Srilanka

IUCN Red Listing. They included Dr. Sanjay Molur, Dr. Neil Ashley Cox, Marcelo Fabio Tognelli, Philip Michael Bowles and Claudine Gibson. The latter had specifically visited Sri Lanka for the assessment.Almost all the Sri Lanka experts working on reptiles were present at this workshop. Speaking to the Sunday Times, herpetologist Mendis Wickremasinghe said this kind of assessment was important as there was an extinction crisis Sri Lankareptiles faced. The checklist of reptiles consists of 155 species in 1993 but by 2012, it grew upto 211, with half of them endemic to Sri Lanka. It keeps on ticking. However, due to habitat loss and other key reasons, Sri Lankareptiles are becoming rarer.

The National Election Commission (NEC) said that structures set up on roads and public places by political parties advertising their candidates will be stripped off once nominations for the presidential election closes next week. Additional Director Saman Ratnayake said from October 8 all posters, hoardings and cutouts will be removed in keeping with the election law.He said although the law stipulates that political parties should refrain from displaying huge structures that inconvenience the public, since huge hoardings and posters displaying candidates has become part and parcel of Sri Lankapolitical culture the NEC as made concessions to allow them until October 7.

Thumba Karawila may taste slightly bitter for some people, but this medicinal vegetable has brought sweet success to some 100 farmers in Anamaduwa and ahakumbukkadawala.The goodness of thumba karawila to be spread far and wideBusiness is booming, say farmers who sell a kilo of thumba karawala at Rs. 150.Thumba Karawila is known among villagers and ayurvedic physicians for its healing power for a variety of non-communicable diseases. Its botanical name is Momordica diocia. Called Vahisi and Karkufaki in Sanskrit; teasle gourd or spine gourd in English, it belongs to the ‘Kacurbitacease& family.

This weekflooding in parts of the country that has affected nearly 140,000 people could result in the spread of respiratory illnesses, infectious diseases including water borne diseases and dermatological issues, Health officials have warned.The warning came as flood waters were receding in the districts of Galle, Colombo and Gampaha.The Health MinistryNational Coordinator of Disaster Preparedness - Response Division Dr Hemantha Herath said one of the best ways to protect oneself from diseases was to try and stay out of the water.Health officials have also asked people to refrain from drinking water from wells that could be contaminated by floodwaters.Health authorities have also warned of a rise in dengue cases and have identified Colombo, Gampaha and some parts of Galle district as areas prone to dengue.