Quick Look

President to launch one laptop per child today

A project under the theme ‘One laptop per child’ (OLPC) will be launched under the direct auspices of President Mahinda Rajapaksa today at Temple Trees.

SB on TV today

Former UNP National Organizer S.B. Dissanayake will be interviewed on Rupavahini and ITN at 9 pm today.

Suspect nabbed with turtles

Puttalam group corr.

A suspect who had two turtles caught from the sea in his possession was nabbed by the Chilaw Police on Tuesday, following a tip off.

He was due to be produced in Court yesterday a Police spokesman said.

Census on leopards

S. M. Wijayaratne

The Wildlife Department will conduct a census of leopards that dwell in sanctuaries and other wildlife parks in the island.

Several years ago, a census was conducted except in wildlife parks in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and the number of leopards was reported to be between 800 to 900.

A senior official attached to the Regional office of Wildlife Department in Kurunegala said leopards are found in Wilpattu, Yala, Wasgomuwa and Horton Plains sanctuaries.

However, farmers and poachers who set up traps for wild boar have are a great threat to the leopard population.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has now intensified its programs to conserve wildlife resources. Rs. 5 million has been allocated for the census.

Seed potatoes destroyed

Nearly 990 boxes of imported seed potatoes were destroyed at the Meepilimana potato farm since it was found to be unsuitable for planting. This consignment is valued at Rs. 10 million. Further inquiries are proceeding.

Parthenium poses threat to environment

Raja WAIDYASEKARA Tissamaharama Special Corr.

An invasive plant PARTHENIUM that grows in abundance in the Tissamaharama and Lunugamwehera DS areas in causing destruction to the environment. Botanists say this plant belongs to the sunflower species and poses threat to all cultivations including fruits and vegetables.

NWP Sanitary facilities to be improved

S.M. Wijayaratne Kurunegala Corr

The North Western Provincial Council has allocated Rs 400 million to provide sanitary facilities and pure drinking water facilities to the people in 107 grama niladhari divisions in the province.

Water and sanitary facilities projects are implemented at Pradeshiya Sabha levels.

Programs to educate rural folk on the importance of keeping water resources clean and free from pollution too were conducted.

Awareness programs to enlighten the school community on the value of keeping surroundings free from pollution were conducted.

New lease of life for hospital

Raja WAIDYASEKERA Tissamaharama corr

A new lease of life has been given to the Tangalle hospital said Water Supply Minister Mahinda Amraweera.

The Minister said so addressing a meeting following the opening of the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Tangalle Hospital recently.

Funds from residents, Philanthropists, local and foreign donors and the World Bank were utilised for the setting up of the ICU.

Hambantota General Hospital Physician Dr. Nandana Dikmaduwa said Rs 20 million was allocated for the setting up of the ICU. The World Bank contributed Rs. nine million, Rs five million has been set aside for maintenance purposes. Dr. Dikmaduwa said Rs 100,000 is necessary to treat a patient at the ICU.

Roads developed

Somadasa ABEYWICKRAMA Baddegama group correspondent

Roads at Baddegama were developed and concreted under the Jathika Saviya Maga Neguma Program at a cost of Rs. 2,715,138 by the Baddegama Divisional Secretariat for 2009.

Water project

Jayaweera SUGATHAPALA Attanagalla special corr.

Remote areas in Oyabada and Bemmulla in the Attanagalla electorate will be provided pipe-borne water. Rs. 8 million has been set aside for the purpose.

Livestock farms in Hambantota

Raja WAIDYASEKERA, Tissamaharama special corr.

Nine livestock farms will be set up in the Hambantota District said Livestock Development Minister C.B. Ratnayaka.

He said a unit will be set up at Rediyagama Livestock Farm to produce value added products from milk such as butter, ghee, cheese and allied products.

A goat milk production unit will also be set up at Weerawila farm to popularise goat milk among consumers.

Funds to promote export agriculture

Sumathipala DEEYAGAHAGE Southern Province Roving Correspondent

The Export Agricultural Department has provided Rs 16 million as relief aid to cultivators in the Galle district.

