DN in brief

Chinese gift for public library

The People’s Republic of China has donated a collection of books, an almirah and a set of computers to the Colombo Public Library.

The gift will be officially handed over to Colombo Municipal Commissioner J.M. Bhadrani Jayawardene by Chinese Ambassador Yang Xiuping at a ceremony at the Colombo Public Library on May 21 at 10 a.m.

Buddhist panel talk

The next Buddhist English public panel discussion of the Colombo YMBA will be held on May 17 at 10.00 a.m. at its Borella building on “Practice of Sati- Overcomng Difficulties”.

The panelists are Asoka Devendra and Dr. Kanishka Karunaratne with Rajah Kuruppu as moderator.

Library Week - May 12 to 15

The National Library and Documentation Services Board has organised a series of programs from May 12 to 15 to mark the National library week.

The program includes a series of seminars to educate librarians, readers societies and meetings between writers and publishers.

The theme seminar will be inaugurated by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha at the Board premises on May 12 at 10 a.m.

There will also be a Martin Wickramasinghe commemoration lecture series and a distribution of prizes among children of Ranaviru families.

Graphic design course

The Sri Lanka Institute of Printing will introduce a course in Computer Graphic Design in June 2009. The Institute has started issuing application forms for this program.

The selection of students will be done after an interview. The course will provide the knowledge skills in application of popular computer software packages in graphic designing.

Ex-Mayor in Bahamas

Former Colombo Mayor and former Ambassador of Sri Lanka in the Islamic Republic of Iran Omar Kamil is participating at the Commonwealth Local Government Conference being held in Bahamas.

This year’s conference is being held on the theme ‘Improving Local Government: The Commonwealth Vision’.

Donations sought for IDP children

The All Ceylon YMMA Conference in partnership with the Mahabodi Shokanji has launched a social harmony project to help needy and displaced children of the North and Vanni. The two organizations are collecting things for children in IDP camps.

All Ceylon YMMA National President M. Iflal Abdulla said essential items sought include clothing, diapers, soap, powder, eau-de-cologne, milk powder, feeding bottles, tooth brush, tooth paste, pillow cases, bed sheets, towels, biscuits and other food items and shoes and sandals.

Donations could be handed over to All Ceylon YMMA Conference 63, Sri Vajiragnana Mawatha, Colombo 9 or Mahabodi Shokanji, Maligakanda, Colombo 10.

Seventeen Dengue cases in Dickwella

Seventeen suspected cases of Dengue have been reported from the Dickwella health division during the past few weeks. Four are students attending tuition classes and the balance in the 20-50 age group, said Dickwella MOH Dr. Yamuna Liyanagama.

Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation completes 40

The Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation commemorates its 40th year.

Corporation Chairman Somaweera Chandrasiri said steps have been taken to conduct several islandwide programs, commencing from today with the introduction of a new Komarika shampoo.

From May 13 ayurvedic drugs will be distributed through Co-op Cities islandwide and also steps have been taken to inaugurate Ayurvedic Centres under the name of Sanasa Weda Gedara with the collaboration of Sanasa General Association.

South Asia Radio, TV Summit

The South Asia Radio and Television Summit will be held in Beijing, China on May 13. The Summit organized by China in collaboration with the SAARC countries in South Asia under the theme of developing the radio and television technology within the SAARC region will continue until May 15.

Mass Media and Information and Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Chairman Hudson Samarasinghe and Technical Advisor Saman Ediriweera will participate. Minister Yapa will deliver his speech on May 13.

Info Dept, Dialog news alert service

The Government Information Department in collaboration with Dialog Telekom PLC launched the SMS News Alerts Service for - “Breaking News” on the spot on Dialog connections.

Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Telekom PLC, Nushad Perera said the service which commenced a fortnight ago has now a subscriber base of over 100,000 and the figure kept increasing daily.

Dialog subscribers can now register with this service free by typing INFO in a text message and sending it to short code 678.

Fake currency notes seized

Rafik Jalaldeen

Police seized fake currency notes valid at Rs.37,000 and arrested four suspects in the Asgiriya area, Gamapaha on Sunday.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said a suspect was arrested for forging currency notes in the wee hours of Sunday. “Following interrogation, another three suspects were arrested for assisting to forge money”, he added.

Police seized Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes valid at Rs.37,000 along with equipment used for printing fake notes.

The suspects were from Kimbulapitiya, Negombo and Adhiyambalanduwa. Gampaha police are investigating.

British police arrest 31 pro-LTTE protesters

Police arrested 31 people on Monday after pro-LTTE protesters blocked roads around the British parliament.

“There have been 31 arrests for highway obstruction,” a spokeswoman for London police said.

A group of around 300 protesters had blocked traffic trying to cross the River Thames via Westminster Bridge and another 100 had blocked the road close to Westminster Abbey, she added.

LONDON, Reuters

Awards ceremony

The Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped will hold the Louis Braille Bicentennial awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 12 at 10 a.m. at Jubilee Hall, Young Women’s Christian Association, Union Place, Colombo 2.

Seminar on Asthma

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (GSK) has organized a free public seminar to help asthmatics and their care-givers understand how to better manage the disease.

A continuation of support for World Asthma Day which fell on May 5 the seminar will be conducted by the Association of Pulmonologists with exclusive sponsorship of GSK, on May 23 at the Park Premier Banquet Hall, Excel World from 9.30 a.m. onwards.

Admission is free, and will be for registered participants on a first come, first served basis.

Those who wish to attend may reserve a seat by calling 0112366515 (Keshia) before May 20.

BIDTI course

The Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) will conduct its Certificate Course in Diplomacy for the 27th time in May 2009. The next Course will start on May 18, 2009. For further particulars please contact the BIDTI at Suite 3G-07, BMICH, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. Telephone Nos. 2682111/2682110 Fax: 2682111 website: www.bidti.org

Eucharistic celebration

The Eucharistic celebration and monthly OBU Family Mass of the Josephian Family will be held on Sunday, May 17 at 8.30 a.m. at the College Chapel organised by the Batch of ‘87.

Buddhist talk

Prof. Raja de Alwis will deliver a public Buddhist talk in English on “Ana Pana Sati and breath sensation” at a meeting of the Servants of the Buddha Society on Saturday, May 16 at 4.30 p.m. at the Maitri Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya.

Hooch dens raided in Colombo

Chaminda Perera

Excise officials raided two places at Dematagoda and Jinthupitiya from where the distribution of illicit liquor was carried out during Vesak Full Moon Day. According to the Excise Department’s Assistant Commissioner Pushpa Silva, the officials on a tip-off raided a hooch den at Dematagoda yesterday and took into custody over 100 bottles of moonshine.

It was revealed that retailers occasionally visited this place and purchased their requirement during the Vesak week.

Over 50 bottles of arrack and 100 bottles of beer were also taken into custody from Jinthupitiya. Excise officials also arrested four suspects involved in the sale of moonshine to unsuspected customers.

The suspects were to be produced before court yesterday.