News in brief

SLBC's FM transmission further strengthened

COLOMBO: The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation's (SLBC) FM transmission has being further strengthened, Chairman Sunil Sarath Perera said.

This project has been launched to provide transmissions of the State radio with better sound quality, he said.

Under the first stage, transmission from Deniyaya will be improved.

The Chairman said steps have already been taken to improve the transmission in all three languages.

The new meter bands are Sinhala National Service 99.6 MHz, Sinhala Commercial Service 89.3 MHz, City FM 102.6 MHz, Tamil National Service 104.8 MHz, Tamil Commercial Service 90.8 MHz, and English Commercial Service 107.02 MHz.

National Forum of Children

COLOMBO: Save the Children is making arrangements to bring together over 60 children from over 20 districts to Colombo on October 1 for a National Forum to mark Universal Children's Day.

The National Forum will be held at the BMICH on October 1. The children will meet for a preparatory workshop on September 29 and 30.

The children represent all ethnic groups and have been part of district level meetings where they have identified and discussed their priority issues in this national Year of Children.

At these district meetings they also selected their representatives to come for the national forum where they will present to parliamentarians, decision makers, civil society activists and the media their issues and suggestions in the areas of education, health, safety, recreation and others.

District meetings were held in Ampara, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Colombo, Gampaha, Hambantota, Jaffna, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Mannar, Matale, Matara, Moneragala, Nuwara Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Ratnapura, Trincomalee and Vavuniya where the children in the area gathered to discuss issues affecting the children in their district.

Workshop to promote rice flour based bread, food

COLOMBO: A workshop to promote rice flour based bread and other foods as an alternative to wheat flour will be held on September 26 at noon at the Lake House Auditorium.

The event organised by Lake House and Consumer Affairs Authority will be held under the Chairmanship of ANCL Chairman, President's Counsel Anil Obeysekera.

Minister of Science and Technology Professor Tissa Vitharana, Agricultural Development Minister S.M. Chandrasena and Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman Sarath Wijesinghe will be present.

The Industrial Technology Institute of the Ministry of Science and Technology will make presentations based on their extensive research to prove that we are in position to produce rice flour, bread and other foods.

Book on Buddhism for women

COLOMBO: Ayodhya Weerasinghe of the Tharunee Editorial of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd., will launch a Sinhala book titled Budu Sasune Pihita Labana Neganiya (Sisters That Benefit From Buddha Sasana) on September 29 at the All Ceylon Buddhist Conference Auditorium, Colombo 7, at 3 p.m.

The book comprises a selection of articles by the author published in Tharunee.

The text is a compilation of her interviews with Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera at the Mahamevuna Monastery in Polgahawela.

The content is focused on how The Buddha's teachings could be used and applied by lay folks for their social and spiritual well-being.

The book is written with a direct approach to make readers understand and practise the teachings. It is expected to remove misconceptions that have ensued around Buddhist way of life, the author said.

A Dhamma sermon by Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera will also be held.

Shyam Benegal visits Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: The renowned film maker of India Shyam Benegal is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka from September 24-27. He will deliver a public lecture on "Secularism in Indian Cinema" at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies on September 25. A special screening of the film The Making of the Mahatma will precede the lecture.

During his visit to Sri Lanka he will also be conducting a workshop for young Sri Lankan film makers at the National Film Corporation, Colombo 7. Further details of the workshop are available at the office of the General Manager, National Film Corporation.

Thai Society AGM

COLOMBO: The Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka-Thailand Society will be held on September 29 at 5.30 p.m. at the Sasakawa Memorial Cultural Centre, Colombo 3.

The Ambassador for Thailand Satchphand Atthako will be the Chief Guest. Nirmalie Gunatilleke will preside.