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NEW YEAR WISHES

Wednesday, 13 April 2005 10:00 (GMT + 6.00)

German city of Fulda provides tsunami relief

Sine the fateful morning of tsunami two persons in the City of Fulda, near Frankfurt in Germany were thinking how to help the desperate people affected by the tsunami catastrophe, in Sri Lanka. Sumanasiri de Silva of Dodanduwa on the South coast of Sri Lanka has resided their for nearly 22 years living in Fulda since his arrival there in 1982.

Both Sumanasiri and his German born wife Nicole are known to Miss Becker who is the Secretary of the Government Agent of the City of Fulda. Through Becker they could meet the GA of the City to convene a high level discussion on implementing a mechanism of raising funds to provide relief assistance of the tsunami affected people in Sri Lanka.

Miss Becker revealed that there was a German national named Tobias Moretti attached to the Fire Brigade of the City of Fulda. Both Sumanasiri and Tobias were highly surprised to meet each other having equal interests in helping the tsunami affected people in Sri Lanka.

On 28th December 2004 Sumanasiri spoke to Tobias in the Fire Brigade over the phone and on the following day they met each other for further discussions on the issue of tsunami and its impact on the people of Sri Lanka. By then Tobias had already contacted the GA the Provincial Newspaper of Fulda the Red Cross, the Technical Rescue Organisation (THN).

Mayor of the City of Fulda Moeller, after studying the aims and objectives of this humanitarian project envisaged on providing relief assistance or the displaced communities of Sri Lanka agreed to extend his cooperation.

As the Mayor and the Fire Brigade of the City of Fulda had given green light in launching the fund raising during a day a sum of 5810 EURO could be collected. Since 28th December 2004, members of this project called 'Help South Asia', could be seen raising funds along the streets of the City of Fulda.

A German NGO named MALTESER which is also handling several humanitarian projects and relief assistance has been given the management of the funds raised by the members of Help South Asia which had already raised a fund of half a million euros.

MALTESER the German NGO had made arrangements to donate one fifth of the funds raised by Help South Asia for the tsunami affected communities in Thailand.

The balance of 52 million of rupees would be allocated for the relief assistance and out of that 19 million rupees would be utilized in the construction of an Orphanage in the Galle district and affiliated to it several other projects promoting Vocational Education, Languages and Computer Science would be started as continuous programmes specially for the benefit of the children living in tsunami affected areas.

Khalid

Let us join hands to rebuild the Motherland - President

The Sinhala and Tamil people of our country are closely knit by a common cultural heritage. Forgiving wrong and requesting forgiveness for wrong is a noble new year tradition our people have observed for a long time.

Therefore let us eschew all differences and join hands to rebuild our motherland, said President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in a message issued to mark the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

"The tsunami disaster is like a silver lining among dark clouds. A situation where all Sinhala, Tamil, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim Communities and faiths can work together is now emerging. If we can make the joint mechanism for providing relief to people in the North East a success it will be a fine foundation for finding a lasting solution to the national problem," President Kumaratunga said.

The message: "Today is New Year Day considered as the National New Year by the Tamils and Sinhalese alike. This is the common festival of the entire Sri Lankan people and truly our most delightful cultural festival.

However our people are celebrating New Year this time from a completely different environment than past years. Only three months have lapsed after the tsunami which was a natural disaster unprecedented in our history.

All this time we have been hearing about damage to lives and property caused by earthquakes, high tides and volcanic activity in other countries of the world and thinking how fortunate we have been. But on December 26, 2004 we too had to experience that unfortunate calamity. It caused the untimely death of nearly 40,000 of our brethren and damaged properties worth tens of millions of rupees.

That moment which grabbed away the expectations filled in our hearts and our loved ones has endowed us with a permanent agony. We understand the mental pressure and pain caused in you by it. Programs to relieve that pain have now been launched by places of religious worship, the government and other interested citizens.

Since Sri Lanka has been identified as a country falling within a region prone to natural disasters lately plans are now under way to set up a natural disaster early warning centre in Sri Lanka too. Apart from this elaborate plans to rehabilitate all people affected by the tsunami have been formulated and implemented within the last three months.

In this situation it is pointless for us to wallow in pain feel disgusted anymore. Therefore let us make the New Year which has dawned a year of resolve to rebuild the country and usher in peace and prosperity.

