Fire destroys 35 acres of forest land
Around 35 acres of forest was destroyed on Saturday in a fire that erupted in the protected areas of the Castlereagh reservoir and Devon Falls. Police suspect that the fire has been deliberately caused
Daily News (Sri Lanka)
-
Backhoe use in gem mining banned
The use of backhoe machines in gem mining has been banned with immediate effect, Environment Ministry Secretary Dr R H S Samaratunga told the Daily News yesterday. He said that this decision was taken considering the damage caused to the environment. Samaratunga said directions in this regard were given to the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA).
-
IEPSL Environment Management Course begins in June: Bid to improve green credentials
Worldwide environmental management and conservation has become vital today more than ever before, but the knowledge about this relatively new area among relevant sectors in the country is much less than what is really necessary, Institute of Environment Professionals Sri Lanka (IEPSL) Council Member Prof Udith Jayasinghe told Daily News Business. He said therefore it is a national responsibilit
-
Model agriculture farm in Mannar
Arrangements are being made to start a 100 acre model agriculture farm in Murungan, Mannar district close to the high level spill of the giant tank. Commenting on the new venture, Mannar Reawakening Programme's Institutional Affairs Chief Irrigation Engineer Palitha Wickramatilake said that the project implemented on the Irrigation Ministry Secretary, Engineer Ivan Silva's guidance will benefit
-
Elephant sanctuaries to keep marauding wild elephants at bay
The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) will establish a network of elephant sanctuaries for stubborn wild elephants, tuskers and orphaned baby elephants to keep them under safe custody. According to Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena, under this programme these sanctuaries will be started in Horowpothana, Maduroya and Weheragala areas.
-
Road side emission tests soon
The Motor Traffic Department (MTD) is weeks away from introducing country wide roadside vehicle emission tests, the MTD
-
Fire destroys forest land
A sudden fire that erupted in the Piduruthalagala forest reserve yesterday destroyed two acres of forest land, Nuwara Eliya Disaster Management Center Spokesman Erandana Hemawardena told the Daily News. The fire had broken out around 1pm yesterday in the Piduruthalagala forest reserve which belongs to Hawaeliya West Grama Niladari Division in the Nuwara Eliya Divisional Secretariat area.
-
Three rat fever deaths in Anuradhapura
Rat fever (Leptospirosis) has caused three deaths and infected 34 others in Anuradhapura during February. Anuradhapura Zonal Health Services Director Dr Palitha Bandara said that 55 patients suffering from rat fever had been reported since Janaury 2011. The disease has a tendency to affect those between 30 to 50 years, especially people working in paddy fields, he added.
-
Green Award 2011 eyes environmental-friendly society
The Central Environment Authority will organize the national program 'Green Award 2011' award encouraging all Sri Lankans to preserve the environment to create an environment-friendly society. The National Green Award presentation program will be held under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to mark Global Environment Day on June 5 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference
-
Jumbo census in August, September
An islandwide elephant census is to be conducted for the first time in August and September this year, a Wildlife Conservation Department official told the Daily News yesterday. She said that the support of Asian elephant experts of the Indian Wildlife Institute will be taken to conduct the census. They have confirmed their attendance.
-
In Matara district: Over 300,000 coconut trees affected by blight
Over 300,000 coconut trees in the Matara District are identified as been affected by blight, Matara District Secretary W K K Athukorala told the Daily News yesterday.