Following the Sunday Times INSIGHT story titled ‘Unwanted post-war babies abandoned or killed in North on July 24, 2011’, the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs has decided to speedily implement a programme to assist both mothers and children in the areas.
Ministry Secretary Sumitra Rahubadda on Thursday held discussions with representatives of several United Nations Organisations bodies and INGOs in Colombo such as the UNDP, UNICEF and Save the Children Fund to brief them on media reports that led to the Ministry’s decision to formulate a special programme for the north.
A team from the Ministry as well as these organisations will visit the north on September 5 and 6 to discuss the problems faced by women and children in the north. This will be followed by a meeting with the District Secretaries, police personnel and local government officials on September 8.
The Family Planning Association too will join the programme.
The Sunday Times in its report on July 24 highlighted the alarming increase in the cases of abandoned or murdered infants, especially in areas that were once under LTTE control.
Tourism project to wash away illegal structures
Unauthorized constructions in the tourist resort towns of Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa in the South are to be removed to make way for a hotel development project, Economic Affairs Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told the Sunday Times.
He said that a hotel with 200 rooms was expected to come up in the Unawatuna area with similar projects to follow in the same area and Hikkaduwa.
He said that he would be visiting the areas tomorrow to discuss the development plan.
“These areas have beaches which are recognized internationally, therefore we hope to raise the standards to attract more tourists to the area,” he said.
JJ to Gota: Rumours are not gospel truths
UNP Parliamentarian Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena in a letter to Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has denied ownership of a so-called a tourist hotel within the premises of the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu.
The Parliamentarian has requested the Defence Secretary to take action against members of the security forces who were spreading false and malicious rumours about him.
In the letter Dr. Jayawardena states: “I have come to know during your recent visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, you made inquiries from the Catholic priests attached to the shrine regarding a hotel supposedly owned by me within the premises of the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu.
“I believe you made these queries based on false information you have received, claiming I own a hotel within the said premises of the Madhu shrine”.
The letter adds the rumour was part of a campaign orchestrated by the armed forces to tarnish his image and reputation by making false allegations that the newly constructed “Retreat Centre” was a hotel owned by him, whereas it was His Lordship Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannar , who had taken the initiative to construct a four-storied ‘Retreat Centre’ with residential facilities within the premises of the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu.
Mr. Jayawardena ends his letter advising the Secretary Defence to contact Rev. Rayappu Joseph himself to get factual information regarding the matter.
Intl. conference on Uropathology and Dermatopathology
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| Organising committee: Seated from left to right: Dr Mangala Bopagoda, Dr. Shanika Fernandopulle, Dr. Janaki Fernando, Dr. Mala Tudawe, Dr. Sonali Rodrigo, Prof Dilani Lokuhetty, Dr. Carmalita Senarath Standing from Left to Right: Dr. Chanuka Dharmadasa, Dr. Buddhika Malepathirana, Dr. Cherine Sosai, Dr. A. A. H. Priyani, Dr. Bimalka Seneviratne, D.r Dulani Beneragama, Dr. Renuka Goonesinghe, Dr Geethika Jayaweera, Dr. Senani Williams and Dr. Ramani Punchihewa |
The International Conference on Uropathology and Dermatopathology will be held in Sri Lanka from August 18 to 20. This is the 3rd International Conference organized by the College of Pathologists of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the British Division of the International Academy of Pathology (BDIAP).
British and Sri Lankan experts in the field of Uropathology and Dermatopathology as well as renowned surgeons, oncologists, radiologists and nephrologists will address the conference on important topics in Uropathology and Dermatopathology, along with their management aspects.
This three-day international conference will be held at the Durdans Hospital, 6th Lane new wing auditorium which has a seating capacity of 160. Local and foreign delegates including pathologists, clinicians and postgraduate trainees are expected to attend.
The platinum sponsors for this event are Premium International and Durdans hospital. The silver sponsors are the Bank of Ceylon, WHO, National Science Foundation, Delmege Medical, Analytic al Instruments Pvt Ltd, State Pharmaceutical Cooperation, Nations Trust Bank and Swiss Biogenics Pvt Ltd.
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