The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide financial assistance of US$ 85 million (Approximately Rs 10 billion) for the implementation of Dry Zone Urban Water & Sanitation Project in Sri Lanka.

The recent interruption to the routine collection of Garbage in the city of Colombo has resulted in a problem for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Chief Engineer of CEB Colombo North Regional office, Ms. Soyza told the Island Financial review.

The Supreme Court yesterday suspended with immediate effect an order by the Kesbewa Magistrate, that garbage should not be dumped at the Karadiyane disposal site in Kesbewa, until June 29, 2009.

The Magistrate had said that an inspection of the site would be done by him, to verify that garbage was properly disposed and to suspend dumping till then.

Commissioner General of Motor Traffic Bandula Wijeratna yesterday said that special provision had been made for the convenience of all vehicle owners in the Southern, Central and North -Central Provinces to obtain their emission test certificates in their own provinces from yesterday(22).

Dr. Ajith Mendis, Director General of Health Services yesterday said that the first case of swine influenza had been detected in Sri Lanka. He identified the victim as an 8 year-old-boy from Australia, who had arrived in Colombo on June 14.

He said that the child had been admitted to the National Hospital for urgent medical attention.

There have been around 500 confirmed dengue cases reported from the Colombo Municipal Council area since the beginning of this year,

CMC

The global concern has heightened in the recent past over the need for sustainable agricultural production and environmental protection with the Asian region being especially vulnerable due to the twin problems of population pressure and land scarcity.

Climate Change, without doubt will be the biggest challenge to everyone. Though a developing country Sri Lanka has historically contributed less to the causes of climate change than the developed countries, who face some of the more severe consequences if action is not taken nationally to mitigate and adapt.

Lankan government is to take a 500 million dollar 20-year loan from China to build 100,000 low cost houses for state sector employees, shanty dwellers and people affected by disasters, the Cabinet office said.

With the war over, a senior Minister said Sri Lanka must spend more on science and technology, particularly in research and development, if the country is to achieve higher levels of economic growth and eradicate poverty.

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