Quick Look

Meeting to discuss Sri Pada Pilgrims’ facilities

S. Duraisamy, Maskeliya group correspondent

Nuwara Eliya Government Agent T.B.G. Kumarasiri has called for an annual conference to discuss facilities for Sri Pada Pilgrims for 2009-2010. The Conference will be held tomorrow at the Hatton-Dickoya Urban Council Auditorium. At this conference all measures taken to assist Sri Pada Pilgrims will be tabled and finalised.

The annual Sri Pada season begins on December 1, Unduwap Poya Day.

Heavy fines on drunk drivers

Sarath Malalasekera

The Western Province (North) Traffic Division arrested 18 drivers who were driving their vehicles after taking liquor.

They were produced before Wattala Magistrate and Additional District Judge Rasatha Godawela. The Judge imposed a fine of Rs. 131,000 on the 18 suspects.

SLBC get-together

The social get-together of the employees of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation will be held on November 13 at 5.00 p.m. at the SLBC Open Theatre.

Prizegiving

The 118th anniversary prizegiving of Musaeus College will be held tomorrow at 3.30 p.m. at the BMICH. Emeritus Professor Carlo Fonseka will be the Chief Guest.

Lecture on health

A lecture on “Nutrition and Health: How to prevent Cancer, Diabetes and High Blood Pressure” by Prof. Ira Thabrew of the Institute of Bio-chemistry, Molecular Biology and Bio-technology, Colombo University will be held on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the All Ceylon Women’s Buddhist Congress Colombo. The event is conducted by Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science - Medical Section and organized by A.C.W.B.C.

Cartoon contest on climate change

British Council jointly with the Ken Sprague Fund UK announces a cartoon contest on climate change. The contest is organized as part of the British Council’s Low Carbon Futures Project focusing on mitigating the effects of climate change in an urban environment. The contest is open to Sri Lankan citizens between 18 to 35 years.

Entries should be submitted to British Council, Alfred House Gardens, Colombo 03 before November 30. Further details can be obtained over 4521583.

Open university convocation

The General Convocation of the Open University Colombo will be held on November 18 and 24 at the BMICH, presided over by Chancellor, Sam S. Wijesinghe. The Convocation will be held in two sessions.

Honorary Degrees, Post Graduate Degrees and Bachelor’s Degrees will be awarded in the morning session and Bachelor’s Degrees and Post Graduate Diplomas will be awarded in the evening session on November 18 and Post Graduate Diplomas will be awarded in the both sessions on November 24.

Godapola accident kills one

Ratnapura District special

One person was killed and three were injured when a truck went off a 40 foot precipice at Godapola, in Panamure Police area. The deceased is identified as Sanath Samarawickrama, a resident of the area. The injured have been admitted to the Ambilipitiya Base Hospital. Godapola Police are conducting investigations .

Public servants’ housing loans before next year

The Finance and Planning Minister has instructed all State banks to ensure the grant of housing loans applied by all Government servants before the end of December 2009.

Accordingly, the People’s Bank will have to meet the loan applications totalling 20,000 while Bank of Ceylon and National Savings Bank will process 16,000 and 14,000 loan applications respectively.

The Government servants who have applied for housing loans will be required to inform the manager of the respective bank within 14 days from today whether they wish the bank to proceed with their loan applications.

If they have undergone transfers, the consent of the new head of the department should also be informed to proceed with their loan applications.

The processing charge of Rs. 7,500 at the time of the submission of loan application will now be deducted from the first instalment of the loan money.

Medical equipment for Kotagala Govt hospital

Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry officials handed over valuable medical equipment to the Kotagala Government Hospital yesterday at a ceremony in the presence of Youth Empowerment and Socio-economic Development Minister Arumugam Thondaman.

The equipment was worth several million rupees included ECG and other electro-medical equipment that were needed at the Kotagala hospital catering to mainly the plantation sector people, official sources said.

Fined for hunting iguanas

W.C.B Fernando Puttalam Group Corr.

Puttlam Magistrate and District Judge S.B.H.M. Sesiri fined three suspects from Galhaka, Karuwalagaswewa Rs. 20,000 each for hunting and having in possession three dead iguanas. Vilpattu Range Wildlife Officer R.D. Ramasinghe arrested and produced the suspects.

He said that the animals had been hunted in the Galhatha forest.

Bridge reconstructed

M.A. Phakurdeen - Addalaichenai group corr.

The Akkaraipattu Pottuvil road which was impassable over the last six days due to the collapsing of Kanchirankudah Bridge after the heavy rains has now been reconstructed and vehicles are once again plying over the bridge.

This 30 meter long and 7m wide temporary bridge has been constructed by employees of Maga in a very short time, working day and night in spite of the continuing showers under he supervision of Road Development Authorities’ Additional Provincial Director (East) En. A.L. Mohamed Nisar.

Meanwhile work on the European Union and Asian Development Bank aided, permanent bridge is also in progress.

Handicraft exhibition a grand success

Mahinda P. Liyanage Galle Central Special Correspondent

Ruhunu Viskam and Ruhunu Ransalu 2009, the Southern Province handicraft and handloom textiles exhibition held from November 5 to 7 at the Galle town hall drew large crowds thereby yielding recognition, reputation and advantage for craftsmen, artisans and handloom textile producers of all corners of the province.

The event was jointly organized by the Southern Provincial Industries Ministry and the National Craft Council.

The annual exhibition aims at promoting art and craft industry and handloom industry, in the national and international market, and creating a platform to the rural producers, the organizers told the Daily News.

Over 250 awards were presented to participants who displayed outstanding skill, creativity, and artistry under various categories. Indika Udayanga was adjudged the overall winner in the handicraft section for his mastery in wood carving.

B.B. Krishani Inoka was selected the first runner-up for a producing bobbing lace jacket and interlacing work on her reed mat. O. A. Dhayawathie was the second runner-up.

During the three-day exhibition, the fashion show of handloom textiles was a spectacular highlight.