Quick Look

Fruit cultivation promoted

Jayaweera Sugathapala Attanagalla Special Corr.

The Bemmulla Govi Jana Kendraya will promote fruit cultivation in the area. Priority has been given to expand rambutan, durian and pineapple cultivation.

Cultivation instructions, planting material and technical know-how are given by the Provincial Agriculture Ministry.

Road concreted

G.A. Gunasena Ginigathena special corr.

The Ambagamuwa-Mahapathana road in the Ginigathena area in Nuwara Eliya has been concreted by the Ambagamuwa Divisional Secretariat. The Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry funded Rs 642,902 for the construction.

Debarawewa hospital upgraded

Raja Waidyasekara Tissamaharama special corr.

The Tissamaharama hospital at Debarawewa has been upgraded to a base hospital. It was one of the most underdeveloped hospitals in the district.

Hambantota Regional Health Director Dr Upali Karunaratne said it is one of the most developed hospitals in the district after it was upgraded to a base hospital.

Residents inconvenienced over bridge falling

Balangoda Central group corr

Residents in Waleboda, Gallenakada, Thorawelkanda Pinnakanda and Pudukatuwa are greatly inconvenienced in their travelling and transporting green tea leaves after the collapsed of the Pudukatuwa bridge on the Balangoda-Waleboda road on December 10 night due to torrential rains experienced in the area for a week.

Shrama Deepani for NWP Govt employees

S. M. Wijayaratne Kurunegala corr.

A loan scheme known as Shrama Deepani has been introduced for Government and State Statutory Boards’ employees in the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts. Loans would be released for self-employment projects, animal husbandry, housing and educational activities of children.

University academia

Anuradha Kodagoda

University academia yesterday expressed shock and sorrow over a statement made by former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka to a weekend newspaper.

Professor Gamini Samaranayake, Professor Laksiri Fernando and Professor Anura Manathunga expressed their views against Fonseka’s statement at a special media conference at the Media Ministry yesterday.

“We observed that in past few weeks Sarath Fonseka was giving different interpretations on the same issue at different times. He has a bad habit to involve other people’s names and giving irresponsible statements to the media. However, this is not just about a name but undermining the Security Forces and the whole country, they said.

Removal of barriers commended

The removal of barriers at Galle Road, Colombo 3, and the Galle Road entrance to St Michael’s Road, Kollupitiya has been commended by all organizations in and around Kollupitiya, and has brought relief to members of the public to move freely without restrictions within the areas.

A Member of Board of Management, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, and Chairman Sparklink Group Nihal Perera has expressed appreciation and gratitude to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for giving directions to have the barriers removed to bring normalcy for the free movement of the public.

Kovil open to public

Ishara Mudugamuwa

Keeramale Naguleshwaram Kovil was opened to the public from yesterday on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said Northern Province Governor G. A. Chandrasiri. Senthankulam-Keeramale road was also opened yesterday and a special bus service was started from Jaffna to provide transport for the people to visit the kovil.

Carols

St. Benedict’s College, Colombo 13 will hold their Annual Carol Program, Seasons of Light on December 21 at St Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena.

The entrance procession will be at 6.45 p.m. and will be led by St Benedict’s College choir. Primary Choir and the College Western Band will also perform.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting of Sangamiththa College Galle, Old Girls Association, Colombo branch will be held on December 20 at 2.30 p.m. at the Organisation of Professional Association of Sri Lanka (OPA) Prof. Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, Colombo 7.

Mobile tax payer service

A mobile taxpayer service for residents of Colombo North will be held at Pradeepa Hall, Mutuwella Road, Mutwal today from 9.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., a Colombo Municipal Council official said.

Among the services provided at the mobile CMC service will be to attend to water supply, roads, tax assessment, health and sanitary problems, sports and recreation problems of the local people.

The mobile service is being held under the stewardship of CMC Chief Administrator Omar Kamil with the participation of senior officials including the Municipal Commissioner Bhadrani Jayawardena, the official said.

Photo exhibition

The Siri Laka Janapathi Photo Exhibition by President’s Photo Director Sudath Silva will be held on December 18, 19 and 20 at the Kandy City Centre.

This photo exhibition will contain pictures of four former Presidents of Sri Lanka. It has been organised by the Central Province Chief Minister’s Office.

March in support of President

A march organised by Wayamba Health, Sports and Youths Affairs Minister Asoka Wadigamangawa in support of President Mahinda Rajapaksa will commence this morning at Puttalam town. It will traverse along Mundal, Chilaw, Mahawawa, Marawila and Wennappuwa to reach Thoppuwa junction by evening the same day.

Wayamba province Governor Thissa R. Balalle, ministers, deputy ministers and electoral organisers will participate.

Public lecture

The Institute of Project Managers, Sri Lanka has organized a Public Lecture on “Current Trends in Delay Claim Analysis” at the Wimalasurendra Auditorium at the Institution of Engineers, No. 120/15, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7, on December 18 at 5.15 p.m.The Lecture will be delivered by former senior lecturer Moratuwa University and Hinds Blunden Engineering Pty Ltd., Melbourne, Australia Director Dr. Gamini Kodikara.

Applications for Janasabha Secys:

Closing date extended

The last date of accepting applications for the posts of Janasabha Secretaries had been extended up to December 30, 2009, Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Ministry said in a press release yesterday.

Graduates who are eligible to make their applications should be forwarded with project reports to the Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry, 177, Galle Road, Colombo 3, the release said.

Exhibition

The US Embassy is now hosting an exhibition featuring the work of eight of Sri Lanka’s most outstanding contemporary textile artists as part of its ongoing celebration of the 60th anniversary of the official relationship between the United States and Sri Lanka. The artists were Minnette de Silva, Ena de Silva, Barbara Sansoni, Swanee Jayawardene, Chandramani Thenuwara, Tilak Samarawickrema, Rehana Jayewardene de Soysa, and Marie Gnanaraj.

The exhibition, which is open to the public, runs until December 31. It can be viewed free of charge from Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am - 5 pm except on December 25 and 26.

India-Sri Lanka foundation debate

The inaugural India-Sri Lanka foundation debate between the University of Delhi and the University of Colombo will be held today at 5pm at the Senate Hall of the University of Colombo. The topic of the debate is - “Environmental Degradation Stems from poverty”.

Delhi University will be represented by Vishwajoy Mukherjee (President Debating Society, Ramjas College), Saaduzzaman (Member Debating Society, Ramjas College) and Zubin Ray (President Debating Society, Kirori Mal College). Colombo University will be represented by Shamalie Jayatunge and Sachintha Dias (Faculty of Law) and Shehara Mendis (Faculty of Medicine). The debate will be moderated by Luwie Ganeshathasan, Faculty of Law, University of Colombo.

Colours nite

The Ruhuna University colours awards ceremony will be held on December 22 Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the University Gymnasium, Wellamadama, Matara.