News in brief

Livelihood project for 72,000 families

The Dry Zone Livelihood Support and Participation Project under the Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Ministry is in progress.

Low income families selected from Anuradhapura, Moneragala, Badulla, Kurunegala districts who are not benefitted by any irrigation scheme or voluntary organisation would be the beneficiaries under this project.

The scheme will uplift the livelihood of over 72,000 families in the dry zone. In the first three years of the scheme, improvement of the beneficiaries living conditions is envisaged.

The scheme is funded by IFAD.

New one-way plan in Kollupitiya

Rafik Jalaldeen

Colombo: Traffic police yesterday introduced a new one-way plan to reduce growing traffic conjunction in Colombo, Colombo Traffic SSP V.T. Sundaralingam said. He said the new traffic plan was trialled yesterday morning and was successful.

A new one-way plan was introduced at the Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha and Dharmapala Mawatha extending from the Public library roundabout to the Liberty Plaza roundabout. The new one-way route can be used from the Liberty Plaza roundabout towards the Red Cross building.

"The trial was successful despite difficulties faced by vehicles on the first day. The new traffic plan will be in effect from now on," he added.

EPC inaugural session on June 4

Colombo: The inaugural session of the Eastern Provincial Council will be held on June 4 with a simple ceremony to mark the occasion.

According to Eastern PC Secretary R. Thayagalingam, the swearing in of the newly appointed Provincial Council Ministers who are yet to take oaths is the number one item in the agenda. These new appointees are scheduled to take oaths in the presence of Governor Vice Admiral, Mohan Wijewickrema.

The members of the Eastern PC are set to appoint the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Council which is set for a vote if there are multiple contenders for the two posts. Only a limited number of invitees are scheduled to take part in the maiden session, including close relatives of the elected members.

VIP security division SSP's relative abducted

Indika Polkotuwa

A 21-years-old GCE (A/L) student of a leading ladies college in Matale is reported to have been abducted, according to Matale police. At the time of the incident, the victim was alone at her house at Walawela, Matale.

Several telephone calls threatening her parents were alleged to have been made probably by the abductors.

The victim is a close relative of an SSP/Police attached to the VIP Security division. Matale SSP, Macarthy Perera is directing inquiries