In brief

Fourth Kumbal Perahera tonight

Asela KURULUWANSA

The fourth Kumbal Perahera of the Kandy Esala Pageant will parade the streets of Kandy tonight.

The perahera will leave the Sri Dalada Maligawa at 7.46 p.m. and pass through Dalada Vidiya, E.L. Senanayake Vidiya and Raja Vidiya before returning to the Maligawa.

Postal voting 80 percent

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

The average voter turn out at the postal voting for the Uva Province, Vavuniya and Jaffna local bodies elections was 80 percent, the Election Commissioner's Office said.

The postal voting was peaceful with no incidents reported in the three divisions. According to the Elections Commissioner's office, a total of 25,460 had applied for postal voting,. 24,942 Uva, 335 Jaffna and 183 Vavuniya.

Crackdown on 'Babul' sellers in estate sector

Indika POLKOTUWA

Police will launch a crackdown on shops and boutiques selling 'Babul' and other aphrodisia drugs to children in the estate sector, said DIG (Central) Province Gamini Navaratne. This is a sequel to a Presidential directive following reports that children in the plantation sector are getting addicted to these drugs on a large scale, he said.

Donkeys for Afghan polls

More than 3,000 donkeys will be drafted in to help deliver millions of ballot papers to remote regions of Afghanistan for presidential elections on August 20, a UN official said Tuesday.

Swathes of Afghanistan are inaccessible by road, forcing election authorities to come up with innovative solutions to get voting materials to the masses. AFP

National framework proposal on reintegration of ex-combatants

Following a series of intensive and wide-ranging discussions with diverse stakeholders, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights has developed a National Framework Proposal to reintegrate ex-combatants into civilian life.

'The National Framework Proposal on the Reintegration of Ex-combatants into Civilian Life in Sri Lanka' will be presented today for validation at a workshop convened by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights.

City Ride buses for plantation sector

Six City Ride buses brought from India will be deployed on several plantation sector roads in Badulla district to overcome the transport problem of plantation workers.

Youth Empowerment and Socio Economic Development Minister Arumugam Thondaman will officially hand over the six buses to the plantation workers through Annai Kothai Entrepreneurs Company in several plantation areas such as Udaveria Estate in Boralanda, Aludamulla, Kandagedara and Meeriagola on July 30, July 31 and August 1 respectively, a media release issued by the Youth Empowerment and Socio Economic Development Ministry states.

Judge raps former crime branch OIC

Kapila SOMARATNE

Panadura Provincial High Court Judge Malanie Gunaratne directed Panadura Division SSP Sumith Edirisinghe to serve a charge sheet and a disciplinary inquiry against the former Officer-in-Charge of the Panadura Police Crime branch for submitting a false and misleading report to court about an accused in a case. Dhammika Asanka Silva is the accused in this case.

The former OIC of the Panadura Police Crime branch submitting an official report to Court, stated that this accused had only one previous conviction.

All island Daham Pasal Day

An inaugural meeting to mark this year's all Island Daham Pasal Day jointly organised by the Samastha Lanka Sasanarakshaka Mandalaya and the Department of Buddhist Affairs will be held at the ACBC Hall, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo on August 3 at 9 a.m.

The Mahasangha led by Kelaniya University Chancellor and Samastha Lanka Sasanarakshaka Mandalaya President Ven. Dr. Welamitiyawe Kusaladhamma Chief Sanghanayake Thera and Religious Affairs Minister Pandu Bandaranayake will participate. A press release by the Buddhist Affairs Department said a program to offer medical assistance for Daham pasal teachers from the Lanka Sasanarakshaka Mandala Fund and the sale of flags to mark 2009 daham pasal flag day will also be launched on this day.

Dinner dance

The Annual Dinner Dance of the Old Boys' Union (Colombo Branch) of Dharmaraja College, Kandy to mark the 122nd anniversary of the College, will be held at the Waters Edge, Battaramulla on August 1, Saturday. The event starts at 8 p.m. and includes many features.

The OBU invites all its members and well-wishers to this event.

Dharmaraja War Heroes to be honoured

A felicitation ceremony to pay tribute to War Heroes organised by Dharmaraja College, Kandy will be held on Friday 31 at 8.30 a.m. at its Auditorium. Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa will be the chief guest.

Altogether, 174 officers will be honoured, 100 from the Army, 28 from the Navy, 38 from the Air Force and 18 from the Police.

Ranaviru monument

Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama will unveil a Ranaviru Monument at the Kotte Ananda Shastralaya premises on August 4 at 8 a.m.

Festival of Choirs

The 197th Anniversary of the Ceylon Bible Society will be celebrated through the 17th Festival of Choirs on August 1at 4.30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Bauddhaloka Mawatha (Next to BMICH).

The following choirs will be participating. - "Adagio", Christian Faith Assembly Church, Lyceum International School, Nugegoda, Methodist College, Colombo 3, St.Anthony's College, Katugastota, St.Joseph's College, Colombo 10, St.Lawrence's Convent, Wellawatte and Wesley College, Colombo 08.

Esala Mal Dekma

The most prestigious exhibition and sale of plants "Esala Mal Dekma" will be held at Viharamahadevi Park from July 30 to August 2 for the 13th consecutive year from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

E-Diploma in Human Rights

The E-Diploma in Human Rights conducted by the Centre for the Study of Human Rights, University of Colombo (CSHR) will have its inauguration ceremony today July 30 at the Boardroom, Faculty of Law, and University of Colombo.

Free clinic

The healthy life clinic will conduct a free health awareness program on August 1 from 10 a.m. onwards a call 4700700 for details.