Quick Look

Acting Defence Public Security, Law and Order Minister

Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena was appointed as the acting Defence, Public Security Law and Order Minister as President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka are out of the country.

United Nations Day

The national observance of the 64th United Nations Day with the support of the Foreign Affairs Ministry will be held on October 24 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Royal College Hall, Rajakeeya Mawatha, Colombo 7.

Christopher Weeramantry, Judge ad-hoc of the UN International Court of Justice and a former Vice President of that same Court, and a Vice Patron of the Association, will be the Chief Guest. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Sri Lanka's UN President Coordinator Neil Buhne are also expected to attend as Special Guests-of-Honour.

Honorary fellowship to Health Minister

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The most prestigious honorary fellowship of the International Medical Science Academy, Chandigarh, India will be awarded to Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva as a recognition of his outstanding contribution to the medical profession.

Minister De Silva will receive the award for 2009 tomorrow at the anniversary celebrations of the Academy to be held in Chandigarh, India. The academy has been awarding this fellowship since 1981 and so far 44 persons had received it. All of them were doctors, professors and other medical professionals.

Person arrested with stolen goods

Indika POLKOTUWA

A person with parts of a milling machine worth over Rs. 150,000 suspected to have been stolen from a rice mill at Mahawela, Matale was taken into custody by the Matale police yesterday. The suspect has been identified as a former employee of the mill, the police investigations confirmed. The offence is alleged to have been committed about two years ago and the suspect had escaped the area thereafter.

Further investigations are being conducted under the direction of Matale SSP, Thilak Abeysiriwardena.

Katina Maha Pinkama

The Isipathanarama Maha Vihara, Colombo 5, will conduct its annual Katina Pinkama on October 30 and 31, 2009, under the patronage of Viharadhipathi, Ven. Kihimbiye Wijitha Thera in association with the Isipathanarama Sasanarakshaka Society.

Preceding this pinkama, a series of Dhamma Desanas by eminent Theras will commence.

These Dhamma Desana are scheduled to take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The grand finale of the Vas Season will take place on October 30 with a Gilanpasa Buddha Pooja at 6 p.m, followed by all night pirith chanting at 9 p.m. On October 31, the Katina Perahera carrying the venerated Katina Cheevaraya and other offerings will start at 4 a.m.

At 6 a.m., the Katina Cheevaraya will be offered to the Maha Sangha. This will be followed by the morning Buddha Pooja and a Heel Dana and a special Sanghika Dana to 25 monks at noon.

In the evening, a Gilanpasa Buddha Pooja will be offered followed by a Wivarana Buddha Pooja and the offering of Vassawasika robes to the monks.

The Vas Season will conclude with the Katinanisansa Dhamma Desana from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. by Ven. Siri Sumana Thera of Metharama Temple, Colombo 4.

Get-together

The annual get-together of the Old Anandians’ 81 Group will be held on October 24 at the Earls Court of Cinnamon Lakeside (formerly Trans Asia) Hotel from 8.30 p.m. onwards. For details contact Neel (0773023630).

De La Salle College to fete Archbishop

De La Salle College, Mutwal will felicitate Colombo Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Malcolm Ranjith, a distinguished old boy of the College on October 30.

Annual conference

The 36th annual conference of the Association of Public Service Engineers will be held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute auditorium on October 24. The chief guest will be Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama.

Lecture series

The monthly lecture of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka will be held on October 26 at 5 p.m. at the Gamini Dissanayake Mahaweli Centre auditorium, No. 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. The title of the lecture is ‘Re-Assessing Don Juan Dharmapala’ presented by Gaston Perera. The lecture is open to the public.

National conference

The National Conference on ‘Good Governance for Urban Planning and Leadership’ will be held on October 23 at Waters Edge, Battaramulla organised by the Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Ministry under the patronage of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon and Urban Development Minister Rohana Dissanayake.

Past teachers and pupils meet

The past teachers and pupils get-together of Veyangoda Pattalagedara Siyane National Educational Faculty will be held on October 25 at 9 a.m. at Siyane National Educational Faculty.

All past pupils are invited.

Fund raiser

Sunil Perera of Gypsies, Clifford Richards, Chillie, Amila Nadeeshani, Dushyantha Weeraman, Derana Little Star Himasha, Dancing Star winners Kalutara Royal Warriors, Randhir and Ashanthi and Umara of BNS Crew will perform on October 25 at 6.30 p.m. at the BMICH at Gimhanaye Ridmayak (Rhythm of Summer). The musical extravaganza is organised by the International Association of Lions Clubs - District 306 C1 in aid of Sight First.

Refresher courses

The Institute of Chemistry Ceylon is launching a weekly refresher course in the English medium to assist students sitting the GCE (A/L) examinations in 2010 (Sri Lankan and London Syllabi). The topics will include Problem Solving and Calculations, Energetics, Redox reactions, Kinetics, Molecular shapes and states of matter, a ICC press release said.

The courses will be held on six Tuesday’s commencing November 17.

Students and parents are invited for a meeting with the academic staff of the Institute at the Institute’s Council room on November 3 at 4 p.m. at Adamantane House, 341/22, Kotte Road, Welikada, Rajagiriya.