4 Tuesday 20th April, 2010 The Island More News Page Four Devananda willing to Kurunegala hospital resign to contest PC polls short of 350 workers RANAWEERA MANUKULASOORIYA ‘I’ve always wanted to take to regional politics’ expansion of the services. There is a GOKARELLA CORR. dearth of 150 minor employees as well BY FRANKLIN R. SATYAPALAN post and return to regional politics, when EPDP members elect- There is a dearth of 350 minor as 200 workers in the cleaning section. EPDP Leader and ex-Minister the occasion arises,” Devananda said. ed from Jaffna. The employees at the Kurunegala Teaching Out of 25,000 child births in the says he will resign He said his priority would be to devel- number of preferen- Hospital. Kurunegala District, 13,000 are deliv- from Parliament when elections are held op the infrastructural facilities in the tial votes obtained by This was revealed at a press brief- ered at the Kurunegala Hospital. to the Northern Provincial Council. North and improve the living conditions him was the highest ing held at the Kurunegala Teaching Nearly 18,000 patients are treated In an interview with The Island in of the people who had suffered for secured by any Hospital recently. It was presided over monthly at the Out Patients’ depart- Jaffna on Friday, Devananda said he had decades because of terrorism. Tamil candidate in by Dr. M. D. S. Rajamanthree, Director ment. always wanted to take to regional politics Devananda, who contested from the the northern or of the Hospital. Dr. Rajamanthree said that she had and render some service to the people of Jaffna electoral district, polled 28,855 the eastern elec- According to the hospital Director, brought this matter to the notice of the the North. preferential votes at the recently conclud- toral districts. Devananda this situation has arisen due to the Ministry of Health. “I won’t hesitate to give up a Cabinet ed general election. He was among three

Japanese New Year ordeal Government for Dehiowita, Scholarship 2011 Yatiyantota The Government of Japan will award scholarships to Sri Lankan residents Students under the Monbukagakusho J. ANTHONY (MEXT) Scholarship scheme 2011, in RATNAPURA CORR. the categories of Postgraduate Research, Undergraduate and College The national New Year has brought misery of Technology. The closing date for to the people of Dehiowita and Yatiyantota. applications to the Ministry of Higher Water supplies to Dehiowita were restrict- Education is May 5, 2010. Selection of ed because of pipeline repairs with supplies candidates will be done through an reaching two separate sections of the area on examination conducted jointly by the alternate days. Japanese Embassy and the Ministry of Electricity supplies also face frequent dis- Higher Education. ruptions because of heavy rains and lighten- Those interested are requested to ing. forward their applications to the In Yatiyantota, estate factories and shops Ministry of Higher Education, No. 18, suffered heavy losses in the past few days as Ward Place, Colombo 07, according to frequent disruptions in electricity supplies the specimen application format pub- damaged TVs, electrical appliances and refrig- lished by the Ministry. Application erators. forms downloaded directly from the Several houses were also battered by thun- website of the Government of Japan dershowers. will not be accepted for the prelimi- nary processing. Undergraduate and College of Technology applicants should apply for ONE SCHEME ONLY Nepalese cyclists (Either Undergraduate or College of Technology). laud Ranawaka’s For more information contact Cultural Section of the Japanese efforts Embassy on Tel: 2693831-3 (Ext. 66) Army Commander Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuiya inspects a guard of honour at Artillery Regiment headquarters at Panagoda on Sunday. The Regiment marked its 122nd Anniversary with a series of commemorative events, including BY IFHAM NIZAM all-night Pirith Chanting, a memorial service and launched its own ‘Gunner’ weSbsite (www.gunner.lk). World renowned Nepalese cyclists yes- Amithabh Bachchan terday praised former Environment and in Colombo today Eight SPC members elected to parliament Natural Resources Minister Patali BY LALAJI MANAWADU Nanayakkara (49,690) was elected to from the Hambantota District to The ’s Parliament from the . Parliament with 37,626 preferential Tourism Promotions Ambalangoda: Eight SPC mem- Mohan P. de Silva was the votes. He was an SPC Minister. initiatives to save Bureau (SLTPB) togeth- bers from the UPFA and the UNP Chairman of the SPC. Among the new SPC members to mother earth. They Patali Champika er with the Indian have been elected to parliament at the UPFA councillor elected to be appointed are UNP’s Jayantha were speaking at an International Film polls on April 8. Parliament from the Matara District Jayaweera (former SPC member and event held at the Environment and Natural Academy (IIFA) has The exit of those members will are Minister Hemal Gunasekera MP), who contested the April 8 polls Resources Ministry in Battaramulla. invited Amithabh enable eight candidates who failed to (51,013) and Wijaya Dahanayake from the Galle district unsuccessful- Cyclists Rajendra Sapkota and Yogi get elected to the SPC at the October Bachchan to Sri Lanka. (44,463). ly. He would fill the vacancy created Yam, better known as Rupak Khadka, visit- 10, 2009 to enter the Council. He arrives in Colombo UNF councillor Buddhika by Manusha Nanayakkara (UNP) ed the country last month. Their target was UPFA councillors elected to at 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday to cover 99 countries around the world. Parliament from the Galle District are Pathirana who was the Opposition and Retd. DIG, D. W. Prathapasinghe April 20 in order to attend the IIFA The two Nepalese met former Minister Nishantha Muthuhettigamage Leader in the SPC was also elected (UPFA) would be elected from Launch Press Conference in Colombo. (124,368 votes), Sajin Vaas to Parliament from the Matara Matara District