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Ali DNA: Court orders test on elephants
By Nalaka Nonis
For the first time in Sri Lanka, a court has ordered DNA tests on two elephants to ascertain whether one of the elephants had been captured illegally by a wealthy businessman from Pugoda.

Blood samples for the DNA tests will be taken from the elephants on Tuesday and Wednesday, following an application to the Pugoda Magistrate by the Wildlife Department.

In March this year Flying Squad Unit of the Wildlife Department seized an injured baby elephant from a Walauwa in Dompe following a tip-off that the elephant had been captured and held illegally.

In courts, the owner claimed that the baby came from another elephant which he owned. The Wildlife Department then asked for a DNA test.

Kelaniya Medical Faculty's Dr. Maya Goonesekara who will conduct the DNA test said she was confident she could verify the pedigree and settle the dispute.

Strike hits rural hospitals
More than 650 rural hospitals and public dispensaries have been seriously affected and hundreds of people turned away due to an Assistant Medical Officers' strike which enters its fifth day today.

A union spokesman said they were demanding the withdrawal of a Health Ministry circular which placed AMOs on a lower grade and salary scale. He claimed that at a meeting in July, the ministry had promised to rectify the matter within a month, but the promise was not kept.

Teachers hit out at scholarship sham
Hitting out at what they saw as unfair awarding of scholarships to principals, teachers and other officials, teachers have charged that political cronyism and favouritism appeared to be the order of the day.

In a letter to the Education ministers of the central government and the provinces, The Ceylon Teachers' Union has said that applications for foreign scholarships should be published in the papers while the selection criteria must be made available.

The union has also said that names of those selected for scholarships should be displayed on boards in the Education Ministry, Provincial Education Ministries and zonal offices, while copies must be made available to trade unions related to education.

However the Education Ministry's additional secretary for Education Development G.L.S. Nanayakkara denied the allegation of political favouritism and said a strict marking scheme was followed while interview boards were appointed by the Ministry.

Jayalath to be honoured
A senior member of Britain's House of Lords has proposed to confer an honorary professorship on Minister Jayalath Jayawardene at the Irish International University.

In a letter to Prof. Ralph Thomas, Executive Vice President at the University, Lord McCluskey commended Dr. Jayawardene's work and services to Sri Lanka. He said the honorary professorship would be conferred in recognition of Dr. Jayawardene's services in responding to humanitarian needs.

Lord McCluskey referred to the allegations made against Dr. Jayawardene by political opponents and the dangers posed to his life during his time in the opposition trying to help the poor. The letter stated he believed the a decision by the Irish International University to confer an honorary professorship is a salute to his contribution to the peace process, the poor and human rights.

Fighting rabies the humane way
For the first time in Sri Lanka, an international animal rights group is conducting a workshop on the control of stray animals in a bid to curb rabies.

The workshop conducted by The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) began yesterday at the Plant Genetic Resources Centre at Gannoruwa, in Peradeniya. A spokesperson for the WSPA, Trevor Wheeler said the workshop would look at areas including animal welfare legislation, humane and effective means of stray animal control, registration of pet animals and the training of animal wardens.

He said a two-day training session will be held for about 25 veterinarians and 30 dog catchers on neutering and humane methods of catching stray dogs.

Mr. Wheeler said Sri Lanka's interest in finding a long term humane method of managing the problem of stray animals was an indication of the country's policy for a compassionate and progressive method.

He said many countries that faced a severe threat of rabies resorted to inhumane methods of killing stray dogs which included shooting, poisoning, hanging and electrocution.

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