rahula Theatre, No. 20, Magazine Road, Borella, Colombo 8 (close to Lady Ridgeway Hospital and Cycle Bazar).This would be held in concurrence with the selection of 50 children for leadership awards.