By Udara Soysa

In the aftermath of the tsunami warning yesterday early morning (29'th), more than 10 people are reported killed due to accidents due to the panic situation Some are reported to have died from heart attacks too, according to sources.

Thousands from Eastern Sri Lanka fled their homes for safe places and Mohammad Riyaz from Samanthurai was killed when his motorbike collided with a van. Many died in similar scrambles in the coastal areas of the country.


Another victim is reported to have committed suicide by hanging himself from a rubber tree after hearing about possible tsunami threats in Kalutara.

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Munza Mushtaq in Colombo, March 28, 2005, 11.56 p.m.. Sri Lankan security forces are currently in the process of evacuating people residing close to the coastal belt amidst fears of a possible tsunami, after authorities issued a tsunami warning a little while back. The Lanka Academic was unable to contact any authoritative officials due to the congestion of the telephone lines. Most of the communication is currently being carried out through text messages (SMS). Meanwhile sources reported that evacuation have already begun in the Eastern Province which was the worst hit during the December 26th tsunamis. “People living in close proximity to the sea are currently being taken inland,” sources said.
Meanwhile unconfirmed reports also claimed of yet another possible earthquake within the next one and a half hours. The initial quake which struck Sumatra just a little more than an hour back was given a magnitude of 8.2. The magnitude of last year’s quake was 9.0.

www.bbc.co.uk, March 10, 2005. Group of environmental campaigners have won a landmark victory at the European Patent Office (EPO) preventing an American multi national company from patenting a natural substance derived from the Kohomba (Neem) tree. In an exclusive interview with BBC Sandeshaya from Munich after the ruling, Dr. Vandana Shiva, who was in the forefront of the campaign for ten years, expressed satisfaction that the ten year struggle has been fruitful.
"The tree is free at last."

She said the ruling was a triumph for traditional knowledge and practices, giving millions in developing countries the right to use their natural resources.

Sri Lanka

Environmental lawyer Jagath Gunawardhana told BBC Sandeshaya that many trees in Sri Lanka have been victims of "bio- pirates".

"Patents were taken for seven varieties of the Binara tree, nine types of Murutha tree and many herbal mixtures," Gunawardhana said.

He said four Patents were taken only for Sri Lanka's Kohombo (Margosa) tree and there are about 80-100 Patents for Sri Lanka's trees and herbs. More...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2005/03/050309_kohomba_ruling.shtml

www.bbc.co.uk, March 10, 2005. Group of environmental campaigners have won a landmark victory at the European Patent Office (EPO) preventing an American multi national company from patenting a natural substance derived from the Kohomba (Neem) tree. In an exclusive interview with BBC Sandeshaya from Munich after the ruling, Dr. Vandana Shiva, who was in the forefront of the campaign for ten years, expressed satisfaction that the ten year struggle has been fruitful.
"The tree is free at last."

She said the ruling was a triumph for traditional knowledge and practices, giving millions in developing countries the right to use their natural resources.

Sri Lanka

Environmental lawyer Jagath Gunawardhana told BBC Sandeshaya that many trees in Sri Lanka have been victims of "bio- pirates".

"Patents were taken for seven varieties of the Binara tree, nine types of Murutha tree and many herbal mixtures," Gunawardhana said.

He said four Patents were taken only for Sri Lanka's Kohombo (Margosa) tree and there are about 80-100 Patents for Sri Lanka's trees and herbs. More...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2005/03/050309_kohomba_ruling.shtml