Quick Look

Today a holiday

As a special mark of respect to the heroic troops who contributed to the great victory, President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared today a national holiday. Labour Minister Athauda Seneviratne has requested the private sector to grant a holiday today.

UN chief here Friday

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will visit Sri Lanka on Friday. He called for immediate progress on reconciliation following the government’s declaration of victory over Tamil Tiger rebels. “We urgently need to treat the wounds of a war that has alienated the communities in the island Ban told journalists GENEVA, Thursday, AFP

Bio-diversity day on May 22

The Environment and Natural Resources Ministry has drawn up an elaborate program to commemorate International Bio-diversity Day which falls on May 22.

As part of this program, steps would be taken to promote biodiversity development attitudes among students, said Ministry’s Director (Promotion and Environment Education) R.A.R.R. Rupasinghe.

Under this program students will be given free access to all forest reserves and parks to help enhance their knowledge about the environment and biodiversity development. All students should come in their school uniforms to avail themselves of this opportunity, he said.

Technical seminar

Sri Lanka Navy will host the IONS Technical Seminar 2009 which will be attended by delegates of 34 Navies of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) from May 21 to 22.

Under the theme of Practical Cooperative Mechanisms for Technical Support within the Indian Ocean, the seminar will be held in Colombo.

The ‘Indian Ocean Naval Symposium’ is an initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies/maritime agencies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing a forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues.

Get together

The Past Pupils’ Association of St. Paul’s Girls School Milagiriya invites all past teachers and students of the school to a get-together on May 23 from 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. at school premises.

Thurstan College hails President’s leadership

Thurstan College Old Boys’ Media Circle congratulates President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is a distinguished old boy of Thurstan, for his excellent leadership and guidance which enabled the country to liberate from the most brutal terrorist organization and bring peace to the Motherland.

Thurstanites firmly believe that President Rajapaksa has got all the qualities and courage to face other challenges as well and lead Sri Lanka towards a new era where all communities can live in peace and harmony forever, they said.

Iran congratulates Sri Lanka

Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has telephoned Foreign Minister Bogollagama yesterday (May 19), to extend his warm congratulations to the President, the Foreign Minister and the Government of Sri Lanka on the success achieved by Sri Lanka in defeating LTTE terrorism.

“The Iranian Foreign Minister said that the Iran has maintained close relations with Sri Lanka and has always condemned terrorism and, consistently upheld the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.

He states that he was speaking on behalf of the President of Iran who has conveyed his best wishes to Sri Lanka and will personally speak to the President of Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient time.

Iran has also offered assistance through the Red Crescent, for the emergency relief operations for the IDPs in the North,” a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry said yesterday.

Food poisoning

Rafik Jalaldeen

At least 35 school children were admitted to hospital following food poisoning at the Morogollagama Vidyalaya in Kekirawa yesterday morning.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said more than 35 students of Morogollagama had been hospitalized after consuming their morning interval meal provided by the school.

“It is believed that students were admitted to hospital due to food poisoning”, he added.

Pera 72 batch AGM

The Annual General Meeting and get-together of the Association of Peradeniya 72 Batch of Arts will be held on May 23 at the CTC Reception Hall at Udaya Mawatha, Anuradhapura.

The 72 Group of Peradeniya, after completing their academic studies has been holding their annual meeting for the past 30 years from the date of entering the University being 21st May 1972. Accordingly, this Group celebrates their 37th anniversary.

Postponed

National Colleges of Education Interviews and new re-cruitments scheduled for May 20 (today) has been postponed to May 21, in view of declaring today a national holiday by the President, as a tribute to war heroes says Ministry of Education.