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| Friday, 31 December 2004 |
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Today is a Day of National Mourning The Government has declared today as a day of national mourning as a mark of respect to the victims of the tidal wave disaster. The Public Administration Ministry has requested all Government and Semi-Government institutions to hoist the National Flag at half mast on their buildings. Ranil, Karu on Presidential relief Task Force President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga will head the Special Task Force appointed to oversee the smooth distribution of relief assistance to the people affected by tsunami Tidal Waves. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya will function as members of the Task Force, official sources said. SAARC Summit postponed The 13th SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in Dhaka in January has been postponed at the request of the Maldives and Sri Lanka seriously affected by the tsunami tidal waves, official sources said. Schools re-open Jan.10 The Education Ministry has decided to postpone the commencement of the new school term scheduled for January 3, 2005. All schools will now reopen on January 10, 2005. Pararajasingham lauds Police TNA Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham has praised the police for its valiant efforts is rescuing the trapped victims of the Tsunami tidal wave in the North East and also for efficiently coordinating relief distribution in the affected areas. President's Office special bank account Details of the special bank account opened by the President's Office to accept public donations for disaster relief. Name of the Account: President's Fund of Disaster Relief Bank: People's Bank - headquarters branch Account No. : 204 100 190 136245 Type of the account: Current Account Swift Code: PSBKLKLX Sort Code: 204-7135. More join Lake House-SLBC voluntary service operation A large number of voluntary service groups from all parts of the country are now joining the Lake House SLBC voluntary service operation launched to provide relief to the tidal wave victims. About 80 people from them were dispatched to Galle, Moratuwa and Meetiyagoda, areas yesterday. Another six groups comprising 140 people are due to be dispatched to Trincomalee, Galle, Ambalangoda, Batapola and Meetiyagoda today. About 150 groups had expressed their desire to join the Lake House- SLBC voluntary service operation by noon yesterday. According to the organisers of the voluntary service operation their biggest problem had been the lack of sufficient information regarding the areas which needed the services of its volunteers. Postponed The 80th F. R. Senanayake commemoration celebrations scheduled for January 1, 2005 has been postponed in view of Sunday's tragedy. All expenses to be spent towards the commemoration will now be utilised for the purchase of relief items to the tsunami stricken victims according to a joint communique issued by Commemoration Committee President P. Sirisena Tissera and Secretary Ranjith Attanayake. * * * Moratuwa University Vice Chancellor, Professor Dayantha Wijeyesekera said all academic activities at the University of Moratuwa have been postponed until further notice due to the recent national disaster. Relief collection centre The Christ Church, Kotte in association with E. W. Perera Memorial Foundation has set up a centre to collect dry rations, cloths, water, medicine, children's milk powder etc. to distribute among victims displaced in Sunday's tidal waves. Any donor wishing to contribute can hand over goods to the Vicar of Christ Church, Kotte, Rev. Suresh Dias Bandaranayake at Mission Road, Pitakotte, E. W. Perera Memorial Foundation President Herbert Perera said. St. Servatious Vidyalaya The Principal of St. Servatious Vidyalaya, Matara has requested the staff, students and parents to attend vidyalaya at 9.00 a.m. today to clean the school building which was underwater. Make services available The Society of Government Dispensers in a media release yesterday appealed to health services employees throughout the Island to make their services available right round the clock with dedication. The society also called upon its membership to donate Rs. 2500 salary increase which they became entitled to by the last budget to the Victims Rehabilitation Fund. Ministry request The Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry has requested government officers unable to report for work to their departments or institutions to report to the nearest district office or Provincial Secretariat for duty. Report for work All workers who have so far not reported for work have been requested to report for work immediately at the Galle Port Authority, a communique issued by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority said. Event will be held The recruitment of unemployed graduates for training of the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Social Welfare will be held at Elphinstone Hall on January 5, 2005, as scheduled. Low cost housing from NERD The Sri Lanka National Engineering Research and Development Institute (NERD) will provide low cost housing technology to the institutions and people who are ready to construct houses destroyed due to Sunday's Tidal Wave disaster. Those who are interested in this low cost housing technology can contact the following NERD authorities: NERD General Manager telephone number 011-2236434, Head of the Civil Engineering section 011-5352253 and Head of the Technology Sales Section 011-2234266. Water bowsers needed The National Water Supply and Drainage Board urgently requires water bowsers to provide drinking water to affected areas. All individuals and organisations who can provide water bowsers contact the Public Relations Unit of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board on 0112623623. Tsunami kills 13 policemen Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando said yesterday that 13 police personnel died in Sunday's tragedy. Twenty-one policemen are missing in the North and East and eight policemen were injured, the IGP added. All welfare of the 42 policemen who died, injured and are missing will be looked after by the Police Welfare Division, the IGP said. Norway donates The Norwegian Government has taken action to grant a donation worth of US$ 850,000. This will cover districts of Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu and Jaffna. As Sri Lanka needs a quick help at this point of time, Norwegian Peoples Aid in conjunction with Arbiter Samaritan Bund (ASB) are assisting the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in this process. This logistical distribution includes purchasing of relief material such as apparel, food, medicine and shelter equipment. |
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