Quick Look

SAARC Management Committee Meeting

A special meeting of the Management Committee of the proposed SAARC Cultural Centre to be set up in Sri Lanka will be held at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo on April 6 and 7 attended by representatives of SAARC member countries.

The Managerial Session on April 6 will be presided by Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Ministry Secretary G.L.W. Samarasinghe.

Man gets death sentence

Bandula Goonasekera and Southern Province Roving corr.

The Southern Provincial High Court imposed a death sentence on Oliver Dayananda Kalansooriya who was found guilty of killing Ratnapala Sumanasekara alias ‘Raja’ with a sharp object at Wawulugala, Baddegama on November 13, 2002.

High Court judge Chandrasena Rajapakse imposed this sentence on the accused on Wednesday.

State Counsel Indika Nelummini led the prosecution of the case.

Lorry with cattle heads arrested

Three suspects remanded:

Mahinda P. Liyanage Galle Central special correspondent

Habaraduwa Police, apprehended a lorry, illegally transporting buffaloes and bulls, with three suspects at Koggala, last week. On inspection, police found the animals packed on the board of the lorry with their legs tied together with craggy ropes.

The animals had been transporting from Mee-ella to Colombo and at the time of detection, some animals were in critical condition owing to the brutal way they were packed.

The three suspects were produced before the Galle Magistrate Tamara Tennakoon, who imposed a fine of Rs. 2,500 each, releasing the two animals to the first accused and the lorry to the owner. The accused were charged under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Eucalyptus tree claims youth taking shelter

E. Thilakaratne Nuwara Eliya Central group corr.

Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds experienced in the Lindula area on Tuesday claimed the lives of two youths when an uprooted Eucalyptus tree fell on a wayside hut, under which they were taking cover.

The deceased were identified as Sathasivam Raguwaran, 19, and Selvaraj Chandramohan, 16, of Thangakelle Estate. The two bodies were handed over to their families after the inquests at which a verdict of accidental death was returned. Several Eucalyptus trees along the banks of a canal had been uprooted during rains that day.

Police investigations revealed that the trees had been uprooted because estate workers engaged in vegetable cultivations along the canal banks had pruned the roots of these trees to protect their cultivations.

Fish aplenty during festive season

The Sri Lanka Fisheries Corporation has made arrangements to provide fish at reasonable prices and without any scarcity during the festive season, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry Secretary G. Piyasena said.

The Corporation has drown up a special program to keep sales outlets and mobile units open during weekends and holidays.

Murder: Home guard gets death sentence

Digamadulla roving Corr.

A home guard found guilty of murdering a soldier and his wife by shooting them was sentenced to death by Ampara High Court Judge M.I. Seneviratne on April 2.

Anura Kumarasiri a homeguard was indicted with the murder of D.M. Sarath Jayaweera, a soldier attached to the Kondawatuwana army camp and his wife G. Niranjala Shyamalee by shooting them with his service weapon while serving in the central camp police area on July 25, 2006.

State counsel Yuhan Abeywickrema presented and Attorney Sunil Dissanayake appeared for the defence.

Japanese aid for road development

Ratnapura group corr

Rs. 215 million has been allocated for the renovation and development of rural roads in Uva and Sabaragamuwa to uplift the livelihood of the farming population, according to reports.

Japan has given the grant to commence the project, the report added.

All Ceylon Women's Buddhist Congress

Bak Full Moon Poya program

April 09, 2009

6.30 a.m. - 7.00 a.m. - Administration of Sil and Buddha Pooja, Ven. Ratana Thera - Athula Dassanaramaya

7.00 a.m. - 7.45 a.m. - Heel Dane

8.00 a.m. - 9.00 a.m. - Dharma Desanawa - Ven. Walane Sumana Thera - Mettaramaya

9.00 a.m. - 10.00 a.m. - Meditation - Ven. Puwakdeniye Shasanawansa Thera, Narahenpita Bikshu Gilanhala

10.00 a.m. - 10.15 a.m. - Gilanpasa

10.15 a.m. - 11.15 a.m. - Dharma Desanawa - Ven. Weragala Sujatha Thera, Viharadipathi of Obesekerapura Sri Subodhi Temple

11.15 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. - Buddha Pooja

11.30 a.m. - 12.15 p.m. - Forenoon Dane

12.30 p.m. - 1.00 p.m. - Chanting of Pirith

1.00 p.m. - 1.45 p.m. - Dharma discussion - Mrs. Chandra Wettasinghe

2.00 p.m. - 3.00 p.m. - Dharma Desanawa - Ven. Vajirarama Nipuna Thera - Bambalapitiya

3.00 p.m. - 3.30 p.m. - Gilanpasa

3.30 p.m. 4.30 p.m. - Dharma Desanawa - Ven. Thalalle Dhammika Thera - Sri Bodhi Viharaya, Dematagoda

4.30 p.m. - Bodhi Pooja

CIDA launch nutrition programs

Gamini Samaranayake Kandy Roving correspondent

A series of nutrition programs will be launched in the Panwila Divisional Secretariat area, by ‘CIDA’ Foundation. Expectant women, breast feeding mothers and children from poor families will benefit under the program.

They will be selected on a Grama Niladhari division basis. They will be educated on the value of vegetables and fruits which were available in their home gardens.

TSHA grants fertiliser

The Tea Small Holders Authority (TSHA) has started to provide the fertiliser relief for the small tea holders in the Hanguranketha area under the “Mahinda Chinthana”. This is the first time that fertiliser has been provided for the tea small holders in the area.

The price of a kilo of green tea leaves has gone up to Rs. 40.80.

With the granting of fertiliser relief for the tea small holders and increasing the price of green tea leaves again many people of the area are now engaged in tea cultivation.