Quick Look

15th National Civilian Bravery Awards

The Foundation for Civilian Bravery Sri Lanka (Weera Podujana Padanama) has called for applications from civilians for the presentation of the Gold award and silver award for civilian bravery at the 15th National Civilian Bravery awards 2008 ceremony to be held shortly.

Foundation President Kasun P. Chandraratne said the Gold Award (Budal Na Swarna Sammanaya) and the Silver Award (Virujana Veera Rajatha Mudrika) are bestowed on Sri Lanka Citizens who save the lives of others disregarding risks to their own lives at this annual awards ceremony.

All applicants should send a detailed description of the respective act of bravery along with the application to be reviewed by the panel of judges comprising eminent persons and State officials for selection of the award winners.

The period relevant to the act of bravery should be January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007. Information regarding the act of bravery can be finished by the very person who committed it or a person who knows about it, with satisfactory evidence.

Those who have received bravery awards in previous years are not eligible to apply. Closing date for applications is February 29, 2008. The decision of the panel of judges will be final.

Prayers, lecture

The recital of Badur Mowlood will start after Magrib prayers and continue until Isha prayers at the Nawala Jumma Masjid on January 31, Rathibathul Jalaliya will be recited by Moulavi, Hafiz M. Aadhil, Principal of Al-Kullieyathul Arusiyathul Qutriya Arabic College after Magrib prayers until Isha Prayers at the Nawala Jumma Masjid on February 3.

A religious lecture by Moulavi M.T. Hilurudeen (Falahi) will also be held after Isha prayers.

Conman at hospital

An incident that occurred Tuesday in one of the leading private hospitals in Colombo. A family foursome were waiting outside the I.C.U. on the upper floor, when a neatly dressed man with an expensive mobile phone barged in and got into a conversation with the male amongst them.

He introduced himself as a District Judge living in a suburb. He confided that his wife and sister had met with an accident and were admitted to this hospital, and said that his chauffeur driven car was outside.

He indulged in a 10 minute chat with the male in the group promising his address and phone number before he leaves.

He then proceeded to the I.C.U. came out within five minutes holding a bundle of cash.

He said that he is short of Rs. 4600 to pay the bill and requested the sum from the male assuring to return it when his driver arrives.

He then pretended to proceed to the cashier. But despite the long wait of over four hours it was in vain.

The conman had vanished. Reminding of that old saying. “A fall guy is born every minute” Private Hospital visitors beware!

Pakistan sugar for Lanka

Pakistan, which has been importing sugar in recent years, has struck its first deal to export the commodity in five years, selling 1,000 tonnes of whites to Sri Lanka, a senior industry official said yesterday.

“We have just closed the deal. We are aiming to sell another 20,000 tonnes to Southeast Asia and Middle East destinations.

Negotiations are at an advanced stage,” Najib Balagamwalla, chief executive of Karachi-based Seatrade Group, told Reuters.

Balagamwalla said the deal for Sri Lanka was sealed at $335 a tonne, free on board, for February shipment in containers.

“If London prices rise a little more, we should be able to do a couple of bulk deals,” he added.

WHO clarifies

With reference to the news item titled ‘explosives detected in WHO vehicle’ which appeared in yesterday’s Daily News, the WHO office in Colombo has informed us that the vehicle in question did not belong to the WHO.

Neither has it been donated to the Health Ministry by the WHO, it said.
 

‘Diabetes and your eye’

Healthy Life will be conducting an awareness programmes, “Diabetes & Your Eye”, from 10 a.m. on February 2, Free Blood sugar testing, presentation by Consultants on Diabetes and Eye complications, Diabetes care and Diet with Diabetes are in the programme.

Sinhala book on Philippines

The Sri Lanka Philippine Friendship Association in collaboration with the Philippine Consulate General in Colombo will hand over one hundred copies of the first book in Sinhalese on Philippines to the Director of Education, School Library Development, Ministry of Education, Battaramulla on February 1 at 6 p.m.

The 110 page book titled ‘Philipinaya’ written by Lawrence Ferdinando, Ex Staff member of the Radio Veritas of the Philippines includes a Map, Flag, Anthem, President, brief History, Language, Environment, Entertainment, People, Culture, Society, Religion, Economy, Education, Communication, Transportation, Sports, Government, Magsaysay award and the National Hero of Philippines.

Nerberto Ramos Basilio, Ambassador will be the chief guest with Alex V. Lamadrid, Minister and the Consul General and William John Terrence Perera.

Narcotics sleuths nab passenger with 1.5 kg heroin

Rasika Somarathna

A Sri Lankan passenger attempting to smuggle 1.5 Kg of high quality brown sugar heroin valued over Rs. 7.5 million to Maldives was arrested by Narcotics sleuths, at the Bandaranaike International Airport, on Tuesday evening.

Incidentally this is the first occasion a person has been nabbed trying to smuggle heroin abroad as all other occasions has been vice-versa, with people being arrested for attempting to smuggle the banned drug into the country.

According to Chief Inspector Kumaratunge of the Narcotic Division, the suspect was arrested on a tip off, while he was trying to board Emirates flight No. DK 559 to the Maldives, which was scheduled to leave at 23.35 hours.

P.L. Perera felicitated

The nonagenarian, P.L. Perera, JP was conferred the honour, Dharma Prasada Desha Abhimani Lankaputra in appreciation of his social service at the 10th felicitation ceremony titled, Sucharitha Jivitha Agayamu held at the BMICH, Colombo recently.

He hold various positions in a number of religious organisations in the locality.

At present he functions as the principal of Kolonnawa Thisarana English school. His wife, Yasawathi Perera is the chief Daika of Abesinharamaya, Kolonnawa.