News
About 35% of SL children suffer from chronic muscle and skeletal pain mainly due to overloaded school bags
By Rathindra Kuruwita
About 35 percent of Sri Lankan schoolchildren are suffering from chronic muscle and skeletal diseases, Dr. Kapila Jayaratne, Consultant Community Physician attached to the Child Morbidity, Mortality Unit at the Family Health Bureau, said.
About 70 percent of the students suffer from some form of pain, he added.
Jayaratne said that it was mainly due to the use of substandard school bags.
Students also carry a large load of books to and from school daily, he added.
He said that the best type of school bag was the one that is carried on the back.
“In 2011, the ministries of health and education came up with a prototype of a high-quality school bag. These bags had two compartments. Heavier books were placed on the compartment closest to the back. The shoulder straps should be broad and cushioned,” he said.
Dr. Jayaratne said the total weight of the bag should be less than 10 percent of the child’s body weight.
Recently, the Ministry of Education issued guidelines to reduce the weight of school bags because of the health risks caused by heavy loads.
The Election Commission of Sri Lnka [ECSL] taking another step forward in ensuring free and fair elections, launched a Mobile Application for the speedy resolution of disputes arising during elections.
The Election Disputes Resolution (EDR) App a simple and efficient way to report election issues instantly will be put to test during the forthcoming Local Authorities Election
It can be downloaded on Appstore and Google Play
Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) MURASAME arrived at the Port of Colombo on a replenishment visit this morning (22 Mar 25).
The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
JMSDF MURASAME is a 151m long Destroyer commanded by Commander HAYAKAWA Masahiro. Meanwhile, she is manned by a crew of 200.
During her stay in Colombo, crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city of Colombo and the ship is scheduled to depart the island on 25 Mar 25.
It has been reported that two persons riding a motorcycle were killed in a shooting incident that took place around 11.45pm on Friday [21] night , in front of the southern entrance of the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya, on Sinhasana Road.
The unidentified gunmen, who arrived in a van, opened fire using a T-56 assault rifle and 9 mm firearms before fleeing the scene. The police have recovered 39 T-56 bullet casings, two T-56 rounds of live ammunition, a T-56 magazine, three 9 mm bullet casings, and one 9mm live ammunition.
The van suspected to have been used by the shooters was found abandoned and set on fire on a side road about 800 meters from the crime scene.
The two deceased victims have been identified as Tikira Hennedige Yomesh Nadishan and Marakkala Manage Pasidu Tharuka, both residents of Sinhasana Road, Devinuwara.
Recent history repeats for first five gold medallists at WIC Nanjing 25
ECSL launch Election Dispute Resolution (EDR) Mobile App
Trump revokes security clearance for Harris, Clinton and others
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