In brief

New pilgrims rest

Raja Waidyasekera Tissamaharama Special Corr.

The Annual Esala Festival of the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya will be held from July 22 to August 6.

The Kap planting ceremony was held on June 7 Basnayake Nilame Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya Sashendra Rajapaksa said. The festival will come to a climax with the water cutting ceremony at Menik Ganga.

This is the first Kataragama Esala Festival held after bringing the country under one flag.

The Kataragama Sylvan Shrine area has been declared Saamaye Pudabima, the Sylvan Shrine of Peace.

Seminar, panel discussion

A seminar and panel discussion on Sustainable Energy in Sri Lanka: Status, Potential and Policy Gaps will be held on June 16 at 3 p.m. at the SLAAS Auditorium 120/10, Vidya Mawatha (Off Wijerama Mawatha), Colombo 07, organized by the Science and Technology Advisory Committee and Media Resource Services of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.

Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitarana will deliver the keynote address.

Public lecture

Dr. Premakumara de Silva (Department of Sociology, University of Colombo) will deliver a public lecture on 'Putting Democracy Under Ethnographic Eye: Anthropologising Democracy' June 16 at 3 p.m. at the Council Room of the SLAAS, 120/10, Vidya Mawatha (off Wijerama Mawatha), Colombo 07.

Workshop

The Justice and Judicial Reforms Ministry has organised a program to grant financial assistance to children and youth who have been rendered destitute due to the loss of their parents in the tsunami.

The program will be implemented in collaboration with the National Child Protection Authority under the sponsorship of the ADB, said the Ministry in a release yesterday.

A workshop to educate the media about this program will be held at the ministry auditorium at the Superior Courts Complex on June 16 at 2 p.m.

JHU convention

The Colombo District Convention of the JHU will be held at the Shalika Hall, Narahenpita today at 3.30 p.m.

JHU Leader Parliamentarian Ven. Ellawala Medhananda thera will preside.

Hospital opening

The new divisional hospital built at Maruthamunai to replace the old hospital destroyed in the tsunami will be opened by Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff today.

Maruthamunai Divisional Hospital has been constructed with financial aid granted by people of UK through the Daily telegraph newspaper for tsunami rebuild hospital project. This project was launched under the sponsorship of Merlin INGO.

AGM

The Sri Lanka-Pakistan Friendship Association will hold its 45th Annual General Meeting on June 28 at 4.30 p.m. at the Hotel Ameer Mahal, 04, Rohini Road, off Galle Road Colombo 06.

Pakistan High Commissioner Shaheen A. Gilani, the Patron of the Association, will be the Chief Guest.

Zahira mega event

The Group of '90 of Zahira College, Colombo will hold a mega event on June 14 from 8.30 a.m. at the College Grounds.

Correction and Clarification:

It's Atlas Hall (Pvt) Ltd

In our story titled 'Savings accounts for war heroes' children' published on Page 1 of yesterday's issue, we have inadvertently named the company that has donated Rs. 600,000 to the children's savings account as Atlas Company whereas it should be Atlas Hall (Pvt) Ltd.

Ceremonial opening of President Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre

The newly constructed President Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre of Deshamanya H.K. Dharmadasa Vidyalaya, fully funded by the Nawaloka Group of Companies will be opened on June 20, 2009.

The inaugural ceremony will be held under the auspices of Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunga with the participation of Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abewardhana, Ministers and Members of Parliament.

Sanghika dana today

The Sathi Pirith Pinkama to invoke blessings on the President, Security Force and Police and the country for peace and progress which began at the Mahabodhi Agrasravaka Maha Viharaya Maligakanda, Colombo on June 7 will conclude with a Sanghika Dana to 75 bhikkhus today (June 13) forenoon.

This will be followed by the Devaduta Perahera and a recital of the Dorakoda Asna at 3 p.m. the same day. The viharaya's website www.srilakamahabodhitemple.com was launched at a ceremony presided by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka yesterday

Weera Prasada Mauli ceremony postponed

The Weera Prasada Mauli Mangalyaya ceremony of the Thunhela Jathika Vyaparaya scheduled for today (June 13) at the BMICH, Colombo has been indefinitely postponed due to unavoidable reasons, a press release by the Government Information Department said.

Ranaviru Asheervada Week

The Sri Lanka Trividha Hamuda Police Ranaviru Arakshaka Bhikku Sanvidhanaya of Bauddha Madyasthanaya Road, Colombo 10 has called upon all places of worship to observe the period from June 14 to 20 as Ranaviru Asheervada Week and conduct religious ceremonies to invoke blessings on the President, Defence Secretary, Security Forces and Police and the civil Defence Force in appreciation of their services towards eradicating terrorism.

SLFP activists meeting in Colombo

A meeting of SLFP activists in the Colombo East and Colombo West electorates will be held at the Shalika Hall, Narahenpita on tomorrow (June 14) at 3 p.m. said the Chief Organiser for the two electorates Nawalage Benette Cooray. Ministers Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Dallas Alahapperuma, Susil Premajayantha, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mervyn Silva will address the meeting.

Deepa Dassana Maha Pinkama

A Deepa Dassana Maha Pinkama organised by the Deepa Wiyaptha Pansil Surakime Padanama to invoke blessings on the President, Government, Security Forces, Police and the people and transfer merit on departed war heroes will be held at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya on June 28.

Josephian OBU Family Mass

St Joseph's College Old Boys' Union Family Mass will be held on June 21 at 8.30 a.m. at the College Chapel. This will be followed by breakfast and fellowship.