In Brief

National Catholic Deaf Day

The National Catholic Deaf Day celebrations will be held at Our Lady of Lanka Basilica Tewatta, Ragama at 9.00 a.m. next Sunday (18).Bishop of Kurunegala Rt. Rv. Dr. Harold Anthony will officiate Holy Mass.

Chaplain of the Deaf Rev. Fr. Sudath Silva, Patroness of St. Joseph's Past Pupils Welfare Association of the Deaf Rev. Sr. Jacintha Jayasinghe P.H. and Rev. Sr. Damayanthi P.H. will assist Holy Mass in sign language.

Upper Kotmale on line soon

Sri Lanka will put its last, but largest hydro power plant into operation soon as part of its efforts to be self sufficient in power by the end of this year, the Power and Energy Ministry said.

The 150 Mega Watt (MW) Upper Kotmale hydro power plant was proposed over a decade ago, but ran into hurdles over environmental concerns.

Its construction had stopped until 2005 when it was fast-tracked by the present government with financial assistance from the Japanese government worth US$487 million and the Sri Lankan government contributing an estimated US$75 million."Construction of the Upper Kotmale power plant is 92 percent complete and will commence production of power next week," the Power and Energy Ministry said in a statement. The second generator with 75 MW capacity is expected to be operational by April.Sri Lanka was one of the first countries in South Asia to tap into its abundant water resources for hydro electricity.

Wildlife lecture

Dr. Wolfgang Dittus, a German formerly attached to the Smithsonian Institute research team and holding a doctorate from the University of Maryland USA, having an experience of over 40 years research on primate species and specifically research on the monkeys in Sri Lanka since 1977, will speak on the 'problems with monkeys; myths and solutions'.

The illustrated lecture under the auspices of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society will be held on Thursday at 6.00 p.m. The venue will be the Institute of Engineers (Wimalasurendra Auditorium) off Wijerama Mawatha (BMICH end) Colombo 7.

The lecture is open to the public and entrance is free.

Seminar on 'Food additives, contaminants and safety'

A seminar on 'Food Additives, contaminants and safety will be conducted by the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon at its headquarters in Rajagiriya on March 22 from 8 am to 4 p.m.

The seminar will update food processors, industrialists, exporters, researchers and executives working in these areas on food additives and contaminants to provide clean, wholesome, nutritious and safe food for people.

The resource persons will deal with food additives used in the food processing industry, new food additives and regulations, food toxins, pesticide use and food safety, new analytical techniques for pesticides and other agrochemical residues in food, food processing effects on nutritional quality and safety, incidental contaminants in food, microbial contaminants in food and their regulations.

Opening of new computer lab tomorrow

The opening of the new computer lab donated to D.S. Senanayake College by Anolf-Cisl Messina, Italy will be held on March 12 commencing 7.00 a.m. at the college premises with Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardana as the chief guest.

Minister of Petroleum Industries, Susil Premajayantha, Ambassador of Italy to Sri Lanka Pio Mariani, Dott Santi Calderone, President of Anolf Messina and Jeanardo Nimal Premasiri, Coordinating Officer of Anolf Messina will be guests of honour.

Seminar on international challenges facing Lanka

The Government has organised an awareness seminar on the international influences and challenges to Sri Lanka in the present context.

The seminar organised jointly by the Government Information Department and the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute will be held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on March 12 from 2.30 p.m to 5.30 p.m. Acting Minister of Media and Information Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena will chair the seminar. Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Mohan Samaranayake and senior lawyer Gomin Dayasiri will deliver the lectures on “Identifying international forces against Sri Lanka” and “‘The Challenges before the International Forces Against Sri Lanka’.

Crocodile conservation centre to be set up

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

The Wildlife Department plans to set up a Crocodile Conservation Centre in Muthurajawela. With more crocodile sightings in urban areas the need for land to conserve them is essential. The Department is in the process of setting up a conservation centre to ensure the safety of crocodiles and residents. Four acres have been allocated for the proposed crocodile park.

“When establishing a crocodile conservation centre, it is vital to consider the behavioural pattern of animals,” said Anslem de Silva, an expert speaking to the Sunday Observer. De Silva is the current Regional Vice Chairman, South Asia and Iran of the Crocodile Specialists Group, IUCN/SSC who works with the Wildlife Department on setting up the conservation centre. Sri Lanka has only two species of crocodiles, mugger or the marsh crocodile and the salt water or Estuarine crocodile.

Anula-Isipathana annual debate on March 16

The annual debate for the Leelananda Memorial Trophy between Anula Vidyalaya and Isipathana College will be held at the Anula Vidyalaya auditorium on March 16.

The Past Pupils’ Assocaition of Anula Vidyalaya and the Old Boys’ Association of Isipathana College have organsied the comeptition in memory of Mrs. S. Leelananda, a past Principal of Anula Vidyalaya and T.E. De S. Leelananda, a past Principal of Isipathana College.

Prof. Carlo Fonseka will be the chief guest.