Quick Look

Disaster management course

British High Commissioner, Dr. Peter Hayes will inaugurate the start of the 3rd Regional South Asia Disaster Management Course on October 27 at 8.30 a.m. at the Galadari Hotel.

The course participants are from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, drawn from the Armed Forces and civilian agencies.

Launch of surgical textbook

The launch of a surgical text authored by Prof. Mohan de Silva, Professor of Surgery, University of Sri Jayawardenepura and Honorary Consultant General Surgeon, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust UK, will be held on October 25 at the Sri Lanka Medical Association auditorium.

The book is titled Clinical Surgery Made Easy, A companion to the problem based Learning.

The event is held under the patronage of Prof. H.M.R. Sheriff, Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, Prof. A.H. Sheriffdeen and Prof. Colvin Goonaratna, Emeritus Professors of Surgery and Physiology of the University of Colombo. The event is supported by the World Health Organisation, Colombo.

Look out for new moon

A Conference will be held under the auspices of the Colombo Grand Mosque at the Madrasathul Hameediah Hall on October 29, immediately after Salath Ul Magrib to decide on the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhul Ka’iha Hijri 1429 on the evidence of sighting the new moon in any part of Sri Lanka.

The Colombo Grand Mosque appealed to the public to look out for the new moon on October 29 immediately after Magrib (5.53 p.m.) if the new moon is sighted, inform the Colombo Grand Mosque on 2432110, 2390783, 2434651 or 0777 366099.

RASSL monthly lecture series

The monthly lecture of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka will be held on October 28 at 5.00 p.m. at the Gamini Dissanayake Auditorium of the Mahaweli Center, 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7.

The title of the lecture is “Implications of the Baddegama Controversy of 1865” presented by Prof. Tissa Kariyawasam. The lecture is open to the public.
 

Hymns, healing service

Deshaye Samaye Handa, a special Christian Hymns and healing service conducted by Rev. Bro. G.A.D. Srilal of the Christian Door Relief Centre, Mattakkuliya, Colombo will be held on October 25 and 26 at 5.00 p.m. daily at the Viharamahadevi Open Theatre.

Awards night

Russels (Pvt) Ltd’s 20th anniversary award night and shifting its business to the new location of 820/1, Punchi Borella will be held on October 25 at 5.00 p.m.

Russels’ Chairman, Russel Perera will present awards to Employee of the Year, Most Outstanding Steward, Most Outstanding Stewardess and Most Dynamic Staff Member.

Get-together

The annual get-together of the Old Nalandians ‘69 Group will be held at the Kumudu Valley Beach Resort, Taldeka Road, Nainmadama Wennappuwa on November 1 and 2.

Group members and friends wishing to join this event, which will include water games, out door games and amusement for young and the old, should confirm their participation to Asoka Subasinghe on 0777 848791.

AGM

The annual general meeting of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps Veterans’ Association will be held at the Mutwal Rock House Camp premises on October 26 at 8 a.m.

Members attending the annual general meting should bring along their NIC or the Association identity card to prove their identity due to security reasons, Association’s General Secretary B.D.U. Samaranayake said.

Eye clinic

The Ceylinco Sarana Fund will launch an eye clinic along with 250 free cataract eye operations for 250 patients selected from the Forces to commemorate the 70th birthday of Ceylinco Consolidated Chairman Deshamanya Dr. Lalith Kotelawala.

The operations will be carried out in the Golden Key eye and ENT hospital, Cotta Road, Rajagiriya. Their papers and documents will be handed over at the BMICH on October 27.

Police promotions

The National Police Commission will grant promotions on merit basis from the rank of Chief Inspector of Police to Assistant Superintendent of Police.

Interviews for these promotions will be held on November 4 at the office of the National Police Commission.

Workshop

An HIV/AIDS Workplace Education Programme Dissemination Workshop will be held on October 30 and 31 at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Athauda Seneviratne and US Ambassador Robert O. Blake will be the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour.

Baby needs public help

T. H. A. G. Joseph, five months of Egodauyana, Moratuwa, needs financial assistance for an urgent heart surgery as he is suffering from a severe heart disease.

Cardio Consultant Surgeon Dr. Y. K. N. Lahie has recommended immediate surgery to save his life.

The cost of the package is Rs. 380,000.

The child’s father Indika Fernando requests donations contributions could be sent to Account No HNB Panadura 091-2-022-8-2805900.

The Moratuwa Branch of the Sri Lanka Cancer Society will hold their 60th Annual General Meeting on October 26 at 4 p.m.

The Chief Guest will be Cancer Society President A. L. M. Fernando.

Buddha statue stolen

Bandula Gunasekara and T.K. Ariyadasa, Malimbada Group Corr

An armed gang which broke into the Thorawita Raja Maha Viharaya threatened the resident Bhikkhu and his attendant and made way with the historic marble Buddha statue.

The ancient statue weighs 300 kilos. An earlier attempt to steal this statue by a disguised gang failed when the statue fell down accidentally.

No arrests have been made so far. Matara Police are investigating.

Govt granting allowances for 40 Ministers' houses

Uditha Kumarasinghe Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Chief Government Whip and Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told Parliament yesterday that the Government grants an allowance of Rs. 100,000 as the monthly rental of the houses used by 40 Cabinet and non-Cabinet Ministers.

The Minister made this observation in reply to a question moved by JVP MP Vijitha Hearath.

The Government initially provided this allowance in April 2007. "Since then we have paid nearly Rs. 24.6 million as payments for the monthly rental of the houses used by Cabinet and non-Cabinet Ministers from June 2004 to December 2007".