Quick Look

Nuwara Eliya ready for mini August season

Holiday crowds are flocking into Nuwara Eliya including foreign tourists with the pleasant weather conditions prevailing in the hill country, after a long spell of continuous rains accompanied with strong winds.

According to leading hoteliers and those involved in tourism and with the present peace prevailing in the country, tourism is tend to boom in near future and Nuwara Eliya expects a large influx of holiday crowds during the forthcoming mini August season.

Reckless driver convicted

Ariyapala Wansathilake Kurunegala Central Special Correspondent

A three-wheeler driver who pleaded guilty to charges of reckless driving causing the death of Sumedha Prabath Karunasinghe of Rambukkana was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment suspended for five years by the Provincial High Court Judge Kurunegala Manilal Waidyathilake. The accused was indicted with causing an accident that occurred resulting in the death of one Sumeda Prabath Karunasinghe of Rambukkana on Kandy-Kurunegala main road at Mawathagama, May 29, 2004.

Hatton Bus Stand in disarray

S. Duraisamy Maskeliya Group Correspondent

Hatton General bus stand situated in the heart of the Town, is in a poor condition for bus travellers and the public for the past many years.

It is full of pot holes, deep water holes and muddy places during rainy days. Even the bus drivers find it, very difficult to turn their buses from the stand.

Hatton Bus stand has become a very important place for travellers in the up-country, in Nuwara-eliya district in the Central Province and during Sri Pada Season the bus stand has become a very popular one, in transporting Sri Pada pilgrims.

Dr. A. Nandakumar, Chairman of Hatton Dickoya Urban Council, said the maintenance and the administration of the bus stand at Hatton does not come under the Administration of Hatton-Dickoya Urban Council and it came directly under the Central Provincial Council. Bus travellers and drivers have complained about the sorry state of the bus stand and Chief Minister has allocated a sum of Rs. 2.5 million. But the money has not been released for the purpose.

Save their lives

Nine year old Fathima Sameera and her younger sister Fathima Rikasa have been diagnosed with Leukaemia. They lost their mother five months ago. Doctors have recommended that the children be sent to the Laboratory Centre of the Minashki Mission Hospital in India for treatment.

The father who is a three wheeler driver is not in a position to raise the total expense of Rs 2.5 million and has sought the assistance of willing donors to save the lives of his two daughters.

Those who wish to assist can send their Cash/cheques to the credit of Commercial Bank Grandpass A/c No. 8570008679. Inquiries could be also made at No. 66/F, St.Joseph's Street, Colombo 14.

Man sentenced for sexual abuse

Ariyapala Wansathilake, Kurunegala Central Special Corr.

The accused in a sexual abuse case at Wariyapola Bandara Koswattha (38) was sentenced to 2 years RI, suspended for 7 years and fined Rs. 5,000 by the Provincial High Court Judge Kurunegala Manilal Waidyatillake on July 24.

The Judge ordered the accused to pay Rs. 150,000 to the victim as compensation before October 29.

Consumer Service Authority office in Dambulla

Matale district group corr.

The Trade Ministry has decided to establish an office of Consumer Service Authority in the premises of Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre to facilitate the public.

Presently more than 15,000 farmers and out side businessmen are attending daily to this place for business activities.

Exhibition

The anniversary sale and Bible history exhibition of the Ceylon Bible Society will be held at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. (Next to BMICH) on July 30,31 and August 1 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Minister Mano Wijeyeratne 52 today

Mano Wijeyeratne, MP for Kegalle district and SLFP Organizer for Dedigama and Minister of Enterprise Development is 52 years today.

Water cut

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has informed that the water supply to the following areas will be disrupted from 8.30 a.m. on July 28, Tuesday to 8.30 a.m. on July 29 Wednesday in view of urgent repairs to be undertaken on the main line from Beruwala at the Maggona bridge. The affected areas are Payagala, Maggona, Beruwala, Kaluwamodara Maragalla, Dharga Town, Aluthgama and Bentota. The NWSDB rgrets any inconvenience which may be caused to the public.

Felicitation ceremony

'Janapathi Baladaksha Ranaviru Upahara', the felicitation ceremony for the top achiever President's Scouts who are presently serving in the Armed Forces and the 9th Annual General Meeting and Fellowship get-together of Sri Lanka Queen's and President's Scout Guild will be held on Saturday, August 1, at 3 p.m. at the Language Centre Auditorium of Nalanda College, Colombo 10.

This event would be coinciding with the 100-years of world's first scout rally and world's first King's scout of England. For further details call Sadik on 0771117070.

Buddhist talk

Indika Perera will deliver a Public Buddhist talk in English on "Buddhism and Enjoyment of life" at a meeting of the Servants of the Buddwa Society on Saturday, August 1 at 4.30 p.m. at Maitri Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya.

Second Kumbal Perahera tonight

Indika Polkotuwa and Asela Kuruluwansa

The second Kumbal Perahera of the Kandy Esala Pageant will parade the streets of Kandy tonight (July 28). The Perahera will leave the Sri Dalada Maligawa at 7.26 p.m. and proceed along D.S. Senanayake Mawatha and Raja Vidiya and return to the Maligawa premises.

A police contingent of over 6000 personnel has been deployed for perahera duties in Kandy said DIG (Central Province) Gamini Navaratne.

Van-train collision leaves three dead

Three persons were killed and another two injured when a van collided with a train at the unprotected level crossing opposite the Al Hasaniya Muslim school, Idirillagoda, Maggona around 5.25 pm yesterday.

The five passengers in the van had come from Wilimada to see a relative in Idirillagoda, Maggona. The accident had occurred when the van on its way back to Welimada attempted to cross an unprotected level crossing at Idirillagoda collided with the train bound from Matara to Kandy, Beruwala Police told the Daily News yesterday. The injured persons have been admitted to the Nagoda hospital.