Quick Look

Exhibition

Shirley WIJESINGHE

Yugayata Nimawum, Design Exhibition and Trade Fair, organised by the National Design Centre (NDC) under the direction of Ministry of Rural Industries and Self-Employment Promotion will be held at BMICH on December 10, 11 and 12.

The Chief Guest will be Minister of Rural Industries and Self-Employment Promotion S.B. Navinne on the inaugural day of the Exhibition and Trade Fair. A new design handicraft collection designed by NDC and crafted from textile, rush and reed and red clay will be displayed during the exhibition. Handicraft producers from rural areas who received training under the Mahinda Chintana programme will also participate at the exhibition.

Addressing the media, Director of NDC W.M.T.B. Wijayakoon said yesterday the exhibition will be a good opportunity for all stakeholders and manufacturers to market their products at high prices. "There is a belief that market opportunities are not available for local handicraft. But this is not true. Our products had good demand at a recent exhibition held in India earning Rs. 4 million. Several orders were also placed for our hand-loom productions, Wijayakoon said.

Making comments on the Rural Industries Ministry Secretary Nihal Somaweera said the industry is facing more challenges due to decline of tourists due to the current security situation.

The rural producers could get a better opportunity to enter into new marketing avenue through the exhibition and awareness programme, which are jointly organised by the National Design Centre (NDC), National Craft Council (NCC) and the Industrial Development Board (IDB) which comes under the Ministry, Somaweera added.

Public lecture

A public lecture on 'Islam in Plural Society' organised by the Peace Secretariat for Muslims (PSM) will be held tomorrow at 5 pm at Ranmuthu Hotel, Colombo. Dr. A.C.L. Ameer Ali, PhD (W Aus) Senior Academic, Business School, Murdoch University, Western Australia will deliver the lecture.

This lecture is part of a series of public lectures initiated by the PSM.

Carol service

The Annual Christmas Carol Service of the Colombo South International College (CSIC) will be conducted on December 10, under the patronage of Mangala Wijekularatne, Managing Director, at the College Auditorium at 5 p.m.

The congregation at the CSIC Auditorium will be led in prayer and worship by Rev. Fr. Bernard Perera.

The festival of nine lessons and carols will unfold with the unified voice of students and staff to usher in the spring of joy and spirit of Christmas.

The Choirists trained by energetic Ransiri Fernando, will be led on the Piano by Varuni Fernando and a band of accompanists.

International conference

The Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya, in collaboration with the Cultural Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran will hold a research conference on December 3 at the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. The academic theme of the conference is 'Dialog between Buddhism and Islam'. In this one-day conference, six academic papers will be presented by Buddhist and Islamic scholars from Sri Lanka and Iran.

Prize giving

The annual prize giving of Ananda College will be held on December 5 at 2.30 p.m. at the Kularatne Hall.

Workshop

A workshop conducted by the National Education Commission in the fields of university, technical and vocational education will be held on December 6 and 7 at 9.30 a.m. at Browns Beach Hotel, Negombo. Further information regarding this important event can be collected from: National Education Commission-126, Nawala Road, Nugegoda. Phone 2815701/7, Fax: 2816177.

Variety entertainment

A variety entertainment show by the students of The Tiny Tots Montessori, Kesbewa will be held from December 6 at 3.00 p.m. onwards at the Vishwa Samadhi Hall, Sarvodaya Sangamaya, Moratuwa.

Poly clinic

The Sri Lanka Cancer Society will hold their next Poly Clinic on December 14, Sunday from 8.30 am to 11 am at No: 37/25, Bullers Lane, Colombo 7 to screen patients for all types of cancer. The services rendered will be free of charge.

Badur Mowlood, Majils

The recital of Badur Mowlood will be conducted by Moulavi M. Mafaz (Nulari), Al Haj Mowlavi M. T. Hillurudeen (Falahi) and Al Haj Mowlavi A. B. M. Mubarak (Falahi) from December 4 after Magrib prayers and will continue until Isha prayers at the Nawala Jummah Mosque.

Discussion

A discussion on the theme 'The Role of the Diaspora in Peace Building' will be held on Thursday, December 4 at 5.30 p.m. at the ICES, 5, Kynsey Terrace, Colombo 8 at 5.30 p.m.

Lecture

A public lecture is organised by the Peace Secretariat for Muslims (PSM) at 5 p.m. onwards on Friday, December 5 with the objectives of promoting understanding and coexistence among all the community.