Quick Look

Electricity for Madhu area

Madhu road from Madhu road junction to the Madhu church premises has been provided with electricity in time for the feast of Our Lady of Madhu.

The project had cost the CEB Rs. 6 million said the Power and Energy Ministry in a press release yesterday. The project was undertaken on the direction of Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne as part of the Uthuru Wasanthaya (Northern Spring) program's 180-day development project. Under this program the Ministry has also provided electricity to main towns in the Mullaitivu, Mannar, Jaffna, Vavuniya and Killinochchi districts and steps are now under way to provide electricity to all households.

Woman job racketeer nabbed

Rafik JALALDEEN

Mirihana Police Fraud Investigation Unit nabbed a woman who on the guise of promising foreign employment in Western countries, took around Rs. three million from unsuspecting foreign job seekers.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said the woman was arrested by Mirihana police on Tuesday evening at Pepiliyana road, Boralesgamuwa following complaints by seven persons.

"The suspect had promised a number of youth lucrative jobs abroad and taken over Rs. 3 million from them", he added.

Mirihana Police Fraud Investigation Unit is investigating.

New Central Bank Assistant Governors

The Monetary Board, at its meeting held on 10/08/2009 has promoted six Staff Class Grade IV officers, Dr. P N Weerasinghe, Mrs. J P Mampitiya, W. M Karunaratne, Mrs. P Liyanage, B D W A Silva and Mrs. C K Nanayakkara to the post of Assistant Governor with effect from August 10, 2009, a release issue by the bank said.

OBA meeting

The first meeting of the Mahanamians '92 batch will be held on August 14 at 6.30 p.m. at the Mahanama College old building.

AMARDS ceremony

The annual AMARDS ceremony of the AME will be held at AME 32, St. Mary's Road, Mt. Lavinia on August 13 at 5 p.m. The outstanding achievements of 2009 CIMA exams will be celebrated at this ceremony.

Annual sessions

The Endocrine Society of Sri Lanka which has been in existence for over 30 years will hold its annual scientific sessions at the Taj Samudra Hotel on Friday and Saturday, August 14 and 15 beginning at 8 a.m.

Special Majlis

A special Rathib Majlis organised by Quthubiyyathul Quadiriyyah World Majlis All Ceylon Headquarters will be held on August 13 after Maghrib prayers at the Colombo Dewatagaha Jumma Masjid Ash-Sheikh Usman Voliyullah Majlis Hall.

Special dua prayers will be delivered by His Holiness Ash-Shaikh As-Seyed Moulana Muhammadh Ashrafudeen Jailani - Spiritual Leader - Quthubiyyathul Quadiriyyah World Majlis.

Ramazan bazaar

The annual Ramazan Bazaar of the Young Womens Muslim League will be held on August 15 from 10 a.m. onwards at their headquarters No. 9/1, Robert Gunawardena Mawatha, Kirulapone, Colombo 6.

The proceeds of this bazaar would be utilized for the annual Ramazan hampers to be distributed to the needy families during the holy month of Ramazan.

YMCA day camp 2009

The 'Annual Children's Day Camp 2009' organized by the Colombo YMCA will be held on August 20,21 and 22 at the Colombo YMCA.

The camp is open to children between the ages of seven and 16. Applications will close on August 14.

GL 63

Export Development and International Trade and acting Posts and Telecommunication Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris turns 63 today.

Local election fair and peaceful - DIG Kandy

Indika POLKOTUWA

The recently concluded Uva Provincial, Jaffna MC and Vavuniya UC elections can be described as fair and peaceful when compared with previous elections said Senior DIG (Elections) Gamini Navaratne.

Addressing a press conference at the Central Province DIG Office in Kandy yesterday DIG Gamini Navaratne said that only 43 minor incidents had been reported during the election campaign, and this is a most welcome tendeny compared to previous elections.

Pest disease Keedava in paddy fields

Bandula GUNASEKERA and T.K. Ariyadasa Malimbada group correspondent

A fast spreading pest disease 'Keedava' is devastating paddy fields in Malimbada and surrounding areas. Agriculture Department officials have warned farmers to contact them immediately if these pests are sighted in their paddy fields.

The adverse weather conditions prevailing in the area have worsened the situation.

Saman Devalaya Esala Perahera

Gamini SAMARANAYAKE -Kandy Roving correspondent

The Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman Devalaya Esala Perahera will commence on August 21 and final night perahera will be on September 04 and the water cutting ceremony will be held at Ratmalelle-Kaluganga on September 05.

The Kumbal perahera will be held from 21 to 25, the Devale perahera will be held from 26 to 30 and the Maha perahera from 31 to September 04.

The Basnayake Nilame, Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman Devalaya, Sunil Weerasekara has given instructions to officials to provide all the facilities for the devotees during the Esala perahera season.

A large number of pilgrims and sight seers are expected in Ratnapura during the perahera. Security arrangements will be in place, this year too.

Pre-Ramazan sale

Pre-Ramazan Sale and Fun Fair 2009 organised by the Zahira College Colombo Group of '80 is scheduled to be held on August 16, Sunday at Zahira College premises from 8.30 a.m. till Sunset.

This event is organized as a fund raising project of the Group of '80, Part of the proceeds of this event will be set aside for the College Educational Development projects.

Dates for Ramazan

The Iranian Government has sent a consignment of 15 tons of dates to Sri Lanka as a gift for free distribution during the forthcoming Ramazan fasting period.

This is the third consecutive year in which high quality Iranian dates were being gifted to Sri Lanka by the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee of Iran headed by Dr. Hossein Anvari - following the appeal made by Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Iran M. M. Zuhair.

Meanwhile the government of Bahrain will, for the first time, be sending 20 tons of dates for Muslims of Sri Lanka to be used during the Ramadan.

This has been granted pursuant to the request made by Petroleum Resources Development Minister A. H. M. Fowzie to the Prime Minister of Bahrain during his recent visit to Sri Lanka.

Saudi Arabia, UAE and Iran too will be sending their usual annual allocation of dates.

Police raid illicit liquor dens

Police stations in Nikaweratiya division in separate raids conducted on August 7 and 8 seized 966 drams of illicit liquor, 1,920 drams of goda, 87 drams of madana modaka drugs and arrested 19 persons engaged in these illegal trades.

These police stations also seized 1,846 drams of illicit liquor, 1,260 drams of goda and arrested 20 persons.

On August 10 and 11, 806 drams of illicit liquor and 5,016 drams of goda were seized along with the arrest of 17 suspects.

Meanwhile, Polpithigama police seized a lorry illegally transporting 44 goats and arrested 02 suspects, during raids conducted on August 08 and 09.