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Lanka finally rid of cattle disease

By L. B. Senaratne

The country is finally rid of the cattle disease rinderpest, and all efforts will be made to ensure the disease does not raise its head again, promised Livestock Development Deputy Minister, H. R. Mithrapala.

The Deputy Minister was speaking at a Freedom from Rinderpest Infection seminar, held on Friday at the Mahaweli Reach Hotel. He said rinderpest had been globally eradicated, and the last recorded case of rinderpest in Sri Lanka was in 1994. He thanked the officers of the Veterinary Department for their success in containing the disease.

Rinderpest, also known as cattle plague, is a contagious and fatal disease that affects cattle and buffalo. The next challenge for livestock farmers is to check foot-and-mouth disease, another problem that intermittently affects cattle in Sri Lanka.

The Ministry of Livestock and Rural Community Development is working closely with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Mr. Mithrapala said.

FAO and European Union Representative Patrick Evans said his organisation would give the Veterinary Department all the assistance it needs in the fight to eradicate animal diseases.

Mr. Mithrapala also said the Ministry would import “female sexed” cattle semen to increase livestock numbers and achieve targets in the production of milk and other dairy produce.

New Army spokesman from Aug 10

Brigadier Nihal Hapuaarachchi will be taking over as military spokesman from August 10 for a period of one-year. The present military spokesman Major General Ubaya Medawala will be going overseas to follow a course in defence studies. Brigadier Hapuaarachchi was co-ordinator for the Batalanda Army Staff College.

Call to stop cruelty to animals at Munneswaram

Fourteen petitioners including animal welfare organizations, animal rights activists and religious organizations have filed a petition in the Court of Appeal seeking a Court Order prohibiting animal sacrifice that takes place at the Sri Bhadrakali Amman Kovil in Munneswaram at its annual festival.
The petitioners have sought a Court Order directing the police to prevent the slaughter and prohibiting local authorities from granting permits for slaughter.

The petitioners allege that animals sacrificed at the Kovil is in violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, the Butchers Ordinance and Municipal By laws relating to animal slaughter.
The respondents include the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Chilaw Police and the Trustees of the Kovil.

The application was supported in Court by C.R de Silva PC, appearing with R.J. de Silva, Suren de Silva and Sumudu Wimalsundera. Court thereafter issued notice on the respondent’s returnable on August 29.

A private plaint filed against the Kovil Trustees with regard to the slaughter that took place last August is also pending in the Magistrate’s Court of Chilaw and the trial has been fixed for November 25.

Perpetual flame at Munneswaram!

Photo Focus | Story and pix by Augustine Fernando

Visitors to the Sri Pushparamaya Temple in the Munneswaram area are witness to an interesting phenomenon where a lamp has continued to burn for three years… powered by a mysterious source of gas emanating from an underground source.

The gas was discovered accidentally while residents were attempting to bore two tube wells to tap water -but what they discovered was gas.

Residents say geologist W.M. Ratnayaka who studied the phenomenon discovered a substantial deposit of natural gas in the area, but an appeal to government authorities to make further investigations had fallen on deaf ears.

Ratnayaka revealed satellite images of Sri Lanka had shown deposits of natural gas in several areas and efforts to tap the resource should be undertaken without delay.

The gas well was discovered by accident when residents were boring for water.
Water was tapped in this well

President Mahinda Rajapaksa looks at the spot where former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was felled by a Tamil Tiger assassin, five years ago. The President was visiting the Kadirgamar residence in Colombo to participate at an alms giving held yesterday on behalf of the former minister. The slain Minister's wife Suganthie Kadirgamar is also in the pictures. Pix by Nalin Hewapathirana.


An alms giving for 100 Buddhist monks was held yesterday at the Palugolla Sri Vapikaramaya, Nikaweratiya to mark the 57th birthday of former Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. His family members joined him in religious observances prior to the alms giving which was held under the patronage of Venerable Bandarawela Amithnanda. Thera. Pic by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe.
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Lanka finally rid of cattle disease

 

 
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