When we consider the New Year Day it is common to both Sinhala and Tamil people. This is neither a Sinhala New Year nor a Tamil New Year but a National New Year.

The Sinhala and Tamil people of our country are closely knit by a common cultural heritage. Forgiving wrong and requesting forgiveness for wrong is a noble new year tradition our people have observed for a long time. Therefore let us eschew all differences and join hands to rebuild our motherland.

The tsunami disaster is like a silver lining among dark clouds. A situation where all Sinhala, Tamil, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim Communities and faiths can work together is now emerging. If we can make the joint mechanism for providing relief to people in the North East a success it will be a fine foundation for finding a lasting solution to the national problem.

Furthermore this new year is celebrated on the occasion of the first anniversary of the UPFA Government headed by me. The UPFA government which was elected to office last year giving a new strength and awakening to the dawn of New Year has now laid the foundation for a new socio-economic and cultural order where social justice will rule supreme.

Much more has to be done to take the country forward on that foundation.

I hope that the strength, courage and matured thinking needed for it will dawn on every one on this new year.

Wish you all a happy New Year."

Khalid

TODAY'S TOP STORY

New Year treat on Channel Eye

Power House is producing a special program on Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day. According to Anup Chandrasekharan, Director - Power House, the New Year is a day where apart from conducting religious rituals, the family would sit together and watch a good television program. He said in keeping with this, Power House has produced a special New Year program with popular Tamil actress Sneha answering questions from Sri Lankans. This one hour special program will be aired on Channel Eye on April 14 at 8 p.m. Sneha will share some of her special moments in her life to questions from Sri Lankans.

Take care of injuries from Avurudhu sports

Hospital authorities yesterday warned Avurudhu revellers to guard against injuries they may sustain in sports events connected to the festive season.

They stressed that organisers of traditional and non-traditional sports events should pay adequate attention to the safety of the participants.

Colombo National Hospital's Deputy Director (Accident Service) Dr. Anil Jasinghe said a significant number of victims are reported every year due to injuries related to Avurudhu sports events.

"Organisers should pay attention to the safety component before organising such events," he added suggesting that organisers could even appoint a separate committee for this.

Authorities should also warn people to be extra careful and not to drive under the influence of liquor during the festive season as it could kill or harm them.

Officials warned motorists against driving under the influence of liquor especially since April over the years had recorded the largest number of road fatalities.

A hospital survey earlier revealed that one Sri Lankan dies every 4.5 hours in road accidents. Around 75 per cent injured are aged between 20 - 50.

This is very troubling as most are breadwinners.

It has been revealed that 11 per cent of road accidents are due to drunken driving. Amongst the other factors are lack of body protection and poor experience resulting in defective judgement.

Authorities also caution people to be careful when lighting fire crackers during this season.

Khalid

SC directs CEA to formulate, implement Community Noise Level Standard

The Supreme Court recently directed the Central Environmental Authority to formulate and implement the Community Noise Level Standard as early as possible. The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC and Justices Nimal Gamini Amaratunga and Saleem Marsoof PC.

The court made the direction following the submissions by Deputy Solicitor General Mrs. Bimba Thilakaratne who informed the court that the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) was in the process of formulating a Community Noise Level Standards to impose sound limits in urban and residential areas. The DSG submitted that the matter was of public importance since there were several cases pending before the court. However, she submitted, according to her instructions the formulation of the standards would take time.

The DSG further submitted that the standards had been already laid down in respect of the industrial noise could not be used in respect of community noise. She appeared for the added sixth respondent, the CEA in the fundamental rights application filed by five trustees of Weligama Jumma Mosque against the time limiting imposed by the Weligama Police in the use of loudspeakers in calls for prayers.

Senior State Counsel Indika Demuni de Silva for the second respondent ASP Weligama submitted that the permit had been issued to the petitioners was limited to three minutes each for the different sessions of calls for prayer and such limitations had been made in view of problems between mosques and complaints received by the public.

President's Counsel Ikram Mohamed for the petitioners submitted that if the call of prayer permit was increased from three minutes to five minutes for each session and the Jumma prayer for one hour with the period of call being at the usual level of volume and the continued period of prayer at reduced level of volume, the petitioners would be satisfied.

The Senior State Counsel submitted that she would obtain instructions from the second respondent whether such a scheme could be implemented and intimate the court on May 2 .

The case will be mentioned on May 2.

Khalid