to the SPC to fill Ranawaka at the Ministry yesterday before He will be received at the VIP Lounge Gunawardane (53,620 votes) and District. He polled 62,499 preferen- one out of the two UPFA vacancies. they left the country. They played a crucial before leaving for his hotel. Mohan P. de Silva (48,756 votes), tial votes. Danny Abeywickrema will also role in the promotion of cycling lanes in UNF Councillor Manusha V. K. Indika (37,626) was elected be appointed to the SPC. Sri Lanka which commenced recently in Battaramulla. Speaking at a simple ceremony yester- day, Rajendra said that’ all politicians have Dengue reaches Polls chief assured of Young mother to think about mother Earth without boundaries. alarming heights UPFA co-operation hacked to death Ranawaka said that environment pollu- tion has no political or territorial bound- A senior UPFA delegation General Secretary Susil BY A. aries. “We all have to get hand in hand in first quarter of year that met the Commissioner of Premjayantha, SLFP Senior WAIDYASEKERA, without any differences to protect mother Elections Dayananda Deputy President, Nimal AMBALANTOTA CORR. Earth,” he added. BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE that children spent five days Dissanayake at the Rajagiriya Siripala de Silva and SLFP K. P. Priyanga (35) a Ranawaka strongly believes that pro- The number of dengue out of seven each week in Election Secretariat yesterday Treasurer Dulles mother of two children moting cycling is of paramount importance assured the Election Chief of Alahapperuma patients has risen above school. The mosquito is was hacked to death. She in the context of scenarios like climate their fullest cooperation to con- The delegation also revealed 11,619 from the beginning of mainly active during day duct a peaceful election at the to the Elections Commissioner was a resident of change which leads to global warming. January while the highest time and evening. It’s a possi- 37 polling stations in that President Mahinda Vitharandeniya. These cyclists started their journey to number of deaths (35) for the bility that some of them get Nawalapitiya in the Kandy dis- Rajapaksa had drawn the atten- OIC Beliatta Jaffna on March 31 near the Central first four months of the year infected at school. trict and the sole polling sta- tion of all UPFA candidates Krishantha Jayawardene Environmental Authority in Battaramulla was reported in January. The PHD Chief, Dr. tion in Kumburupiddy in the and organizers the importance said that a team of police and returned after a week. Sri Lanka is the According to the Units’ web- Pradeep Kariyawasam said Trincomalee District today. of upholding law and order in officers are on the trail of fifth country they visited. They are on their The delegation comprised of the districts where the elec- site which has been updated they would inspect schools the suspects. way to Pakistan today. Their starting point SLFP General Secretary tions are scheduled to be held from January till April 6 the and that Principals would be , UPFA today. was Kathmandu. total dengue death toll held liable and would be has been 67. legally persecuted under Despite the majori- the Mosquito ty of deaths Borne Diseases Act being reported over the of the CMC. The UGC to ensure universities free of ragging media were those of CMC would also initi- BY DASUN EDIRISINGHE not been strictly enforced so far. tion of human and democratic children, they are ate its house to house With several incidents being report- rights. “They do not talk about not necessarily inspection campaign on The University Grants ed during last few years, the UGC human rights violations of univer- the ones most affected by the Saturday (24). Commission intends to ensure that decided to strictly implement the sity students. fever, a spokesman for the However the Dengue Task all universities are free of ragging Act. We have informed all universi- He said that hundreds of stu- Epidemiology Unit said yes- Force of the Health Ministry before the intake of students for the ty heads by a circular,” Prof. dents, especially females, give up terday. The Unit does not give which includes stake holders new academic year, its Chairman Samaranayake said. their courses due to ragging. The UGC in collaboration with “We will ensure a ragging free an age break down of dengue from the Environment Prof. Gamini Samaranayake told The Island yesterday. the Committee of Vice Chancellors university environment before issu- patients. Ministry and the Education He said that the UGC had and Directors (CVCD) has called a ing cut–off marks for the next aca- However the Public Ministry is in limbo owing to already sent a circular based on special convention on anti- ragging demic year,” he said, adding that Health Department of the the transitions which are due Act No. 20 of 1998, ‘Prohibition of to be held on May 03 at the Sri cut off marks would delay due to re- Colombo Municipal Council to take place in the Ministry. Ragging and Other Forms of Lanka Foundation Institute. The evaluation of the GCE (Advanced said that ninety percent A spokesman for the Health Violence in Educational convention expects to create a Level) results. affected in the Colombo City Ministry said that “all will be Institutions,’ to all university heads national discussion on the issue, he Commissioner General of said. Examinations Anura Edirisinghe were children. The CMC determined after a Minister to ensure that freshers are not put universities, violating the human through ragging by senior students. Prof. Samaranayake claimed said the re-evaluated results of the which will start inspections and a Secretary were and democratic rights of university “The Act which was introduced that pro–JVP student unions were students. But their political leader- GCE (A/L) 2009 would be released of schools this week for mos- appointed.” to stop ragging in universities, has involved in ragging in Sri Lankan ship was clamouring for the protec- within two weeks. quito breeding grounds said