In brief

Death of former ANCL staffer

A former employee of the Lake House (Thinakaran VDT Dept.) M.H.A. Wadood (62 years) from Madawela passed away on July 16. Mr. Wadood served at Lake House for 42 years and retired recently.

He leaves his only son. His Janaza took place on Thursday evening at Dehiwala Jummah Mosque burial ground.

Three month remembrance of Ajith Gamage

Major K. Ajith Gamage who was involved in rescue operations of Tamil civilians at Mullaitivu Pudumatalan was killed in a terrorist attack on duty. Gamage made the supreme sacrifice on April 20, 2009. His three month remembrance will be held at no. 81/83, Panaluwa Watte, Wataraka, Padukka. Ven. Dabhara Amila thera will deliver a sermon on July 19.

Partial solar eclipse on July 22

A partial solar eclipse will be visible in Sri Lanka on July 22, the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies said.

The partial eclipse will begin at 6.05 a.m. and end at 7.12 a.m. Fifty percent of the sun will be covered by the moon during the eclipse.

Gee Bethi Pooja on Tuesday

Gee Bethi Pooja, a war hero felicitation cultural show organized by the Sri Lanka Arts Council will be held under the auspicious of Media Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane at the John de Silva Hall on July 21 (Tuesday) at 6 pm.

Sri Lanka Arts Council President Pandula Andagama in a media release said renowned Sinhala and Tamil artists will take part in the show. He added that a highlight of the occasion is the presentation of a new song dedicated to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by a troupe of artistes. Entrance is free.

New series of CCS Publications

The College of Chemical Sciences (CCS) the educational arm of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon will launch a new series of Chemistry publications on Friday July 24, 2009 at its headquarters at Adamantane House, 341/22, Welikada, Rajagiriya.

The first in the series titled "Functional group analysis in organic chemistry" has been authored by senior Professors S. Sotheeswaran and Leslie Gunatilake and represents the presentation in a simple language the theory and basic principles that lay behind an important area of chemical analysis.

Neelan Tiruchelvam memorial lecture

Professor Upendra Baxi, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Warwick, UK will deliver the 10th Neelan Tiruchelvam Memorial Lecture on July 26, 2009 (Sunday) at 6.00 p.m. at the BMICH, Committee Room 'A'.

Dr. Tiruchelvam was assassinated on July 29, 1999 by the LTTE.

Graduation ceremony

The graduation ceremony for the Post Graduate Diploma in Conflict Resolution and Peace Preparedness 2007-2009 awarded by the University of Bradford, UK will be held at the Auditorium of the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (SEUSL), Oluvil Campus today July 18, 2009 at 10.30 a.m.

The ceremony will be held under the auspices of the SEUSL Vice Chancellor Dr. S. M. M. Ismail.

Book exhibition

An exhibition on all libraries in the Ampara District and the Sales Centres of Books and Magazines to mark the Local Government Week will be held at Akkaraipattu As-Siraj Maha Vidyalaya on July 18, 2009 (today) at 10.00 a.m.

Regional Commissioner of Local Government A. J. M. Irshad will preside. Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan and Water Supply Minister A. L. M. Athaulla will be the Chief Guests while Provincial Minister of Irrigation M. S. Uthumalebbe will be the special guest. The exhibition will continue until July 19, 2009.

Jasmine Festival AGM

The Annual General Meeting on the National Jasmine Festival will be held at the Shanthi Foundation, Headquarters at Bauddhaloka Mawatha on July 19 at 3 p.m.

Fund raiser

The Old Girls' Association of Viharamahadevi Balika Vidyalaya, Kiribathgoda will present Bandu Samarasinghe's Bandu in Musical Concert on July 18 (today) at 6.30 p.m. at the School Main hall.

On the same day, there will be a 'Trade Fair' from 9.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. while the 'Indoor Stadium Lottery draw' will be held at 3.30 p.m. at the school premises.

All funds from these projects will go to the indoor stadium fund.

Islamic Banking conference

The first Sri Lankan Islamic Banking and Finance Conference will be held on July 20 and 21 at 9 a.m. at Hotel Taj Samudra, Colombo with the participation of the Securities and Exchange Commission Director General Channa de Silva.

Woman throws children into well, commits suicide

Nimal Wijesinghe, Anuradhapura Additional District Group Correspondent

A woman threw her two children in to an abandoned well on July 17 morning at Karapikkada in Medawa-chchiya and then committed suicide by jumping into it.

Sub Inspector Uyanagamage the OIC Crimes Medawachchiya police who is investigating said that the woman after a quarrel with her husband who is an soldier, four days back had left home for her sister’s residence with the two male children aged 6 and 2.

Police are investigating to ascertain whether there was foul-play. However a letter supposed to have been written by the woman has led to the discovery of the three bodies in the bottom of the well.

The deceased are Anusha Dilhani Jayaratne (29), and Shehan Sandeepa (6) and Asan Netara (2 1/2).

Hatton playground development hailed

It’s everyone’s responsibility to protect State property as Sri Lankans. Players and people of Hatton sectors should preserve the playground which was renovated, said Minister of Youth Empowerment and Socio-Economic Development and General Secretary of Ceylon Workers’ Congress Arumugam Thondaman.

The Minister was addressing the opening ceremony of the Hatton Dunbar playground renovated with the allocation of Rs. 14 million from his Ministry recently.

Addressing the function, the minister said that he would always dedicate himself to lead the upcountry masses to promote their talents and to enable them to live with dignity. The Minister thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa for making financial provisions for the renovation of this Dunbar playground which had been instrumental in producing several talented players. The Minister said that this playground can be used by the masses to achieve their goals and represent their country overseas.

 

Russian Cultural Centre Director and Russian Embassy’s first Secretary Ayrat. A. Akhmetov and Vice Chancellor of the Uva Wellassa University Chandra Embuldeniya, CEO of the Russian Centre Buddhapriya Ramanayake, Russian centre activist Hakkin Shamsudeen met at Russian centre, to tighten bonds and relationship between the centre and Uva Wellassa University, about providing qualified Russian language teachers and to train students in Russian tourist sectors. Left to Right: Russian Centre CEO Buddhapriya Ramanayake, Russian Embassy’s First-Secretary Ayrat. A. Akhmetov, Vice Chancellor Uva Wellassa University Chandra Embuldeniya and Hakkin Shamsudeen, Russian Centre activist.