A large population of more than 12,000 farmer families that depended on the Koggala Oya for irrigation facilities for centuries is facing a predicament due to the inflow of sea water through the lagoon.

The number of Dengue patients reported from Matara and Hambantota continues to increase, health authorities said.

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) yesterday called on the government to take immediate steps to prevent the Swine flu from spreading in the country by implementing a process of screening foreigners at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

More than 150 families settled on state land in Kurunampitiya North and Anawasala Grama Niladhari areas in the Kalpitiya Divisional Secretary

Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Champika Ranawaka said yesterday that the level of development of a nation cannot be gauged through its levels of Gross Domestic Production (GDP) or Human Development Index (HDI) but more so through environmental factors.

The dreaded dengue fever which has killed six people and affected hundreds so far this year is fast spreading in the Southern Province compelling educational authorities to close down seven schools in the province, Health Services Director Dr. J.B. Senarath said.

He said the cases reported indicated a two fold increase when compared with the same period last year.

Bundala National Park that had once been one of the main tourist attractions in the South is today in a deteriorated state due to human activities. It is the final destination of the flocks of migratory birds from the northern hemisphere during winter.

Health authorities yesterday cautioned that there has been a sharp increase of leptospirosis (rat fever) and dengue this year and that they could develop into epidemic proportions.

A Cabinet Sub-Committee, which inquired into the position of lands in relation to the Land Reforms Commission (LRC), had made far-reaching recommendations including a decision to restrict the extent of land managed by Plantation Companies to 2000 hectares and a mechanism to recover a massive Rs. 10.42 billion owed by these companies to commercial banks as well as the Treasury.

Wild life officials are on the trail of two Civil Defence personnel in connection with the death of a pregnant elephant in Mahakachchakodiya in Vavuniya.

The officials have sought assistance of the police to apprehend the two absconding home guards who have allegedly caused the death of the elephant by electrocuting it.