Textbook Distribution Programme:

Over 4.1 million students will benefit

By Ananda Kannangara

The annual Free Text-Book Distribution Programme- 2010 which benefits over 4.1 million school children in the country will be completed before the end of January, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha assured.

Referring to this year's inaugural Books Distribution programme conducted by the Education Ministry at the Jaffna Vembadi Girl's High School auditorium last week, Minister Premajayantha told the 'Junior Observer' that he was happy to attend a national programme, conducted for the benefit of the student population in the Northern District after several years. The Minister said the Government annually distributed school textbooks to the value of over 35 million rupees to children in the country with the sole objective of educating them and making them useful citizens to the country.

He said that although there was a delay in the book distribution programme in the Northern District during the previous years due to various reasons, this year all the children will be provided textbooks on schedule.The Minister also emphasised the importance of establishing a conducive environment in the Northern District after nearly three decades of war and said that unlike in the past, all the textbooks are now transported along the A-9 route, and not by sea.

"This situation has immensely helped students in the District to receive their books without any delay," he said.Minister Premajayantha also paid special attention towards improving computer literacy and the knowledge of the English language of school children, and assured that the necessary foundation has already been laid by his Ministry to fulfil this objective.

Santa promises swine flu won't cancel Christmas

Santa promised children he would travel around the world to bring them Christmas presents despite the global swine flu pandemic."I swear that Christmas will not be cancelled this year,"

Father Christmas told Finnish national broadcaster YLE, explaining that many children were worried he would catch swine flu.

Santa told the world's children he would definitely see them at Christmas and added neither he nor the elves would fall ill thanks to his wife's good care."Take care of yourself. But if you have caught swine flu, take it easy and follow the advice given by your father, mother and doctors," Santa said.

According to Finnish legend, Santa Claus lives in a cabin atop the Korvatunturi mountain in Finnish Lapland.

Courtesy: AFP

Seasonal quotes

"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys."

Charles Dickens

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.

Burton Hillis

"Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart."

Washington Irving

"Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.

Augusta E. Rundel

"Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most."

Ruth Carter Stapleton

"Christmas is a bridge. We need bridges as the river of time flows past. Today's Christmas should mean creating happy hours for tomorrow and reliving those of yesterday."

Gladys Tabor

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time."

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Better be safe than sorry...

Once again it is time when most of you will be having a rolicking time lighting sparklers and firecrackers with your family and friends because the Christmas season is upon us.

There is going to be a lot of celebrations this year since the war is over and people are really at peace to celebrate Christmas and especially the New Year... It is an established fact that loads of fireworks are lit to usher in the New Year and the volume is likely to be doubled this year...

So, there are two important things you must keep in mind when lighting crackers.Always be careful and get an adult to be around even when using sparklers because there is always the danger of getting hurt..

You could get burnt and even lose your fingers or vision due to various accidents that could happen when dabbling with fireworks. Some of you may have already had bad experiences in the past. So, the first thing you should do is... BE CAREFUL.

Then there is another important fact you must remember.. Your pets.

Those of you who have pets, be they cats,rabbits or dogs , should make it a point to keep them locked up inside the house or in some safe area where they are not likely to get injured before you start lighting crackers or others start to do so at the auspicious times.

There is always the possibilty of them running away and getting lost because they are generally scared of the loud noise fire crackers make.If you love your pets do make it a point to ensure their safety.

Keep them out of harm's way and well protected so that they cannot run away while you are engrossed in the fun activities taking place all around you.

What did one angel say to the other?

Hallo there!

*****

How do cats greet each other at Christmas?

"A furry merry Christmas and Happy mew year"!

*****

What does Dracula write on his Christmas cards?

Best vicious of the season!

****

How do sheep greet each other at Christmas?

A merry Christmas to ewe!

*****

What do reindeer say before telling you a joke?

This one will sleigh you!

*****

Why did the reindeer wear black boots?

Because his brown ones were all muddy!

*****

How long should a reindeer's legs be?

Just long enough to reach the ground!

*****

Why did the reindeer wear sunglasses at

the beach?

Because he didn't want to be recognised!

*****

Which reindeer have the shortest legs?

The smallest ones!

*****

Where do you find reindeer?

It depends on where you leave them!

December 20

Sir James Peiris, a vice president of the Legislative Council from 1925-1930 was born in 1856.

Lionel Wendt, musician and a photographer, died in 1944.

Sir Ivor Jennings, first Vice Chancellor of the University of Ceylon died in 1965.

December 21

Joseph Stalin, a former ruler of U.S.S.R. (1929-1953) was born in 1879.

Kurt Waldheim, a former UN Secretary General (1971-1981) and Chancellor of Austria was born in 1918.

Benjamin Disraeli, British statesman was born in 1804.

December 22

Ven.Sirimalwatte Ananda Mahanayaka Thera, a former head of the Malwatte Chapter was born in 1900.

Sir Richard Aluvihare, first Ceylonese Inspector General of Police died in 1976.

George Elliot, English writer (Mary Anne Evans) , died in 1880.

December 23

Nittawela Gunaya, a famous Kandyan dancer died in 1979.

Emperor Akihito of Japan was born in1933.

Sir Richard Arkwright, English inventor of the spinning frame was born in 1732.

December 24

Vasco-da-Gama, Portuguese navigator died in 1524.

Mohammed Rafi, Indian Hindi film singer was born in 1924.

M.G.Ramachandran, a former chief minister of Tamilnadu and a Tamil film actor died in 1987.

December 25

Dharmadasa Walpola, Sinhala singer and music director died in 1983.

Charlie Chaplin, English comedy actor and film maker died in 1977.

Sir Isaac Newton, founder of the theory of Gravitation Power and modern mathematics was born in 1642.

Mohomad Ali Jinnah, founder leader of Pakistan was born in 1876.

Anwar Sadat, a former president of Egypt (1970-1982) was born in 1918.

December 26

Mao-Tse-Tung , a former leader of China was born in 1893.

A.M.Ferguson, Founder publisher of the Ceylon Observer and the Ferguson Directory was born in 1892.

Senerath Paranavithana, a former archaeological commissioner of Ceylon was born in 1896.

Harry S.Truman , a former American president (1945-1952) died in 1972.

December 20

Galle Municipal Council was established in 1866.

China-Ceylon Rubber-Rice agreement was signed in 1952.

Institute of Bankers was inaugurated in 1964.

Slavery was completely abolished in Ceylon in 1844.

December 21

First electric bulb was invented by Thomas Alva Edison in 1879.

N.A.S.A.launched Apollo 8 to fly around the moon.

Department of Archaeology was established in 1889.

Biyagama Export Processing Zone was commissioned in 1986.

December 22

First ever referendum to extend the life of Parliament was held in 1982.

Ceylon Federation of Trade Unions was formed in 1940.

December 23

National Day of Japan.

December 25

Commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ (Christmas Day).

Sea mail system to Britain from Ceylon commenced in 1898.

December 26

Radium was discovered by Pierre Curie and Marie Curie in 1898.

Tsunami, a natural disaster, killed thousands of people in 2004.

Independent Newspaper Group (Dawasa Group) was closed down in 1990.

Compiled by W.A. Rusiru JAYASURIYA