National oil anointing ceremony

KURUNEGALA: The State organised New Year oil anointing ceremony will be held at the Sri Vijaya Sunandarama Raja Maha Viharaya, Dambadeniya in the Kurunegala District under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s patronage on April 15 at 08.21 a.m., the Indigenous Medicine Ministry said in a release.

This traditional event organised by the Ayurveda Department annually is organised on the instructions of Indigenous Medicine Minister Tissa Karalliyadda and Information and Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa under the guidance of Sri Vijayasundararamadhipathi Ven. Narangoda Sirinivasa Nayaka Thera, Chief Sangha Nayaka of Katugampola Hathpatthuwa.

North Western Provincial Councillor and Dambadeniya SLFP Organiser Shantha Bandara is coordinating affairs related to the ceremony with the cooperation of the public and voluntary institutions including the North Western Provincial Council, Provincial Ayurvedic Commission, Narammala Divisional Secretariat, Alawwa Divisional Secretariat and the Giriulla Education Office.

The ceremony will commence with the hoisting of the National Flag, the Provincial Flag and the Ayurveda Flag and the anointing will be done by the Maha Sangha and Indigenous Physicians while Jayamangala Gatha and Seth Pirithare chanted.

Rupavahini will telecast the ceremony live while the SLBC will relay a live broadcast.

News in brief

Flats for estate families

Shirley WIJESINGHE

COLOMBO: A floor consisting four houses covering 540 Square feet each will be the flat type houses envisaged for estate families living in shanties.

A Nation Building and Plantation Infrastructure Development Ministry spokesman said the flat typed houses are the best solution the Government could provide for estate families living in shanties.

The Ministry also hopes to launch a pilot housing project in May in Hatton for the estate sector.

Sources said the Ministry will provide housing facilities to 48 families in the estate sector initially and will be extended to other areas after evaluation.

Traders woes? Inform us tells Consumer Affairs Authority

COLOMBO: The Consumer Affairs Authority said yesterday consumers could complain of injustice by traders any day during the New Year festive season.

The Authority in a release said prices of goods must be displayed on every essential item and requested the public to inform the Authority if this is not followed by traders.

The Consumer Affairs Authority can be contacted on 2445897, 2939577 or 2399495 or Hot Line 2321696. and Fax 2399148. Letters can be sent to the Consumer Affairs Authority, P.O.Box 1581, Colombo or C.W.E.Building, 1st and 2nd floors, No.27, Vauxshall Street, Colombo 02.

Solar powered computer centres for 25 Uva schools

Shirley WIJESINGHE

COLOMBO: Twenty-five schools managed without electricity in the Uva Province will get solar powered computer centres.

This is financed with the Rs. 90 million aid provided by the Indian Government, Uva Province Primary Schools Development Project Director S.L.M.D. Piyasena said.

“We hope to design fully-equipped computer centres with all building facilities,” the Project Director added.