Quick Look

K.C. Fernandopulle dies

The death occurred yesterday of K.C. Fernandopulle, the father of former Highways Minister and Chief Government Whip the Late Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.

He was 92. KC. Fernandopulle is a well-known social worker and a retired prisons officer.

He is the father-in-law of SLFP Chief Organiser for Katana Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle.

His remains are now lying at his residence at No, 276, Welihena, Kochchikade and funeral will be held at the Welihena Roman Catholic Church on August 22 at 4.00 p.m.

President Lula da Silva of Brazil perusing Dr. Jayatilleka’s book Fidel’s Ethics of Violence: the Moral Dimension of the Political Thought of Fidel Castro. While Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka and Ambassador Maria Nazareth Farani Azevedo of Brazil look on.

Photographic exhibition

'The Veteran Eyes' Photographic exhibition organised by the Photographic Society of Sri Lanka to commemorate World Photographic Day will be held today at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery from 9.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

The exhibition will display selected works of Nihal Fernando, G. Hettiarachchi, Mervyn Jayasinghe, late Sena Kotalawala, late Prof. S.R. Kottegoda, P.U. Pathirana, Kalabushana L.E. Samararatne, L.H.R. Wijetunga, Dr. M.S. Werakoone and late B.P. Weerawardena.

Induction ceremony

The Induction and Graduation Ceremony of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL), will be held on August 21, Friday at 5 p.m. at the BMICH with Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva attending as the Chief Guest. SLT Chairperson Leesha Chandrasena De Silva will be the Guest of Honour.

One hundred and ninety two engineers will be inducted as Chartered Engineers, along with three students who will receive their certificates, after successfully completing their course of study with IESL.

Five school children who have won the 'Junior Inventor of the Year' (JIY) competition in 2008, will also receive their scholarship awards here.

[Corrections and Clarifications]

Timber racketeers rape forest reserve

With reference to our news item under the above title which appeared in our yesterday's issue, Environment and Natural Resources Ministry has sent us the following clarification: "Matale Range Forest Office Sumitra Gunatilaka has informed us that no timber felling had taken place within the Knuckles Forest Reserve in the Laggala electorate.

"Moragahaulpatha is situated 3 km away from the Reserve and an incidence of timber felling and an arrest has been reported from a private land there. "There, an individual has been granted permission by the forest conservation officers to cut down about 30 teak trees in his private land. For some reason the Wilgamuwa Police have made an arrest."

AGM

The AGM of the National Stroke Association will be held on Sunday, August 23, at 10 a.m. at the Hatton National Bank Tower Level 2, Conference Hall, No. 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.

This will be followed by a guest lecture delivered at 11 a.m. on "Diseases of Modern Time" by Dr. Noel Somasundaram, Consultant Endocrinologist, National Hospital of Sri Lanka.

German film screening

The Cinema Sub Committee of the Sinhala Cultural Institute will screen the award winning (Oscar) German film The Lives of Others at the Institute premises on August 21 at 6.30 p.m.

Entrance is free.

In pre-empting acts of terror:

Pakistan to co-operate with India

The High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo issuing a press statement in response to certain remarks made by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh states that the Government of Pakistan would like to extend its fullest cooperation to pre-empt any act of terror.

Adding that terrorism is a common enemy and Pakistan has itself been a victim of terrorism, the statement said that at Sharm El Sheikh, both countries had agreed that the "two countries will share real time, credible and actionable information on any future terrorist threats."

The statement further requested India to share information that they have and promised to cooperate fully in pre-empting any act of terror.

Esala Festival

Kap planting ceremony for the annual Esala festival of historic Getabaru Maha Devalaya and Getabaru Raja Maha Viharaya, Kotapola in Morawak Korale will be held on August 27.

The festival begins with first Peli Perahera on August 31 and scheduled to be ended with Deva Dana on September 6.

The second and third Peli Perahera is to be held on September 1 and 2 respectively.

Randoli Maha Perahera will be street paraded on September 3 and 4 night.

Deva Thovilaya (invocation) will start on September 4 night and end on September 6 morning with fire walking ceremony.

Blood donation

A blood donation campaign is to be held at the Vijaya Pirivena, Morawaka on August 22.

Workshop

A workshop for Dhamma school teachers in Aturaliya Sasanarakshaka Mandala area will be held at Godapitiya Raja Maha Viharaya on August 21 and 22.

Laying of foundation stone

Foundation stone for the Ven. Bengamuwe Upali Memorial Hall at Alapaladeniya Sri Vijitharamaya will be laid by the Deniyaya SLFP Chief Organizer Wijaya Dahanayake on August 24 at 9 a.m.

Two buried in earthslip

Samanthi WEERASEKERA

The torrential rain which lashed Galekale area in Hunnasgiriya last wednesday killed two inmates of a four-storeyed house when it was buried in the earthslip. The dead are identified as Selvakutti Mahendran (43), father and Karuppaiya Thangamma (38), mother of two children.