In brief

O+ Kidney needed

A.C.A. Rasheed, 52, of No. 5, Mahinda Place, Kirulapone, Colombo 5 is a diabetic patient for the last five years. Dr. Rushika Lanerolle, Consultant Nephrologist of the Nawaloka Hospital who treats him for chronic renal failure has recommended him to undergo a Kidney transplant. Rasheed appeals for a O+ Kidney from a kind donor. His contact Nos. are 0773856730 and 0718080844.

Over 100 houses damaged in gale

Rafik JALALDEEN

Over 100 houses were damaged and two children injured in a mini-cyclone North of Chilaw last morning, police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said. He said people in Aluthwaththa and Jayabima had experienced a gale force wind following rain around 7.00am.

No Acts to punish media - Minister

The Government will not bring any Act of Parliament or Law, which will punish media organisations or media personnel to suppress media freedom in the country, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeyawardena told a media conference yesterday.

Refuting allegations levelled by United National Party media spokesman Gayantha Karunathilake, he said the Government is committed to protect media freedom in the country and has no idea of bringing any Laws or Acts that intends to bar the media.

He said with the end of the war in the country, the Government has no intention to control and impose rules to media.

“The Government wants to ensure the right to information in the country,” the Minister said.

Minister Abeyawardena said the Government may do certain changes for the Press Council for the betterment of the country and has no idea of bringing in Acts or Laws, to suppress media freedom in the country.

The Government continues to provide all subsidies in the future and for that they have to levy taxes from various organisations in the country. Countries like Australia levied more than 56 percent tax and Sri Lanka does not tax to that level, he said. HHS

Rajarata Agricultural Exhibition

Chithra Rathna Kaluarachchi Hidogama group corr.

The Rajarata Agricultural Exhibition under the concept of 'Api Wawamu Rata Hadamu' program organised by the North Central Provincial Agricultural Ministry will be held at Maha Iluppallama Training Centre from July 20 to 24 between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. on each day.

The first day of the exhibition July 20 has been declared as 'Govi Dinaya' and it will be attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Services Maithripala Sirisena, Governor of the North Central Province Karunaratne Divulgane and Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake. Second day has been declared as 'Tharuna Govi Dinaya' and it will be presided over by Provincial Minister of Agriculture Deva Kumara Nanayakkara and Minister of Co-operative Services and Rural Development H.B. Semasinghe.

The third day, declared as 'Govi Kantha Dinaya' will be graced by the Minister of Nation Building S.M. Chandrasena, Deputy Minister of Highways Development W.B. Ekanayake and the Provincial Minister of Health and Sports Peshala Bandara Jayaratne.

The fourth day 23rd declared as 'School Day' will be presided over by Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Indigenous Medicine Tissa Karaliadde, Minister of Petroleum Resources Duminda Dissanayake and Provincial Minister of Power and Highways R.M.P.B. Ratnayake.

The fifth day - July 24 declared as Entrepreneurship Day - the events will be presided over by Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake and Deputy Minister of Agrarian Services Siripala Gamlath. Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Health and Women's Affairs K.H. Nandasena, commenting on this grand exhibition, said that this will help those engaged in agriculture, fruit cultivation and horticulture to improve their production and learn making carbonic fertilizer including methods to organise proper home gardening within the space available. By this exhibition, we have proved that this kind of the crops could be cultivated in this dry zone region, Minister said.

Several stalls where local produce is available have also been set up at this exhibition centre.

Northern peninsula:

An attractive tourist hub soon - new Minister

Indika POLKOTUWA and Asela KURULUWANSA

The newly liberated Northern region and Jaffna peninsula will be developed as an attractive tourist zone, Minister of Tourism Nandana Goonetilake said at a press conference held in Kandy yesterday.

Ancient historical places in those areas will be identified and rehabilitated.

In the past this region was a fertile agricultural land and therefore we hope to develop agricultural tourism in the region, the Minister said.

Firstly, we liberated the East where tourism is fast picking up now.

Areas like Nilaweli, Pasikuda and Arugam Bay are becoming very popular, Minister said.

After nearly 30 years, a cultural renaissance is taking place in the country, Cultural Affairs Minister Piyasiri Wijenayake said.

Agriculture exhibition

Walter DAYARATHNE Anuradhapura Dist. Spl. Corr.

The Agriculture exhibition named 'Rajarata Maha Krushikarma Dekma' aimed at encouraging local food production, a concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to be held from July 20 - 24, 2009 at the Maha Illupallama Farm premises.

The inauguration ceremony will be presided by the Provincial Agriculture Minister K.H. Nandasena and will be held on July 20 at 9.00 a.m. under the patronage of NCP Governor Karunaratna Divulgane, Agriculture Development Minister Maithripala Sirisena and NCP Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake. Outstanding farmers will receive prizes at the closing ceremony. stated Agricultural Ministry Secretary Neil de Alwis.

