(Colombo Lankapuvath) All services conducted by the Presidential fund will be computerised here onwards, the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka said.
 
Especially all medical services would be computerised with the intention of making the services more efficient and friendly towards the community. With the new methods, aid provided on medical grounds would be made more efficient as the process would be taking place within a wide range of networks interconnected.
 
The exchange of information via the institutes involved would make things easier for the applicants, ICTA said.
Information displayed on the web regarding the services would be made more clear and visible, they added.

(Colombo Lankapuvath) A power breakdown was experienced in the Puttalam area,Kandy Town and Trincomalee  in the evening,the Ministry of Power and Energy said.

 The breakdown was due to some defects at 5 grid power stations,they alleged.

Ten teams have been deployed to restore the services, they added.

(Colombo Lankapuvath) SMEs, the key driver of Sri Lanka’s industry sector and set to drive country's future manufacturing growth, have received a new boost. “The majority of the enterprises in Sri Lanka are small and medium scale enterprises and their contribution to the development of national economy is significant. Our aim is to support the small and medium scale entrepreneurs” said Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka.

(Colombo Lankapuvath) A high-profile delegation led by  Lars H. Thunell, Executive Vice President and CEO of IFC (International Finance Corporation), met Basil Rajpaksa, Minister of Economic Development Yesterday (21) in parliament premises.

IFC,a member of the World Bank Group, is working with policymakers and private sector players to help meet Sri Lanka's ongoing development agenda through public-private partnerships.

Sri Lanka is a focus country for IFC’s programme in South Asia. IFC’s committed development programmes  in the country covers projects across a range of sectors-including infrastructure, tourism, renewable energy, banking, and healthcare. IFC also provides advisory support to small and medium enterprises, promoting sustainable growth among small and medium enterprises by facilitating access to finance and offering capacity-building and training opportunities.

Thunell stated that International Finance Corporation will give their fullest corporation to post-conflict resettlement, reconciliation and development in Sri Lanka.

Thomas S. Davenport, IFC Director for South Asia was also present at this occasion.

(Colombo Lankapuvath) SAARC Cultural Show presents “The Clay Bird” a film from Bangladesh, directed by Tareque Masud tomorrow (23) at the National Film Corporation Cinema Hall.

The Film was released in 2002, and it was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize in the section “ Directors’ Fortnight: Outside competition at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and became Bangladesh’s first film to compete for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.  
SAARC Cultural Centre is a regional centre established based on the decision made by the Heads of State or Governments of SAARC countries to promote cultural cooperation in order to bring the people of South Asia closer and to project the distinct identity of South Asia. 

(Colombo Lankapuvath) Two Japanese war ships engaged in missions against the Somali pirates arrived at the Colombo Port today (22), Navy media spokesperson Commander Kosala Warnakulasooriya said.

(Colombo Lankapuvath)The Health Ministry warns that there is a risk of dengue epidemic spreading through the vehicles coming into the Colombo suburbs, mainly from private buses, vans and lorries carrying goods.

(Colombo Lankapuvath) The fire that raged in the Ambuluwawa forest area from early today has destroyed over 300 acres, the Disaster Management Center said.

The police and Air Force assistance were sought to douse the fire, the Center added.