Quick Look

British MPs in Sri Lanka

A group of British parliamentarians including John Bercow MP (Conservative); Des Browne MP (Labour); Malcolm Bruce (Liberal Democrats); Edward McGrady (Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP) and Mohammad Sarwar (Labour) arrived in Sri Lanka for a two-day visit at the invitation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The MPs will have a series of meetings in Colombo with Government, officials, political parties, civil society and humanitarian actors. The focus of their discussions will be the ongoing humanitarian situation. The delegation will visit IDP facilities in Vavuniya to witness humanitarian relief operations.

Another victim

Batticaloa district group correspondent

A hartal was observed in the Batticaloa district yesterday condemning the massacre of a grade three student.

S. Dhinushika (08) was abducted last Tuesday by an unknown gang and her body was found in an abandoned well at Bharathi Road, Batticaloa on Saturday. A helmet was also found in the well. It is suspected the killers may have come to abduct the girl in a motorbicycle.

All schools in the Batticaloa district were closed on Monday condemning this brutal killing.

He needs your help

D.M. Abeysinghe (42) of 193/3/B, Mattegoda Housing Scheme, Polgasowita is suffering from acute kidney failure and Prof. Rizvi Sheriff has recommended an urgent kidney transplant.

Until the surgery he has been advised to undergo haemodialysis thrice a week. This costs nearly Rs. 15,000 per week.

He seeks public assistance to get a kidney as soon as possible to save his life. Doctors say that Abeysinghe's life is in danger. Anybody willing to donate a kidney can contact on telephone no. 0777-358727.

Donations may be credited to his A/C Number Kottawa People's Bank. 32820010369-4658.

Duminda Silva case put off for July 10

Sandasen Marasinghe

Colombo High Court Judge Sunil Rajapakse yesterday put off the case against Duminda Silva for July 10.

The Court fixed the case for an extended date after the prosecution counsel pleaded that the Attorney General has not given instructions so far with regard to the proposal by the virtual complainant to have the case settled.

Senior State Counsel Shanil Kularatne appearing for the prosecution submitted that the aggrieved parties had discussed the matter with the Attorney General's Department but so far he was not instructed in this regard.

R. Duminda Silva was indicted by the Attorney General with rape charges and M.N. Hansal Ishak and D.N. Francis Kuruppu were indicted in the same case for aiding and abetting Duminda Silva to do so. The case was heard in absentia of the third accused.

CMU general strike

The members of CMU Branches in thirty companies belonging to the Employers' Federation of Ceylon, who are paid consolidated salaries based on the annual increase in the Cost of Living Index, are to stop work for the whole day, today in accordance with a unanimous decision of the General Council of the Union on April 23, 2009.

Robber servant caught

Malwana group corr.

A domestic servant wanted in connection with a robbery of jewellery valued at Rs. 175,000 from a house at Embaraluwa North was arrested by Veliveriya police who also recovered all the stolen goods.

The suspect was produced before Gampaha Chief Magistrate Anura Kumara Herath and remanded, till May 14.

The police team which made this arrest was led by OIC, Veliveriya police, CIP, Roshan Rajapakse.

H'tota grapes turn sour

Raja Waidyasekera Tissamaharama special corr.

Incentives and support given to the grape cultivation in Hambantota district have ceased leading the grape cultivators in the district to a quandary.

There were model grape cultivators in Angunakolapelessa in 2003. The grape cultivation spread in the district later.

In 1996, the Southern Provincial Council and Agriculture Ministry provided loans to the tune of Rs. 95,000 to 18 grape cultivators. The grape cultivation in the district is facing a severe crisis since there is a lack of incentives and support from the State and private sector institutions.

Bars, beef stalls closed

The Government has decided to close all liquor shops, meat shops, animal slaughter houses, betting centres and casinos on May 8 and 9 to mark Vesak, Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry Secretary D. Dissanayake said.

He requests tourist hotels to refrain from selling liquor on those two days and to stop selling meat at supermarkets.

Vesak pinkam

A series of Dhamma desana is being held from May 1 to May 7 commencing at 6.30 p.m. each day in view of Vesak at the Mallikarama temple, Ratmalana.

The Kiripidu Buddha Pooja will be offered at 6 a.m. on Vesak day under the guidance of Agga Maha Panditha Ven. Weligama Gnanarathana Nayake Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the temple and Atasil and Dasasil will be administered at 6.30 a.m.

The Thesatte Gnana pooja will be held at 6 p.m. followed by a Buddha pooja and a Dhamma Desana at 6.30 p.m.

Seminar

A public seminar organised by the Sri Lanka Economic Association jointly with the Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka on ‘Current Education Perspectives in Sri Lanka’ will be held on Wednesday, May 6 from 5.15 p.m. to 7.15 p.m. at the OPA auditorium.

The Professional Centre, 275/75, Prof. Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, Colombo 7. Tel: 2580268. Fax: 2559770. e-mail: [email protected]