The newly appointed
General Secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayaka, MP and
the party's president Rukman Senanayake, MP recently
visited the Sri Dalada Maligawa accompanied by UNP parliamentarians
and others local party members. They also called on
the Malwatta Mahanayaka Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha
Sumangala and also met with the Diyawadana Nilame Nilanga
Dela Bandara.
New Diabetic Clinics
for Peradeniya and Kandy
The Kandy and Peradeniya Teaching Hospitals
have each got a brand new diabetic clinic with modern
facilities. Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva
was the chief guest at the opening ceremony of both
units. Chief Minister of the Central Province Sarath
Ekanayake, Director of the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital
Dr. Chandra Gunatilaka and several other distinguished
guests were present when the Peradeniya facility was
ceremonially declared open last month. It will function
under the leadership of Consultant Physician Professor
Upali Illangasekera who is well known in the community
for his work on the disease.
Addressing
the gathering Dr. Illangasekera noted that the
Diabetic Clinic at Peradeniya was established
twenty five years ago. He described the upgrading
of the facility as being long overdue to accommodate
the growing number of patients and to provide
modern care.
Dr Illangasekera described Diabetes
mellitus as a chronic non-communicable disease,
which could affect most major systems and organs
in the body. It is an important cause of heart
attacks, strokes, kidney failure, blindness and
leg amputations. This illness is increasing at
a rapid pace mainly due to changes in life-style.
The WHO says that the reported cases of diabetes
world wide went up from 30m to 230m over the past
twenty years. This increase is mainly observed
in developing countries such as Sri Lanka where
it is expected to go up by nearly 70% in the next
20 years.
There is no definitive curative
treatment for Diabetes at present but by the use
of medical means early complications could be
treated and a reasonable quality of life assured
to the affected person. Most importantly, focusing
on the prevention and fine-tuning of clinical
management is the only path to minimize the horrendous
complications of diabetes, he said. The funds
for the project were provided by the Danish pharmaceutical
company Novo Nordisk, one of the largest manufacturers
of Insulin. The funds were channeled through the
National Health Development Fund of the Ministry
of Health. A grant of Rs.5 million had been provided
for each of the facilities. Minister de Silva
revealed that similar clinics were being established
in several major hospitals in the country.
The new Diabetic Clinic
Chief
Guest Health Minister Nimal Siripala de
Silva, Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake,
Peradeniya Hospital Direct Dr Chandra
Gunatilaka, Professor Upali Illangasekera
and Dr Thilak Jayathilaka at the opening
ceremony.
Hospital committee, staff
and employees.
Patient records and related data have
been computerized in the clinic for easy reference,
follow up and research. A closed-circuit television
system has been installed for the purpose of broadcasting
of educational material to visitors to the clinic.
In addition to basic treatment the clinic
also has a special program for foot care. A mini-lab
will commence operations shortly. The clinic will also
initiate programs to screen relatives of patients for
diabetes and educate the community on its prevention.
Dr. Illangasekera described the establishment
of the clinic as a team effort that involved personnel
from all ranks. He says that the clinic also hopes to
acquire a retinal camera to detect eye complications
and a Dexa Scan to measure the amount of body fat bone
density.
Dr. Thilak Jayalath will assist Dr. Illangasekera in
operating the clinic.
Top Provincial
Entrepreneurs Recognized
The Federation of the Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, Sri Lanka in collaboration
with the Central Province Women's Chamber of Small
Industries & Commerce (CPWCIC) recently recognized
the best entrepreneurs in the Central Province
for the year 2005 at a gala ceremony held at Hotel
earl's Regency. Mr. I.M. Mohideen, Chairman of
Ankumbura Estate won the Gold Award for his outstanding
performance. Three won silver awards, four bronze
awards and two won merit certificates.
Seated from left Kithsiri
B. Wanigasekara (Silver), M.M. Haniffa (Merit),
Sarath Jayasekera, (representing I.M. Mohideen
(Gold)), Kosala Wickramanayake, Senior Vice President
FCCISL, W M R Weerasuriya (Silver), Governor of
CP Tikiri Kobbakaduwa, Mrs. Rosita Samarajeewa
President CPWCIC. Sujeewa Palleguru (Silver),
Nimal Peiris (Bonze), Pasan Chandrasekera (Bonze),
J M Leelawathi Menike (Bonze), and K G E Jayalal
(Bonze). Absent: Jagath Rajaratne (Merit).
Sarath Jayasekera collecting
the Gold Award on behalf of I M Mohideen, of Ankumbura
Estate from Governor Tikiri Kobbakaduwa with Kosala
Wickramanayake Senior Vice President FCCISL and
Mrs. Rosita Samarajeewa. President CPWCIC in attendance.
School Bus Play
School Celebrates Christmas and Graduation
The children of School Bus Play School
together with their teachers, parents and well-wishers
had a grand time at the year end Christmas Party
which also doubled up as the graduation ceremony
for those who were leaving to embark on their regular
school career.
Those who got honors at the CALSDA
elocution examination also collected their certificates.
The Director of the School Bus Play School is Mr.
Imthiaz Samad. Mrs. Nazrana Imthiaz Samad who holds
a Diploma for preschool and primary school teaching
is the principal. The school located at 22, Mulgampola
Road, Kandy opened in 2005 with 9 pupils. Now it
has nearly 50 on its roll.
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Around Kandy
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