Srilanka

State Minister of Education Services Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says that a series of dengue eradication programs should be conducted before all schools in the country restart after the holidays.Speaking to the media after attending a function held at Kumburugama in the Deraniyagala electorate in Kegalle district the Minister said due to the lack of rain these days, an increase in the spread of dengue has been observed across the island.

The water supply for several areas in Gampaha has been suspended for 24 hours starting from 8.00 a.m. today (17).According to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said Peliyagoda, Wattala, Katunayake, Seeduwa, Ja-Ela Urban Council areas and Biyagama, Mahara, Dompe, Kelaniya, and Gampaha Pradeshiya Sabha areas have been affected by this water cut.

A special train service from Colombo Fort to Kandy will function from today to accommodate high passenger traffic during the New Year and Christmas season, said the Railway Department. Accordingly the new Kandy train, scheduled to function from Colombo Fort at 9am and reach Kandy at 11:30am. Trains scheduled to begin from Kandy at 4.55pm will reach Colombo Fort at 7:30 pm.

Land and Land Development State Minister S.B Dissanayake said yesterday lands will be given to war heroes who were politically victimised during the previous regime as well as journalists. He said journalists will be provided with lands irrespective of differences. The Minister said he would personally seek information about war heroes who were politically victimised in the past.He was speaking at a press briefing at the SLPP office in Nelum Mawatha, Battaramulla.