With a reputation for consistently delivering innovative and creative ideas that work, BBDO Lanka, a part of BBDO Worldwide, presented an idea that has the potential to revolutionize the scope of environmental conservation. The launch of Asia’s first mechanical air cleaning hoarding – a hoarding that actually filters certain harmful content from the surrounding air, purifies it and releases the purified air back to the environment.

The Disaster Management Centre said today that over 1200 houses have been damaged by strong winds that hit Vavuniya, Saturday evening. The winds had hit the Settikulam area in Vavuniya last evening amidst torrential rains. Fifteen people have been injured and over 2000 persons have been moved to temporary shelters an official of the DMC said.

The Power and Energy Ministry is to use Nuclear and Radio Isotope (NRI) technology for sea water pollution management for the first time as sea water contamination has gone out of control in the seas surrounding Sri Lanka, a Ministry spokesman said.

He said a workshop on sea water management was held for scientists, managers, officials and researchers recently sponsored by the Atomic Energy Authority of Sri Lanka (AEASL) and world renowned Japanese scientist and atomic energy expert Rifart Kureshi delivered the keynote address.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) proposed by New Delhi to Colombo for the joint management of resources in the waters between India and Sri Lanka hasn’t found favour with the latter.

The proposed MoU put forth by New Delhi to Colombo had suggested that the two sides put in place an arrangement whereby “both countries can fish in a limited pool of water”, said sources.

A 12-member committee appointed to look into the construction of a controversial roadway from Ilumbakanda to Suriyakanda said to be endangering the the Sinharaja National World Heritage Site (NWHS) has recommended that the construction of proposed roadway should be stopped.

The committee headed by Peradeniya University Professor Nimal Gunatilaka had handed over its report to Environment Authority (CEA) Chairman Charitha Herath.

The world’s population will reach the seven billion mark on October 31 and with the increase in population, Sri Lanka too will face a number of challenges, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said today.

UNFPA sources said Sri Lanka would have to face a number of socio-economic challenges with the increasing population such as rising unemployment, the need to increase access to information on reproductive health and an increase in educational opportunities.

The Government of Japan had agreed to provide a loan of Rs. 9,940 million (Japanese Yen 7,000 million) to implement this project. This loan was given at a concessionary interest rate of 0.01% per annum with a repayment period of 40 years including a grace period of 10 years.

Seven new Bills and several new amendments to existing acts were to be brought in order to streamline the health service, according to the Health Ministry sources.

It is learnt that the drafting of these new Bills and the Amendments has been finalized along with the national drugs policy by the Legal Draftsmen and the National Drugs Policy would be implemented on Professor Senaka Bibile commemorative day which falls on October 17. On this day a Drugs Authority would be created while arrangements would be made to implement all these Acts within three months.

Texas Governor Rick Perry, struggling to regain his status as front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, expressed fresh doubt on Saturday about whether humans are causing climate change.

“I still stand by that the science is not settled on man-made global warming,” Perry said while campaigning in the key early primary state of New Hampshire.

Perry, a favorite of the fiscally conservative Tea Party movement, also said that efforts to slow rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere could “devastate” the United States economically.

‘’It was informed that there is a growing demand for electricity in both the public and private sectors in Sri Lanka, as a result of post-war booming economy in all the areas including industrial, agriculture and tourism. I also heard that Sri Lankans are interested and concerned about the environment, particularly in energy saving. Therefore, we are proud to introduce the eco-friendly products which offer the new eco-lifestyle to Sri Lankans,’’ the co-host of the event, Yorihisa Shiokawa, Managing Executive Officer-Panasonic Corporation said.