News in brief

Free transport for Jaffna students on Saturdays too

COLOMBO: Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda has made arrangements with the Sri Lanka Transport Board - Jaffna, for students to travel free of charge with immediate effect on busses operated by the Board in attending to their educational activities on Saturdays as well, the Ministry said.

Students had the free transport facility only on days schools were open.

Donation to late dramatist's wife

COLOMBO: Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, President of the Tower Hall Foundation made a cash donation on behalf of the Tower Hall Foundation to Sheela de Silva, wife of late dramatist Sugathapala de Silva, at a ceremony at the Prime Minister's Office, Colombo yesterday.

Director General of the Tower Hall Foundation Douglas Siriwardena and Sriyantha Mendis were also present.

Promotions for Inspectors

COLOMBO: The National Police Commission has promoted 120 Inspectors of Police to the rank of Chief Inspector of Police on the basis of seniority and another 121 Inspectors on the basis of seniority and merit.

These promotions were made as directed by the Supreme Court case Nos. SC(FR) 600/2003, SC(FR)56/04 and SC(FR)318/04, the National Police Commission said in a release.

These promotions will be effective from January 1, 2003. These Chief Inspectors of Police will rank senior to those promoted to the rank of Chief Inspectors of Police during the interim period that the National Police Commission was not functioning.

Protest on November 26

COLOMBO:An organisation called the "stoning the demon November 26 organisation" has organised a campaign opposite the Colombo Fort Railway station on November 26 at 4 p.m. to protest against LTTE Leader Prabhakaran's so-called heroes day speech.

It says people should therefore rally-round to oppose and detest this speech by putting up a cut-out of Prabhakaran in their towns and villages and vilify it by throwing stones, and rotten eggs and tomatoes cursing Prabhakaran.

Needs help

Moratuwa: M. Shuhana Sethmini Perera, 2 1/2 years, has to undergo an urgent heart surgery (TOF) to save her life.

The operation will cost around Rs. 375,000.

As the parents are unable to meet the cost of the operation, her father Dinesh Perera, 6 Joseph Place, Katukurunda, Moratuwa, appeals to the public to send their contributions to A/C No. 8590012615, Commercial Bank, Rawathawaththa, Moratuwa.E-mail-shuhana@donation for baby shuhana.com.

Lions Int'l chief's visit

COLOMBO: The International President of the Lions Clubs International Lion Jimmy M. Ross will visit Sri Lanka from November 26 to 28.

To brief the media about the service activities initiated by Lions Clubs International, a press conference will be held on November 27 at 5.00 p.m. at the Hotel Cinnamon Grand.