Around 25 Sri Lankans have been displaced following the earthquake that struck parts of Italy on May 20 around 4am, the Sri Lankan embassy in Italy said yesterday.

The embassy said the displaced Sri Lankans have been provided with facilities.

The embassy is in constant touch with the Sri Lankan community in the affected areas and the Civil Protection Agency of Italy to assist the displaced.

People in eight remote villages in Eheliyagoda electorate received electricity supply at a cost of Rs. 2.1million under the Vidulamu Lanka project.

Funds were allocated on a request made by SLFP organizer for Eheliyagoda, Technology and Research Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi to Power and Energy Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara. Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Member Kanchana Jayarathna commissioned the projects recently with the participation of community leaders in the area.

Sri Lanka has entered into a partnership agreement with a private enterprise to launch its first ever communication satellite.

SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd. has signed an investment agreement with the Sri Lanka Board of Investment (BOI) yesterday to the tune of US$ 20 million which will be increased to US$ 320 million in the long term.

The company plans to launch the country's first ever communication satellite utilizing the Planned Orbital Slot of Sri Lanka which is located at 50 degrees East.

The number of deaths caused by dengue has sharply dropped in the North Western Province due to the high quality health service offered to patients, Provincial Director of Health R M S K Ratnayake said.

Addressing a press briefing yesterday, he said health authorities cannot destroy all dengue breeding places and needs public support for it.

Ratnayake said there is a possibility of an increase in dengue patients with the prevailing weather conditions.

Sri Lanka has entered into a partnership agreement with a private enterprise to launch its first ever communication satellite.

SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd. has signed an investment agreement with the Sri Lanka Board of Investment (BOI) yesterday to the tune of US$ 20 million which will be increased to US$ 320 million in the long term.

The company plans to launch the country's first ever communication satellite utilizing the Planned Orbital Slot of Sri Lanka which is located at 50 degrees East.

The World Bank has agreed to provide US$ 314 million (approximately 37 billion rupees) for Sri Lanka to develop education and urban development sectors in order to meet new challenges of the 21st century, the Ministry of Financial and Planning said.

The government has requested the World Bank for funds to expedite development programs which have already been formulated in the education and urban development sectors with foreign assistance.

The villagers in Kaluarachchiyagama in the Nachchaduwa Divisional Secretariat Division who have been suffering from an acute shortage of drinking water will now be provided water under the Thuruwila water supply project.

Parliamentarian Shehan Semasinghe and Provincial Cooperative Minister H. B. Semasinghe have initiated the implementation of the water supply project where construction work inaugurated recently.

Pipes will be laid in around 20 kilometres from the Thuruwila water project. The estimated expenditure for the project is Rs. 10 million.

An alarming increase in Non Communicable Diseases viz. high blood pressure, arthritis and cholesterol, has been detected among school children, an expert warned.

CMC Ayurveda Department Chief Medical Officer Dr.Padma Shanthi revealed that over 80 percent of schoolchildren treated at 20 dispensaries in the city have Non Communicable Diseases, which she attributed to amongst others, environmental pollution, stress and consumption of fast foods.

Sri Lanka is geared to generate 100 MW of power from wind on Mannar Island, Chairman of the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) Dr. Kithsiri Dissanayake said yesterday.

He said: "Wind is the fastest growing renewable energy source in the world. The Government of Sri Lanka is planning to scaling up the privately owned 30 MW Wind Farms in Kalpitiya by threefold within the next year."