Provincial Sports Festival

Walter DAYARATHNE, Anuradhapura Dist. Spl. Corr.

The 20th Provincial Sports Festival of the North Central Province is scheduled to be held on 18 and 19 at the Anuradhapura People's Playground.

The festival will be inaugurated at 9.00 a.m. on July 18 by NCP Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake at the invitation of Provincial Health and Sports Minister Peshala Jayaratna.

The awards presentation ceremony will be held at 4.00 p.m. on the 19th under the patronage of NCP Governor Karunaratne Divulgane and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena. Events lined up for the 18th are volley ball (men and women), netball (women), track events, weight lifting (women) and on the 19th track events football (men and women) weight lifting (male). Games will commence on the 18th at 10.45 a.m. and on the 19th at 6.45 a.m.

Bowatta fetes war heroes

H.M. Abeysinghe Kuliyapitiya Group corr.

The villagers of Bowatta in Pannala DS Division paid their respect and honour for the war heroes born in the village.

There were 37 heroes from Bowatta serving in the security forces. Two of them had sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country at the front.

The family members of the dead heroes and those who could not obtain leave on the day and those who attended the felicitation ceremony were offered felicitation awards at this ceremony held at the Bowatta Ranaviru Sevana.

The heroes were accompanied to the venue in a perahera from Yakwila. Chief Incumbent of the Hengawa Sri Pushparama Vihara Ven. Marassana Mahinda making an Anusasana at the ceremony said, the whole nation is indebted to the war heroes for liberating the country from LTTE grip. Wayamba Provincial Councillor Chandana Prasad Yapa said security personnel deserve honour and felicitation.

“War heroes are a pride not only to the village they were born but also to the whole nation,” he said. The Chairman Pannala Pradeshiya Sabha Ranjith Lansakara said, Sri Lanka had a record history on defeating invaders and rebellions.

Gas cylinders missing at hospital

M.A.R. Manukulasooriya, Hiriyale group corr.

Two suspects, employees of a private firm in Kurunegala have been arrested by Kurunegala police in connection with the loss of 100 gas cylinders from the Kurunegala Hospital.

Hospital Director Dr. S. Rajamanthri said arrests were made following a complaint made to police regarding the missing cylinders of gas.

Investigations had revealed 80 large size and 20 small size cylinders of gas were missing from the hospital.

Later, hospital authorities recovered nine large cylinders and four smaller ones from a trade stall in Kurunegala.

The total loss to the hospital is estimated at Rs. 2.4 million. A private company has been given the contract to supply oxygen cylinders to the hospital.

Maithripala Senanayake commemoration

A commemorative ceremony to mark the 11th death anniversary of former Minister Maithripala Senanayake will be held at the Anuradhapura Provincial Council premises on July 17.

Indigenous Medicine Minister Tissa Karaliyadda will preside. Born on July 17, 1916 Maithripala Senanayake first entered Parliament as member for Medawachchiya at the 1947 general election and remained as a parliamentarian continuously for 42 years. He held several vital portfolios such as Minister of Transport, Industries, Home Affairs, Cultural Affairs, Irrigation and Power and Highways.

SAARC ambassadors club in Myanmar

The SAARC Ambassadors’ Club was inaugurated in keeping with the SAARC tradition at a meeting, convened by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Myanmar, Newton Gunaratna. It has been the practice that the ambassadors, high commissioners of the SAARC Chair convene the SAARC Ambassadors’ Club in their respective countries of accreditation. Addressing the ambassadors, Gunaratna briefed them on the progress made by SAARC Secretariat after Sri Lanka assumed the Chair at the fifteenth SAARC Summit held in Sri Lanka last year and also proposed an action plan.

Accordingly, measures will be taken to organize a “Film Festival of SAARC Countries” and an “Art and Handicraft Exhibition” after consultation with the home countries of the Ambassadors.

New rail bus service

Irangika RANGE

The Railway Department will commence a new rail bus service from Batticaloa to Trincomalee under the ‘Negenahira Navodaya’ program. Sri Lanka Railways’ General Manager P.P. Wijesekara said that this rail bus service will commence on July 29 in a bid to strengthen public transport in the Eastern Province.

One rail bus comprising eighty seats cost about Rs. 6 million. Currently, rail buses are locally assembled under the supervision of Railway’s General Manager P.P. Wijesekara at the Railway workshop in Ratmalana.

He further said that the Indian Government had granted ten rail buses to Sri Lanka and the first service will operate between Batticaloa and Trincomalee for the benefit of the commuters in the East.

“Under this project, five rail buses are expected to be deployed on the Northern railway track in the near future,” he said.