Quick Look

Hunupolagama Vajira thera exonerated from all charges

Ven. Dr. Hunupolagama Vajira Sri Nayake thera, Executive Director Sri Jayewardenapura Vajira Sri Rehabilitation Childrens Home was exonerated of all charges and discharged by the Kandy Magistrate on October 22 in a case pending before him for nearly two years on the recommendation of the Attorney General.

The case was pending following a 'B' report filed by the CID against the Bhikkhu and the Attorney General had submitted that there were not grounds to proceed with the case. Ven. Vajira Sri Nayake thera in a statement issued yesterday said the media publicity given to the contents of the 'B' report and a subsequent letter signed by the Mahanayake thera of the Asgiriya chapter removing him from several posts held within the chapter based on these charges had damaged his reputation. All this had happened due to the machinations of a group of conspirators who had made a false complaint to the CID.

Awards for Dasa Sil Matha trainees

A batch of 26 Dasa Sil Mathas who have completed long and short term dhamma training courses at the Mulatiyana Piyadasa Ratnayake Memorial Silmatha Training Institute under a program jointly organised by the Religious Affairs Ministry and the Buddhist Affairs Department will receive their prizes and certificates at a ceremony at the institute premises on October 31 at 2 p.m. Ven. Dr. Welamitiyawe Kusaladhamma, Chief Sanghanayake Thera, Chancellor Kelaniya University and Patron Dasa Sil Matha National Council will preside.

Special memorial stamp

A special memorial stamp will be issued commemorating the evangelical mission of Evang. Prof. S. Rajendram by the Postal Department at 10 a.m. on October 28 at the Jesus Lives Church, Colombo 15 during a memorial thanksgiving service.

This is the first time that a memorial stamp is being issued in memory of a Christian evangelist, and this is a honour to the Christian Society, Jesus Lives Evangelical Ministry International states in a communique.

Katina Pinkama

The Annual Katina Pinkama of the Sri Sudharshana Dharma Niketanaya, Hill Street, Dehiwala will be held under the patronage of Viharadhipathi Ven. Lelwala Samitha Thera on October 30 and 31. Highlights will include a mal perahera, Buddha and Gilanpasa Pooja and an all night pirith ceremony on October 30, Katina Cheevara Pooja on October 31 at 6 a.m. and a Sanghika Dana the same day forenoon.

The Katinanisansa Dhammadesanava will be delivered by Ven. Padalangala Assaji Thera on October 31 at 7 p.m.

Buddhist talk

Dr. Kanishka Karunaratne will deliver a public Buddhist talk in English on "Awareness of Mind and Body" at a meeting of the Servants of the Buddha Society on Saturday October 31 at 4.30 p.m. at Maitri Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya.

Face lift for 35 rail stations

North Central Corr

The Sri Lanka Railways Department will modernise 35 railway stations in the country.

The railway stations are at Ambewela, Bandarawela, Demodara, Ella, Galaboda, Idalgashinna, Peradeniya Junction, Rambukkana, Polgahawela, Hatton, Gampola, China Bay, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Galoya Junction, Vavuniya, Medawachchiya, Kurunegala, Galle, Kalutara South, Kollupitiya, Panadura, Puttalam, Ragama, Veyangoda, Palavi, Negombo, Mt. Lavinia, Moratuwa, Maharagama, Homagama, Hikkaduwa, Gampaha and Unawatuna.

Special Auto transmission

North Central correspondent and H. B. Rajapakse

The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) has taken steps to erect a special auto transmission tower in Vavuniya.

Wrong company: Boys remanded, girls to children's home

Officers attached to the Divulapitiya Police Women's Bureau raided a lonely house at Bobugammana on Friday and found two girls aged 14 and 15 in the company of three young boys.

Investigations revealed that the two girls had been lured to the house by two of the boys who had an illicit love affair with them. Police said the JMO attached to the Gampaha base hospital who subjected the two girls to a medical examination reported that one of them had been seduced and that the other had been subjected to sexual abuse.

The two girls and the three boys all of school going age were later produced before the Minuwangoda Magistrate who remanded the three boys till November 3 and ordered the two girls to be handed over to the Nisala Diya Sevana Children's Home.

Laying of foundation stone

Anuradhapura Spl. Corr.

Chief Minister North Central Province Berty Premalal Dissanayaka will lay the foundation stone for the Public Service Pensioners Trust Fund office on October 28. Mayor Dr. Lanka K. Caldera will unveil the new name board on Kada Dolaha road as Jayasena Kumarasinghe Mawatha in Anuradhapura on the same day in honour of a retired principal of Anuradhapura.

Villages to be developed

P.P.G. Sugathadasa

The Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Ministry will develop villages in Kamburupitiya.

Priority has been given for the improvement of infrastructure such as roads and the provision of electricity, water and sanitation. Proposed projects have been implemented at 39 grama niladari divisions.

Enhancement of livelihood activities of low income families and spiritual development of the community will also be carried out. Rs. 20 million will be spent for the program.

De-mining, resettlement progressing well - District Secretary

The de-mining process is progressing well and the resettlement program also being done accordingly with the support of the Army and the NGOs.

District Secretary P.S.M. Charles told Daily News yesterday that there are 62,333 families and 108,800 persons in IDP centres now in Vavuniya.

The process of resettling people was continuing in Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Ampara, Batticaloa, and we provide basic amenities to IDPs to rebuild their lives and Rs. 25,000 to repair their houses when they go back to their villages. “We also provide them with dry rations for six months, kitchen utensils for each family and agricultural implements, fishing gear or carpentry or masonry tools for them to restart their livelihood,” she noted.

(LdeS)