Quick Look

Henry Jayasena's funeral tomorrow

The funeral of veteran actor and dramatist Henry Jayasena will be held at the Borella cemetery tomorrow (November 14) at 4 p.m.

His remains are lying at No. 140/50, Kalapura Templers Road, Mount Lavinia. After the Pansakula funeral rites at 1.30 p.m. tomorrow the cortege will leave for Borella Kanatta at 3 p.m. passing through Kalapura, Bellanthara junction, Kohuwala Nugegoda junction, Kirullapone, and Baseline road, said Somaratne Dissanayake on behalf of the funeral committee.

Henry Jayasena's demise irreparable loss

Late Henry Jayasena was a veteran dramatist, actor, literary personality and critic and his demise is an irreparable loss to the arts sector in particular and the country in general said Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in a condolence message issued yesterday.

Educated at Nalanda College Colombo he entered the drama scene by producing the Manamalayo drama while serving as a teacher. Thereafter he endowed Sri Lanka with a long series of quality dramas and stage plays. He could be considered as the last link in the chain of veterans in the field such as Prof. Sarachchandra, Dayananda Gunawardena, Gunasena Galappaththy, and Sugathapala de Silva.

Articles on drama he wrote to English newspapers were most rich and appealing.

I proudly recall that I have been fortunate to associate with him very closely. May he attain Nibbana.

Murder accused gets 13 yrs RI

Samanthi WEERASEKARA

Kandy High Court Judge Preethi Padman Surasena imposed a sentence of 13 years Rigorous Imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 10,000 on a person who pleaded guilty to the charge of causing the death of another person at Galewela.

The accused in the case was identified as Ellawala Gedara Nimal Somaratne (37) and his victim was Athukoralage Don Pushpakumara Ranathunge of Galewela.

Bus veers off killing one

Ratnapura district special corr.

A resident of Ellenela Balangoda who was admitted to the Ratnapura hospital following injuries sustained in a bus accident succumbed to injuries. He was seriously injured when a private bus plying on the Badulla main road veered off the road and crashed into his house. Balangoda Police is conducting investigations.

Scholarships grant for Year Five schols:

Applications close on November 16

Applications to grant scholarships and assign schools to the successful candidates of the Grade Five scholarship examination will close on November 16.

School principals have received these applications, they should submit them for Zonal Education Directors for the latter to send them to the Education Ministry before November 16.

Ministry grants scholarship assistance to 15,000 successful Grade Five students annually and there are nearly 80,000 such students pursuing their education in Government schools. The Government spends a massive Rs. 40 million every year towards these scholarship grants.

Academic units in universities

Chaminda PERERA

The Higher Education Ministry yesterday decided to set up academic units in seven universities.

According to Higher Education Minister Prof. Viswa Warnapala, the Ministry will set up a law academic unit in the Arts Faculty of the Peradeniya University while Economy and Statistics Academic Unit will be set up at the Sabaragamuwa University.

Sri Jayawardenapura University and Ruhana University will get a Political Science Academic unit and a Marketing Academic unit.

Three more academic units will also be set up at the Ruhuna and Jaffna Universities and the Law Faculty of the Colombo University, the Minister added.

Exhibition

An exhibition and contest titled 'The Power of Peace' will be held at Kingston College International (Mutwal Branch) on November 14 (Saturday) at 10 a.m.

Teacher appointments

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha will preside-over a function to grant appointment letters to 2206 teachers who have been promoted to Class III of Principals Service to be held at 2.30 p.m. today at D.S. Senanayake Vidyalaya.

Prize-giving

The 121st anniversary prize-giving of Christ Church Girls College, Baddegama will be held at the schools 'Martha Karunarathna Auditorium' on November 16 at 2.30 p.m.

Investment Promotion, Enterprise Development, Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa will be the chief guest.

Meeting

The monthly General Meeting of the Old Girls Association of Vihara Maha Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Kiribathgoda will be held on November 15 (Sunday) at 2.30 p.m. at the college main hall.

Trishaw knocks down girl

Rafik JALALDEEN

A 12-year-old girl died and her mother and brother hospitalized after they were knocked down by a trishaw in Delthara, Piliyandala on Wednesday night. The woman and her two children were walking along the road at around 8.00 pm when they were knocked down by a threewheeler.

"N. Madushani died in the accident," police said.

Indian overstayer nabbed

An Indian national who had overstayed his visa for four years was arrested by the Daulugala Police at Muruthagahamula Daulugala on Wednesday along with an accomplice.

The suspect who had arrived here four years ago on a three month visa had obtained a forged NIC.

Get-together

The annual get-together organized by the Old Pupils' Association of the Poramadulla Central College at Rikillagaskada, will be held at the Hotel Tourmaline, Kandy on November 17 at 5 p.m.

There was unusual activity yesterday opposite Pettah markets after the Government slashed import taxes on many consumer items with a large number of lorries unloading consignments of b’onions dhal, rice etc opposite Pettah wholesale outlets. Picture by Sudath Nishantha

Principal arrested for abuse

S. A. L. Niroshan

A school principal was arrested by officers of the Balangoda Police Women's Bureau for allegedly sexually abusing two school girls. He was produced before Balangoda Magistrate Namal Bandara Balalla and remanded till November 24.

CDS resigns

General Sarath Fonseka has handed over a letter addressed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa requesting for his retirement from the post of Chief of Defence Staff from December 1, 2009, Media Centre for National Security Director General Lakshman Hulugalle said in a release yesterday.

Bodhi Pooja for fallen heroes

A Bodhi Pooja will be held at Gangarama Temple today at 6.00 p.m. to convey merits on fallen heroes of the Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy.