Quick Look

Look out for new moon

The Colombo Grand Mosque appeals to the Muslim public to look out for the new moon today immediately after Maghrib to decide on the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal Hijri 1430.

If you sight the new moon, telephone the Colombo Grand Mosque on (01) 2390783, 2432110, 2434651 or 0777 366099

Colombo Book Fair opens today

The Colombo International Book Fair (CIBF), the largest annual public exhibition in Sri Lanka, opens at the BMICH today.

The fair will run for nine days encompassing two weekends and will be open to the public from 9.30 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. each day.

BoC reduces interest rates

The Bank of Ceylon (BoC) will reduce its lending rates up to two percent for the fourth time this year with effect from September 22.

The Bank reduced lending rates in April, May and June in all sectors reflecting its response to the Central Bank rate cuts and to pass the benefit of the downward trend in interest rates to its customers and to stimulate economic activities, with special focus on North and East developments.

Subsequent to these rate reduction, the lending rates for priority sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, micro enterprises and SMEs had been reduced substantially.

Randoli Perahera

The final Randoli Perahera of the Sri Natha Devale, Dodanwala will be held tonight.

The grand finale will be the Day Perahera held on Sunday.

Request for ‘O’ positive kidney

A.C.A. Rasheed (52) of No. 5, Mahinda Place, Kirillapone, Colombo is suffering from chronic kidney failure. Consultant Nephrologist Dr. Rushika Lanerolle who is treating him has recommended a kidney transplant to save his life. Rasheed has requested a kind donor willing to donate a ‘O’ positive kidney to facilitate this surgery, and save his life to contact him on the above address or on mobile 077-3856730 or 071-8080844.

Films to mark Int'l Peace Day

The International Centre for Ethnic Studies will screen two films a documentary The Day After Peace and a feature film Silent Night on the International Day of Peace September 21 at 3.30 p.m. and at 5.30 p.m. at the ICES, 2, Kynsey Terrace, Colombo 8. The Day of Peace which will be shown at 3.30 p.m. is the latest award-winning documentary from Peace One Day founder and Chairman Jeremy Gilley.

Ramazan program

The Ramazan festival program will be telecast on September 21 at 11.30 a.m. over ITN.

A discussion on Eid ul Fitr will be presented by Javid Munawwar. M.R. Farook, President, Sri Lanka Islamic Society and Mohamed Fawazir, Deputy Principal, Colombo Ahadiyya School will also be featured. There will also be a presentation of Islamic Songs by Esaiko Dr. N.M. Noordeen and Roshan Fahmy. Kalaiwathy Kaleel's poem will also be telecast. Siddeek Haniffa is the program producer.

Book launch

Mudal Ayojanaye Prathilabha Saha Avadhanam - a book authored by Divaina Journalist Shyam Nuwan Ganewatta will be launched on October 1 at 3.30 p.m. at the Auditorium of the National Library and Documentation Services Board, Colombo 7. The Chief Guest of the launch will be Finance and State Revenue Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, whilst the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal will be the Guest of Honour of the event.

Junior Inventor of the Year finals

The Final of the 'Junior Inventor of the Year' (JIY) competition organized by the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL), will be held today at 9.00 a.m. at the IESL, Wimalasurendra Auditorium.

From over 600 schoolchildren who had participated at Provincial level competitions held islandwide, 60 successful applicants have been invited to take part in a 'Welcome' ceremony, followed by an evaluation to select the best 10 and the best 25 competitors who will qualify for the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair (INTELISEF), in the USA, and the Techno 2009 Exhibition at the BMICH.

The newly appointed Mass Media and Information Ministry Secretary W. B. Ganegala assumed duties yesterday. Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, Mass Media and Information Ministry former Secretary A. Dissanayake, Government Information Department Director General Anusha Palpita and Heads of institutions under the Ministry purview were also present.

The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) inaugurated a Scholarship scheme by awarding 500 Scholarships to Advanced Level students at a function held at Temple Trees in Colombo. The objective of this scheme is to financially support children to continue their education. A monthly allowance of Rs. 1000 will be paid to the beneficiary during the two-year period of A/L class. President of ‘Tharunyata Hetak’ Namal Rajapaksa handed over the first scholarship to a student inaugurating the scheme. President of SLRCS Jagath Abeysinghe and the Secretary of the Red Cross Scholarship Fund S. B. Madugalle were also present.