Lanka News – Lanka Gazette – Sri Lanka News Portal

The clear blue water is constantly disturbed by different flocks of birds that prey on fish. The location has become the latest destination of migrant birds as it has an abundance of fresh water fish. With no rain in sight, the fertile soil has turned rough. The gravel road which snails around the lagoon gets fresh layers of soil under the road expansion project which is being carried out.

With the clearance of the deadly anti-personnel mines, the lagoon has become a fine fishing spot. The blooming white and pink lotus seem to be dancing with the bright rays of the sun.

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Veddah chief UruwarigeWannielaththo said he is doing all he can to preserve the Veddah heritage and identity – although it is a struggle. In addition he is struggling to protect the dwindling forest cover to maintain the traditional way of living of the veddahs.

The Veddah population has faith that the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government would not mete out step motherly treatment to the Veddah folk in Dambane, said the Veddah chief.

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A disabled ticket seller Ticket sellerPeople buying ticketsChaminda Athuluwage Chandrawansa Pathiraja

Have you heard about a beggar who won the first prize of a lottery to the value of Rs. 956,527 and the money was later cheated by the lottery seller himself. The incident was reported a few years ago from Panapitiya, in the Kalutara District.

When Sunday Observer visited Kalutara during the weekend to see the livelihood of lottery sellers who were engaged in a very steady profession, a long standing lottery seller, 42-year-old Sarath Gamage revealed this story of the beggar.

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A human being is not attaining his full heights until he is educated, it is said. Its meaning is exceptionally true and it stresses the point that only an educated human being could attain his full heights in life.

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Managing Director I.L.M. Hassanar inspects the productsMaterials are preparedManaging Director Ubaidur Rahman at the dyeing plantDyeing plant

Maruthamunai is a beautiful village situated along the Eastern coastal belt of Sri Lanka. Since 1932 the people in this village produce handloom for the local community. Maruthamunai sarongs were famous in Sri Lanka prior to the advent of Indian sarongs. The tsunami severely affected the handloom industry in Maruthamunai and Kalmunai.

A large number of looms was destroyed killing thousands of people including experienced loom workers. Over 768 looms were destroyed, Eastern Social Mobilising Organisation (ESMO) sources said.

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The Jaffna district is gradually returning to its former glory with the implementation of mega development projects such as infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, industries, education and health, Jaffna GA Ms. Imelda Sukumar told the Sunday Observer.

She said that after an unfortunate era of nearly three decades the people, a large majority of whom have returned to their own former places, look cheerful and full of life now.

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Motor vehicles are the dominant source of noise pollution in any country. In Sri Lanka the public transport sector is the worst sound pollutant. With the news of new laws in the pipeline, bus drivers have already imposed self restraint. We don’t hear blaring horns of private buses too often now. This is a positive development. With the rapid development taking place in towns and villages, major roads have been built right across residential areas. Therefore noise pollution due to vehicles has become a major issue. The other category, public noise pollution, under which the musical shows, festivals and ceremonies at religious places cannot be addressed due to a court case that overruled the CEA regulations. We prohibited the use of loudspeakers and other devices that create public disturbance after 10pm, but following the court ruling we are compelled to find alternative means to address this issue.

Central Environment Authority (CEA) Chairman Charitha Herath says the police will be provided with hand held sound meters shortly to nab vehicle drivers violating sound pollution laws. Adding that the Motor Traffic Act will be amended to accommodate the new legal provisions of noise pollution, he says the public transport sector is the main noise polluter in the country.

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Over the years, several countries in the West have shown undue concern for the rights of LTTE terrorists in Sri Lanka. They often talk about the human rights of LTTE terrorists who have been fighting with a legitimate Army of a sovereign State, completely ignoring the human rights of innocent civilians who have been at the receiving end of their violence.

Certain politicians in the West often shed crocodile tears on the ‘human rights situation’ in Sri Lanka without practising the same in their countries. Some of the prominent politicians in Canada, UK and Norway often show much concern about the Tamils in Sri Lanka; concern which is even greater than that displayed by their own Tamil relatives living in Sri Lanka. Why do these Western politicians show such great concern for Tamils and LTTE terrorists in Sri Lanka?

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In a world that has been taken over by those wanting to profit by any means, we are unlikely to see sanity prevail in spite of appeals to end wars and to allow people to live in peace.

It has become a trend to occupy countries and completely devastate life beyond levels of tolerance. Occupational armies send troops too young to understand the dynamics of what actually motivates nations, their leaders and those financing the wars. By the time they discover the truth, they have been psychologically affected and return home, very much a victim of the system.

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The European Union (EU in partnership with the Australian Government, the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC) and the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT), has successfully completed the second phase of the “Support to Conflict Affected People through Housing” project which was launched in January 2011.

The project will assist over 4,600 families in over 60 villages by providing permanent housing and it is estimated that over 16,000 people will benefit directly in districts of Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Mannar.

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