Over 3 million hungry children in the US

Hungry children are found everywhere in the world. According to research conducted by Feeding America, hunger has affected more than 3,500 000 children under the age of five in the US, and it can affect their physical and mental health.

The same source says more than 20 per cent of that sector of the population is located in 11 states of the country, such as, North Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas and Arkansas among others.

"These children have no chance of recovering if they do not have the right nutrition in their diets", Feeding America President, Vicki Escarra commented.

In her opinion, the lack of food at that age can seriously affect their health condition and behaviour in the long term, as well as their development and academic results.The organisation alerted that the situation could turn "much worse", due to the economic crisis the country is undergoing.

President of the National Alliance for the Eradication of Poverty in the US, Nan Roman, specified that those interviewed said the economic recession is increasing the number of people affected.

Washington, Prensa Latina

Special events which took place in history, from May 24 - May 30

May 24

* Victoria Bridge in Colombo was declared open in 1895.

May 25

* National Day of Argentina

May 26

* American Civil War ended in 1865.

* Buddhist Ladies College, Colombo was founded in 1954.

May 27

* Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) was declared open in 1973.

May 29

* Norgay Tenzing and Sir Edmund Hillary reached the Summit of Mt. Everest in 1953.

May 30

Sirimavo Bandaranaike sworn in as Prime Minister for the second time in 1970.

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Birth and death anniversaries

from May 24 - May 30

May 24

* Death of Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish astronomer in 1543.

* Birth of Bob Dylan, American poet and singer in 1941.

May 26

* Birth of Alexander Pushkin, Russian writer in 1799

May 27

* Death of Jawaharlal Nehru,former Indian Premier(1947-1964) in 1964.

May 28

* Death of Anne Bronte, English novelist in 1849.

* Birth of Ian Fleming, English writer in 1908.

May 29

*Birth of Martin Wickramasinghe, renowned Sinhala writer in 1891.

* Birth of John F. Kennedy, US President, (from 1961-63) in 1917.

May 30

Death of Alexander Pope, English poet in 1744.

                                                                                                                         Compiled by Asha SENEVIRATHNE

How did the telephones get married ?

In a double ring ceremony !

**

Why did the child study in the aeroplane ?

He wanted a higher education !

**

Why was the broom late ?

It over swept !

**

Do you know the time ?

No, we haven't met yet!

**

What kind of hair do oceans have ?

Wavy !

What runs, but never walks ?

Water!

**

How do you make milk shake ?

Give it a good scare!

**

What's red and flies and wobbles at the same time ?

A jelly copter!

**

Waiter, this soup tastes funny ?

Then why aren't you laughing!

**

Why did the clock get sick ?

It was run down !

**

What do you call a sleeping bull?

A bull-dozer.

**

How do you fit more pigs on your farm?

Build a sty-scraper!

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A pair of chickens walk up to the circulation desk at a public library and say, 'Buk Buk BUK.' The librarian decides that the chickens desire three books, and gives it to them...and the chickens leave shortly thereafter.

Around midday, the two chickens return to the circulation desk quite vexed and say, 'Buk Buk BuKKOOK!' The librarian decides that the chickens desire another three books and gives it to them. The chickens leave as before.

The two chickens return to the library in the early afternoon, approach the librarian, looking very annoyed and say, 'Buk Buk Buk Buk Bukkooook!' The librarian is now a little suspicious of these chickens. She gives them what they request, and decides to follow them.

She followed them out of the library, out of the town, and to a park. At this point, she hid behind a tree, not wanting to be seen. She saw the two chickens throwing the books at a frog in a pond, to which the frog was saying, "Rrredit Rrredit Rrredit..."

Mother Sri Lanka' in three more provinces

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Government's novel programme of 'Mother Sri Lanka' which has already been conducted among schoolchildren of the Southern Province, under the theme " What can we, as children of Sri Lanka give back to our country" will be launched in the schools in the Eastern, Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces during the next few months.

The objective of conducting the programme is to urge all Sri Lankans, irrespective of their caste, creed and religion to help the country's on-going and future development activities which will immensely help Sri Lankans to stand as a proud nation among others in the world.

'Mother Sri Lanka' programme is conducted on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the programme activities are carried out with the support of private sector organisations.

In an interview with the

Sunday Observer,

Chairperson, 'Mother Sri Lanka' Foundation and Director, Strategy and Perception Unit of the Presidential Secretariat, Janaki Kuruppu said a recent programme was conducted in the Southern Province and children of nearly 340 schools took part in several debates and dialogues in connection with the programme.

"They made various suggestions and requested the officials to carry out the programmes in the country for the benefit of future generations".

She said "After the tsunami in 2004, we Sri Lankans helped each other without considering their ethnicity, religion or the language to rebuild each others' lives.She said the children of our country has the responsibility to look after the smooth functioning of the country and it is their duty to do whatever they could for the people. That is the ultimate objective of launching the programme "Mother Sri Lanka".

Milk packets for IDP children

On the initiative of Youth Affairs Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi,the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) has planned to distribute over 100,000 milk powder packets for the benefit of displaced children in camps in Vavuniya.

NYSC Chairman and Director General Bhaswara Senanika Gunaratne said, these milk powder packets will be distributed through the 9,000 youth clubs islandwide. Currently they are collecting the milk powder packets in rural areas.A collecting centre at the National Youth Centre, High Level Road, Maharagama, has been set up and donors can hand over their contributions to the collecting centre.Collecting of milk powder packets commenced at the Youth Affairs Ministry, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 recently under the patronage of the Minister.

The milk powder packets collected by the Ministry from the employees were handed over to the NYSC Chairman by the Minister.The milk powder packets already collected will be distributed among IDP Welfare camps in Vavuniya on May 16 by the NYSC.

Winners of Essay Competition- 'Learn about America'

The winners of the essay competition 'Learn about America' conducted by the American Centre in collaboration with the Junior Observer were awarded prizes on April 27 at the American Centre Auditorium.

The winners received a gift pack of American literature along with a lifetime membership to the American Centre Library/American Corners, and a certificate signed by the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka at the award ceremony.

Winners of the Essay Competition held for January 2009 with Jeffrey J. Anderson, Director, Press, Cultural and Educational Affairs and Ms. Kathleen Fox, Assistant Public Affairs Officer of the US Embassy, Colombo.L-R: Dinithi Vidushika, Zafra Fuaiz, Rasa Hilmy, Ms. Kathleen Fox, Pakkiyarasa Puviyalini, Jeffrey J. Anderson, Saheer Ahamed, Tharindu Prasad, Chandima Weragoda, Nillasi Nisitha Liyanage and Miyuki Chaya Subasinghe.

Winners of the Essay Competition held for February 2009 L-R Shahana Kanagaratnam, Brian Peter Zeegas, Anusha Nimrodh Perera, Ms. Kathleen Fox, Samah Afrin, A. Careem, Jeffrey J. Anderson, Samra Nazeem, Sandaruwani Karunaratne, Fathima Nuzla Nizar, Pasan Malaka Randula Elapatha and Alavudeen Mohamed Sajith.