Depression among children on the increase

by Ananda Kannangara

Director, Consultant Psychiatrist, of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Dr. Jayan Mendis said nearly 18 per cent of the children in the country are suffering from depression or from other mental disorders.

He said that it was the duty of parents and teachers to be vigilant of the behaviour of children at all times to ensure their safety and well being.

Dr. Mendis said that parents should prevent their children from facing too much of stressful situations in life such as personal problems and other family disputes since such incidents could lead to depression.

He said one out of every five children in the country is suffering from depression due to various social problems they undergo at home, school or society.

He further said at least one child with depression or some form of mental disease is admitted to the NIMH every week for treatment.

Depression is a medical condition in which a person feels very sad and anxious and often has physical symptoms such as the inability to sleep, unhappiness due to personal reasons, unusual behaviour , lack of appetite, loss of interest in participating in extra curricular, educational or sports activities and the inability to attend to their school or home work efficiently.

It is reported that the unacceptable behaviour of alcoholic fathers and the absence of mothers as a result of going overseas for employment leaving children alone at home are also some of the reasons for children to become depressed. Quoting statistics, Dr. Mendis said not only children, but also 30 per cent of the elderly people in the country are suffering from depression.

Dr. Mendis also said children as young as ten years could suffer from depression and advised parents to take such patients immediately to a consultant psychiatrist for treatment.

Learn about America photography competition

Winners of June-July ,'Celebrate the World Environment Day'

[First Row from L-R]

Sanduni Poornika (Poramadulla Central College), Mohamed Shahid Naushad (Gateway College, Colombo), Ashnuka Irugalbandara (Gateway College, Colombo); and Dewni Yasara Ekanayaka (Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo)

[Second Row from L-R]

Sachin Kaveesha Fernando (Lyceum International School, Panadura); Kavindu Sivaraj (Gateway College, Kandy); Christopher Teal (Public Affairs Officer, U. S. Embassy Colombo); Samitha Malinda Samaranayake (Dharmaraja College, Kandy) and Sachitha Kalingamudali (Royal College, Colombo)

[News in Brief]

by Rohana JAYALAL

Sri Lanka's first communication satellite to be launched

Beginning a new era in communication Sri Lanka's first communication satellite will take to orbit on November 22 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China and it will be positioned over Sri Lanka. At a media briefing held recently, the Chairman of Supreme SAT, R. M. Manivannan said the launch will take place around 9.30 p.m. local time and the satellite will be positioned above the country in the Geo-Stationary orbit at 87.5 degrees East in just seven minutes. The satellite will be operational for commercial purposes in the region by early June 2013, he said.

Sri Lanka's Board of Investment (BOI) earlier this year entered into a partnership agreement with SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd. to launch its own communication satellite at a cost of US$ 320 million. The total investment for the project is estimated at US$ 360 million which also included the construction of a satellite Content Management Station and a Space Academy in Kandy which is now in progress. Sri Lanka will be the 45th country in the world to own a communication satellite and the third in South Asia.

India and Pakistan have their own satellites. SupremeSAT will make history by becoming the 27th private company in the world to own a satellite. The company is currently negotiating with the Maldives and Afghanistan to build satellites for them. SupremeSAT has entered into an exclusive partnership agreement with China's State-owned China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) for the design, manufacturing and launching of the satellite.

First test flight at Mattala airport

The first test flight on the new airstrip at Sri Lanka's second international airport at Mattala in Hambantota district landed safely ,said the Government Information Department . A twin-engine Beechcraft Super king test aircraft belongs to Pakistan Civil Aviation Department successfully landed on the new runway in a measure to test air travel control instruments installed at the Mattala Airport. The aircraft piloted by a Pakistani pilot will remain in Sri Lanka for a week to conduct further tests,said the Government Information Department .

The construction work of the Mattala International Airport would be completed at the end of this year and its commercial operation will be launched early January 2013.

Sri Lanka hopes to start the commercial operation of the second international Airport early next year. A Chinese firm with financing from China is building Sri Lanka's second airport while Pakistani Civil Aviation Authority conducts the testing of the equipment.The airport is being built on a 2,000 hectare land according to recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization. A 1,000-square metre cargo facility will have the capacity of handling 45,000 metric tons of cargo per year.

Solar and wind power projects in the North

Four islands off Sri Lanka's Jaffna peninsula in the North will be fully electrified with a combined network of solar and wind power.

The islands of Delft, Nainathivu (Nagadeepa), Analathivu and Elivathivu islands will be provided with solar and wind power to supplement the power needs currently fulfilled by thermal power. Initial work on these power projects has already commenced and will be completed by the end of next year, Minister sources said.

The power requirements of the residents in these islands are currently met partially with thermal power and therefore, solar and wind power will overcome any power shortage to electrify the islands completely.According to the Minister less than 50 per cent of the families in these islands are provided with thermal power through diesel generators.

The power supply will benefit over 3,500 families in these islands.