In brief

Buddhist panel discussion

The next Buddhist English public panel discussion of the Colombo YMBA will be on Sunday, April 19 at 10 a.m. at its Borella building on "Anatta and the Samsaric Journey."

The Panelists are Prof. Arjuna de Zoysa and Rinzee Randeniya with Rajah Kuruppu as moderator.

New Year celebrations

S. Duraisamy-Maskeliya Group Correspondent

Hindus and Buddhists of Maskeliya area and estates around celebrated the Tamil-Sinhala New Year in a very grand way. After the special poojas at the estate Sri Muthumariamman Kovil, the statue of Sri Muthumariamman was taken in a long procession, round all the estate houses and linerooms.

On the last day the yellow colour dye was mixed with water and sprinkled on the passers by was a joyous occasion. The five day celebration ended with the New Year celebrations.

Badur Mowlood, Zikir, Thawba

The recital of Badur Mawlood will be conducted today by Al Haj Moulavi M.T. Hillurudeen (Falahi) and Al Haj Moulavi A.B.M. Mubarak (Falahi) after Magrib prayers and will continue until Isha prayers at the Nawala Jummah Mosque.

Thawba and Zikir Majlis will be conducted by Dr. Al Haj Moulavi H. Salahudeen (Bari) after Isha prayers at the Nawala Jumma Masjid.

The program has been organized by Al Haj M.H.A. Haniffa, Chief Trustee of the Nawala Jummah Mosque.

Prayers, religious lectures

The program will commence on Sunday, April 19 with Rathibathul Jalaliya by Moulavi A.B.M. Mubarak (Falahi) and Y.M. Rafi. It will be conducted after Magrib prayers and will continue till Isha prayers. A religious lecture will also be conducted by Moulavi Al Haj M.T. Hilluruhdeen (Falahi) after Isha prayers.

Special sermon

The Commemorative celebration of His Holiness Kuthubul Akthab Seiyidina Ghausul Ahlam Mudiyiddeen Abdul Quadir Jeelani will be held on April 19, Sunday at Ash-Sheikh Usman Waliyullah Dharga Shariff and also at the Jummah Mosque, Colombo 07. Muhideen Moulid will commence at 2 p.m. followed by Hadeez Majlis after Azar prayers. Moulavi Al-Haj A. C. Ahmed Faleel (Quasimi) will deliver the special sermon.

Help find her

Ms Lorna Rita Mevis Martin (66) of 264/3, Batagama South, Kandana is missing from her above address since April 6.

She is medium built and 5' 4'' tall with her hair cropped. She was last seen wearing a skirt and blouse.

Any information leading to her whereabouts may be passed on to telephone number 0775145717 or to the nearest police station.

Survey finds unregistered marriages

Sigiriya group corr.

There are a large number of unregistered marriages in the divisions of Wilgamuwa-Hettipola and Laggala-Pallegama areas according to a survey carried out by a team of voluntary social service workers in the area.

Owing to this situation children of these couples are found to have some cages of their Birth Certificates unfilled.

This is a big social problem that challenges the integrity of the children concerned, a spokesman for the team said.

This organization introduced themselves as "Bio-researchers of Rural Life" said that Divisional Secretaries should take action to have these marriages registered.

One of the researchers of the team said that he used to be a clerk in Ampara DRO division some years ago under one DRO, W.M. Wijeratne Banda who became the Secretary of the University Grant Commission.

He said it was late W.M. Wijeratne Banda took steps to register all the unmarried marriages in the Wewagampattu DRO Division in Ampara.

Warning to MC

P.A.D.S GUNASEKERA Ratnapura group correspondent

Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Maheepala Herath has sounded a warning against the weaknesses prevailing in the Ratnapura MC and gave two months for the MC to be rid of them, according to reports.

The Minister has asked the MC authorities to take steps to find solutions to the prevailing problems without further delay cleaning up the administration.

He said that the Ratnapura MC which was free from allegations of corruption and deceit had become the target of severe criticism, in recent times. Though there was an 'employee surplus' the practice of signing the attendance register by some employees and engage in their own private affairs has become a practice to the detriment of the service expected from them, the report added.

Two held in raid on illicit den

Bandula GOONESEKERA

The Anti-Vice Squad of Tangalle Police Division arrested two suspects and recovered 22,500 millilitres of Kasippu from an illicit sales point at Thalulla area in Ranna Road, Weeraketiya last week.

The suspects were to be produced before the Tangalle Magistrate.

The police team included Constables Kumara Dadallage, Munesinghe and OIC S.M. Asanka of the unit under the supervision of Tangalle HQI Kalinga de Silva.

Donation

A computer worth Rs. 700,000 was donated by Jayaratne Dissanayake member Central Provincial Council to Paramadulla Central College.

Dissanayake has made this donation from the decentralised budget of the CPC.