In brief

Dhamma Desana

A Dhamma Desana by Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka of Amarapura Nikaya, chief priest of Moratuwa Meditation Centre Ven. Dodangoda Assajee Thera will be held today from 7.00 p.m. at the Soyasapura Sambodhi Nugasramaya.

Food parcels distribution

The Dana Committee of the Kudumbigala Aranya Senasanaya in the Yala sanctuary has arranged to distribute 10,000 lunch packets among devotees engaged in a 'Pada Yatra' to Kataragama via the Yala Sanctuary to attend the annual Esala Pageant of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya. The distribution will be held at "Poththana" the most difficult area to traverse on July 26 and 27.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting of Isipatana College '93/'94 Group will be held today at Sunset Beach Hotel, Negombo.

Old Boys who are presently serving Forces ('93/'94 Group) will felicitate at the event.

Lecture

The Mechanical Engineering Sectional Committee of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL), will present a lecture on 'How to Manage Your Personal Cash Flow' by Preethiviraj de Silva, on July 30 at 5.30 p.m at the Wimalasurendra Auditorium of the IESL at 120/15, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7.

Pinkama

A pinkama to invoke blessings on Ven. Kirielle Sri Saranankara Chief Sanghanayake Thera of Raigam Korale and Viharadhipati, Sri Jinendrarama Viharaya, Bullers Lane, Colombo on his 91st birth anniversary will be held at the Sri Jinendrarama Viharaya on July 28.

The program will include a sanghika dana to thirty members of the Maha Sangha, an atavisi buddha pooja and pahan pinkama at 6 pm followed by a dhammadesana in verse.

Born on July 28, 1919 at Kiriella Ven. Sri Saranankara Thera had his primary education at the Kiriella Maha Vidyalaya. He entered the order on March 6, 1933 as a samanera bhikkhu under the preceptorship of Ven. Wagawatte Sri Sumanajothi Chief Sanghanayaka Thera of Sabaragamuwa Province.

He received higher ordination on July 5, 1940 at the Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya under the tutelage of Ven. Wagawatte Sri Sumanajothi Chief Sanghanayake thera and received higher education at the Vidyodaya Pirivena, Maligakanda. He was instrumental in setting up the Sri Jinendrarama Viharaya on a marshy land at Bullers Lane and developing it to a fully- fledged place of Buddhist worship catering to a large number of devotees.

Symposium

A Symposium on The Eastern Province archaeological evidence and the traditional homelands organised by the Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka will be held at the Mahaveli Centre, 96 Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7 on Monday July 27 at 5 p.m. The Speakers: Gamini Adikari, Dr. Arjuna Thantilage, Dr. P. Vidanapathirana, Namal Kodituwakku, Ms. Chithra Dambadeniarachchi.

Seminar

The Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) will hold a seminar on 'Recent Developments and Inventions by FMRC for Small Farmers' on July 31 from 2.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. at the IESL Auditorium.

Global meeting in Switzerland

A Global Round Table Meeting was held in Switzerland from April 22-24, 2009 where 41 Network Partner Institutions participated. The event was hosted by International Trade Centre (ITC) with the support of the Government of Switzerland. The team from Institute of Supply and Materials Management also attend this event representing Sri Lanka.

Livestocks for resettled farmers

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

Under the 180 days Uthuru Wasanthaya reconstruction and rehabilitation program Livestock Development Ministry will provide goats and hens for rearing for110 farmer families resettled in Mannar.

As the first step 100 families will be provided with chickens and 10 families with goats in Musali divisional secretariat under the patronage of Livestock Development Minister R.M.C.B. Ratnayake.

Northern province Animal Production and Health Department is providing veterinary services and other relevant advice for the livestock farmers.

Russia contributes US$500,000 for UNHCR programs

The government of the Russian Federation has contributed US$500,000 to the budget of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to be earmarked for UNHCR programs in Sri Lanka aimed at addressing the current humanitarian needs in the country and has expressed its hope that the funds would benefit Sri Lanka and its people.

The funds are part of Russia's annual voluntary contribution to the budget of the Office of the UNHCR.

Bahrain PM coming

Lakshmi DE SILVA

Bahrain Prime Minister Sheik Kalifa Binsalman Al Khalifa would arrive in Sri Lanka for a two day visit on the invitation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa next Tuesday, a Foreign Affairs Ministry official said.

This visit aims to strengthen ties between the two countries after the defeat of terrorism, he said.