This fund has been provided for the cultivation development and post-harvest technology of cinnamon, pepper, ginger and nutmeg. Steps have also been initiated to cultivate cinnamon in 250 acres and pepper in 50 acres. It has been planned to distribute two million cinnamon plants among the cultivators. The department has provided training about the cultivation of cinnamon and pepper for 5,500 cultivators in the district.

Suspects arrested

Ratnapura District special

Nivithigala Police on Monday arrested two youth in connection with the killing of a 55-year-old woman after robbing her of a gold chain weighing five and a half sovereigns.

Earlier, the police found the body of S.J.P. Somawathie in the backyard of her home at Dela, Nivithigala.

Police also recovered the gold chain and the knife allegedly used in the murder from a house of one suspect.

Ranaviru housing loans increased

Walter DAYARATHNE

The housing loan of Rs. 100,000 given to Ranaviru families belonging to the Ranaviru Seva Authority has been increased to Rs. 200,000 from January. This has been done by acting Chairman of the Ranaviru Service Authority, Padma Wettewa, under the direction of the President.

The loan, subject to a service charge of three percent will be given in four instalments with an initial release of Rs. 100,000 and the balance in three other instalments.

By-stander run over

A by-stander who was among the crowd gathered at the scene of a road accident between a motorcycle and a private bus plying from Eheliyagoda towards Avissawella at Thoranagoda on Tuesday was run over by another speeding truck belonging to Ceylon Electricity Board which sped past through the crowd during their protest.

The injured succumbed to his injuries on admission to Avissawella hospital. The driver of the truck has been taken into custody and Eheliyagoda police is conducting further investigations into the two incidents.

Annular solar eclipse after 109 years

Visible in Lanka on January 15:

An Annular solar eclipse will be visible in Sri Lanka on January 15 next year. This is a rare phenomenon occurring after a lapse of 109 years, said Astronomer Anura C. Perera.

He said the eclipse will begin at 9.35 a.m. and end at 3.37 p.m. on January 15. It will be clearly visible to people in the North especially Jaffna for about 10 minutes from 1.19 p.m to 1.29 p.m. However, it will be seen more in the form of a partial eclipse by people in the South from Dambulla upto Dondra, he said.

Body found in Wellawatta

Rafik JALALDEEN

Police found the body of a man hanging from a guava tree behind a house at Russel Lane, Wellawatta. The body was discovered following information provided by a servant.

Police are investigating to ascertain whether it was a case of suicide or murder.

Police Spokesman SSP I.M. Karunaratne said the man identified as Kelvin Edward Patrick (69), a bachelor living alone. Wellawatta Police are investigating.

New road constructed

G. A. Gunasena Ginigathena special corr.

A new road from Dehigastenna to Ella-uda in the Ambagamuwa DS division in Nuwara Eliya is being constructed by the Ambagamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha.

Youth Empowerment and Socio Economic Development Minister Arumugam Thondaman funded Rs 1,954,266 for the construction.

Swiss aid for IDP housing project

Government of Swiss will provide US$ 1.25 million for a housing construction project for displaced persons in Chavakachcheri in the Jaffna district.

This program will commence in January next year is expected and to be completed by December 2010. Under the initial phase the housing schemes will be constructed in Thenamarchchi D.S. Division and Maravanpulo village.

The project will be implemented by the Swiss Development Cooperation.

Earlier the Switzerland Government has granted assistance to the Government to reconstruct houses in Matara and Trincoamlee affected by the tsunami.

A memorandum of understanding for the project was signed at the Finance and Planning Ministry.

Argument ends in death

of oneAn argument between two persons at Natht-handiya had resulted in the death of one person on Monday.

The deceased is identified as H.L. Nihal Gamini Wijesinghe (40), a resident of Thummodara, Naththandiya.Police investigations revealed the victim had received stab injuries during the argument between him and the wife of the suspect who had allegedly intervene them and stabbed the victim.