Quick Look

Baby elephants story exaggerated to create disillusion

Sigiriya Group Corr

Some sections of society are trying to discredit the Government and create disillusion among the people during the Esala Perahera festival season by dragging two baby elephants into the scene.

This is a scandalous and malicious story fabricated to attack me personally. I have not robbed anything but took part in the process of bringing two elephants with the Cabinet approval, said Diyavadana Nilame Nilanga Pradeep Dela Bandara.

He said there was a mistake - first they would have contacted him without causing tension among the public. The nature of some people is to create a conflicting environment in society. Knowing that this year's Kandy Esala Perahera would create history by drawing unprecedented crowds certain people with vested interests have created this elephant story, he said.

Zimbabwe bus crash kills 33 people

Thirty-three people died when a Zimbabwean bus collided with another vehicle on a deadly highway south of the capital, state radio reported on Sunday.

The accident occurred 80 km (50 miles) south of Harare when the bus tried to overtake a vehicle, but rammed into an oncoming lorry and overturned three times.

In March, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was injured and his wife killed in an accident on the same Harare-Masvingo highway, one of the many roads neglected during the country's economic collapse.

HARARE, Reuters

Hindu College, Ratmalana gets new building

The Colombo Hindu College, Ratmalana has received a two storey building after the Youth Empowerment and Socio Economic Development Ministry allocated Rs. 20 million for the welfare of the students under the patronage of Youth Empowerment and Socio Economic Development Minister and the General Secretary of Ceylon Workers' Congress, Arumugan Thondaman.

The building was opened by Education Deputy Minister Sachidanandan.

The Minister had decided to construct these buildings following a request by the principal Manmadarajan. Manmadarajan expressed his gratitude to Minister Thondaman and said this school was built in 1951.

Anniversary of Genoside of Ossetians

A photo exhibition and a documentary film will be held at the Russian Cultural Centre on August 7 from 4.30 p.m. onwards to Commemorate the first anniversary of the Genoside of Ossetians by Georgian troops.

Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda commemoration

Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe will deliver the 12th Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda Commemoration Lecture on the topic “Challenges facing Sri Lanka after successfully conducting the humanitarian” on August 3 at 5 p.m. at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo. Other participants in the discussion include Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Attorney-General Mohan Pieris, Prof. Ranvidra Fernando and Desmond Fernando PC.

Spirituality in Islam

Dr. Dheen Mohammed, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Sharia and Islamic studies of the University of Qatar will deliver a public lecture on “Spirituality in Islam” on August 5 (Poya day) at 9.30 a.m. at the MICH Hall (Marine View), Lily Avenue, Wellawatte.

Sri Lankan born Dr. Dheen had his early education at the East Ceylon Arabic College and proceeded to the Al Azhar University in Cairo where he did his Master’s Degree in Sufism and Comparative Religion and therafter obtained his Doctorate from the same University in Comparative Mysticism/Comparative Religion.

Missing

A woman named Rajapaksa Pathiranage Achala Sandamali - daughter of Rajapaksa Pathiranage Goonesena of 360/2, Nugegalayaya West, Sudath Traders Road, Kiri Wewa, Sewanagala is missing since May 06.

This average built woman is about 5 feet 3 inches in height and has grown her hair upto her waist level. Any information also her whereabouts may be directed to Police Headquarters, Colombo or to the nearest police station.

Have you seen her

Four year Miyuni Akarsha has been reported missing since January this year as reported to police by her mother Anusha Swarnamali Gunasinghe of No. 1399/3, First Lane, Hokandara Road, Pannipitiya. Any information could be conveyed to Department of Women and Child’s Bureau on Tel No. 2444444.

Train-car collision kills six-year-old

Kapila Somaratne Panadura group corr.

A six year old student - S. J. Chandrasekera was killed on the spot and two of her relatives injured when the motor car in which they were travelling collided with a train proceeding on the coastline at Wadduwa last Friday.

In another incident, a hand grenade exploded in the Bombuwala police area killing two persons aged 42 and 24.

The incident occurred on Saturday when the two persons found the hand grenade at another place and brought it home and removed the pin. The grenade exploded critically injuring the duo who died after admission to hospital.