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)
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Rs. 3,720 m for rural road development
The Government has allocated Rs.3,720 million in 2008 to improve and maintain the rural road network countrywide under the Maga Neguma programme to achieve socio-economic development, mobility, connectivity and accessibility needs of the people. Acting Minister for Highways and Road Development, T.B. Ekanayake told the Daily News that 1,208 kms of rural roads have been identified for improvement in this year. The development will take place at district level under the Maga Neguma programme.
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Moonshine plants busted in Madu river islands
Southern Special Unit Excise sleuths busted six large scale moonshine producing plants, hidden in several islands in the Madu river in the Balapitiya area, which has been declared as a sanctuary due to its unique bio-diversity features. The Madu river which consists of 64 islands is also considered as a Ramsar wetland and has the reputation of being the breeding ground for many endangered species of plants and animals.
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Asia's worst natural disasters since 2004 tsunami
Asia's worst natural disasters since 2004 tsunami Hundreds of aftershocks have rattled China's Sichuan province following last Monday's devastating quake which killed nearly 32,500, state news agency Xinhua said. Early on Sunday, another 6.1 magnitude tremor caused thousands to flee as buildings swayed in the provincial capital, Chengdu. Here are some of the region's worst natural disasters since the Asian tsunami of 2004.
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Significant strides in disaster prevention since tsunami
Sri Lanka has taken significant strides in disaster prevention and mitigation since the Boxing Day catastrophe in 2004, said Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe launching the seventh meeting of the regional Committee on Disaster Management yesterday. While calling the tsunami as an eye opener, the Minister noted that the country had come a long way with an effective mechanism in place today to counter such disasters in the future.
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Japan to alleviate food price rise crisis
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has appealed for urgent funds to sustain its operations in Sri Lanka in the wake of the rapid surge in commodity prices. The price of staple food such as rice has doubled over the year in Sri Lanka and in some countries tripled; reducing the volume of the commodities WFP can procure within the allocated budget by almost 50 per cent, a WFP news release said.
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Rat fever on the rise
The number of cases of the waterborne disease Leptospirosis, known as "Mee Una" or Rat Fever in common parlance, has increased in Sri Lanka. Forty one persons have died due to the disease up to April this year, sources at Health Ministry's Epidemiology Department said. The most number of patients detected as suffering from Leptospirosis have been found from the Matara District. Affected persons were also detected from Gampaha and Kegalle districts.
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WHO team here to study rise in kidney diseases
A team of specialist doctors from the World Health Organisation (WHO) will arrive today to find out the main cause for the increase in kidney diseases in certain areas in Wayamba, North Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said. He said Sri Lankan born doctor Prof. Shanthi Mendis, American doctor Prof. Reggie Paulten and WHO Asian Regional Consultant Dr. Habib Faiyed are in the WHO team. They will have a special meeting in Colombo with 100 local researchers including medical experts, consultants and doctors.
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Rs. 5,400 m for Ampara development
The Government has allocated Rs. 5,400 million for livelihood development activities of low income families in Ampara district under the Samurdhi Development Programme. Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena disclosed this at an awareness workshop attended by Samurdhi Managers, Development Officers and Samurdhi Society Chairmen in Ampara, Uhana and Damana Divisional Secretariat Divisions at the Ampara Town Hall yesterday.
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Sea sand to replace scarce river sand
The Government has drawn attention towards utilising sea sand in place of river sand for the construction industry as a shortage prevails for river sand due to the ban on river sand mining, Construction and Engineering Services Minister Rajitha Senaratne said last week. Minister Senaratne said the Government and private sector constructors must be urged to utilise sea sand in place of river sand for construction work. He said moves are underway to purify sea sand and supply it to the construction industry.
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Floods recede, tab on outbreak of diseases
Floods in Ratnapura and Kalutara districts have eased but authorities warned of mosquito and water-borne diseases. "Polluted drinking water is the main problem in flood affected areas, while several measures have been taken by Divisional Secretariats in these areas to control the spread of disease," sources said. A team of officers from the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) would make a visit today to report on the situation that has arisen due to the floods in Ratnapura district, the Officer of Ratnapura District Disaster Management Centre said.