Quick Look

A painted model browsing through a newspaper positioned in the central pavement on D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha opposite the Lake House building to mark the centenary celebrations of Sri Lanka’s leading Sinhala daily Dinamina that was the cynosure of all eyes among visitors to the Colombo city yesterday. Picture by Ranjith Jayaweera

President in A’pura today

Hidogama group corr.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Presidential Election campaign will start off with a mass rally in support of his candidature at the Anuradhapura public playgrounds at 3 p.m. today.

Stop to recruitment, promotions, transfers

The Government has decided to suspend all recruitments, promotions and transfers of the Government sector till the Presidential poll is over, Mass Media and Information and Investment Promotion Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa told the media yesterday.

Over 500 UNPers from Balangoda join UPFA

A group of over 500 UNP supporters in Balangoda led by Balangoda Pradeshiya Sabha Opposition Leader S. Vijayakumar have crossed over to the UPFA. They met Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne.

Buddhist discussion

The next Buddhist public panel discussion of the Colombo YMBA will be on Sunday, December 20 at 10.00 a.m. at its Borella building on "Wholesome Living the Buddhist Way." The Panellists are Asoka Devendra and Yasapala Nanayakkara with Rajah Kuruppu as moderator.

Pirith

The all night pirith ceremony of the All Ceylon Women's Buddhist Congress will take place on January 1, 2010 at 9.00 p.m. at the Headquarters.

All are welcome!

Photographic exhibition

Presidential Media Director (Photography and Video) J. Sudath Silva's photographic exhibition titled "Rajatha Dekma Sirilaka Janapathi Seya Pelahara" will be held at the Kandy City Centre from December 18 to 20. Admission free.

Anniversary

The Sri Lanka Naval Association celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with a anniversary ceremony on Sunday, December 20 at Government Pensioners Holiday Resort, Wedamulla, Kelaniya (Near the Thorana Junction) with variety entertainments.

Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral T.S.G. Samaraisnghe will be the chief guest and all previous Commanders of the Sri Lanka Navy will be invited along with many other distinguished invitees and all association members. More details can be obtained by calling the Association head office 011-4632529.

Lecture

Prayers and religious lectures will commence on Sunday, December 20 with Rathibathul Jalaliya by Moulavi A. B. M. Mubarak (Falahi) and Y. M. Rafi. It will be conducted after Magrib prayers and continue till Isha prayers.

A religious lecture will also be conducted at the Nawala Jummah Mosque.

Badur Mowlood

The recital of Badur Mowlood, will be conducted by Al Haj Moulavi M. T. Hillurudeen (Falahi) and Al Haj Moulavi A. B. M. Mubarak (Falahi) today after Magrib prayers and will continue until Isha prayers at the Nawala Jummah Mosque.

The program has been organized by Al-Haj M. H. A. Haniffa, Chief Trustee of the Nawala Jummah Mosque.

Musical show

Sandakada Pahana Abiyasa, a musical show and a felicitation ceremony to felicitate veteran musician Sunil Edirisinghe will be held at the BMICH, on December 21 at 6.30 p.m. The Junior OBA of Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya has organized the event. The proceeds of the show will go to the schools swimming pool fund.

Free 'Skype'

Free 'Skype' calls will be facilitated by the Embassy on a first come first serve basis to Sri Lankan migrant workers who visit to the Embassy during office hours.

Diploma awarding ceremony

The Diploma Awarding Ceremony of the Institute of Engineering Technology will be held on December 24 at 9.00 a.m. at the BMICH Main hall.

Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols will be held at the National Savings Bank Head Office premises today at 6 p.m.

NSB branch openings

The NSB Mulgampola Branch will be opened on December 21 at 10 a.m. at 604, Peradeniya Road, Mulgampola, the NSB Puwakaramba Branch opening will be on December 23 at 9.30 a.m. at 12, Moratumulla South, Moratuwa and NSB Pettah Branch relocation will be held on December 28 at 9.30 a.m. at 24, Paul the VI Centre, Malwatte Road, Colombo 11.

Panadura Royal College OBA AGM

The Annual General Meeting and the election of office-bearers of Old Boys Association of Panadura Royal College will be held on December 20 at Panadura Royal College. All members are invited.

Woman remanded

A woman estate labourer from Wewelwatte was arrested by Wewelwatte Police in connection with the murder of a new born infant. She was produced before the Ratnapura Magistrate Court and remanded.

The place where the infant’s body was said to have been buried was dug up by Police on a Magisterial Order but the body was not found.

Investigations are continuing to recover the body.

Dengue outbreak in Vavuniya

Lakshmi DE SILVA

There is a severe outbreak of dengue in Vavuniya after the heavy monsoon rains. It was worse than a terrorist threat with 14 deaths recorded.

Already, there are 645 identified dengue patients while 90 patients were warded at Vavuniya Hospital and nearby hospitals by yesterday, Vavuniya District Secretary P.S.M. Charles told the Daily News yesterday.

A separate ward at Vavuniya was opened to face the sudden threat. The number of doctors and nurses to cope with the dengue attack was insufficient, she said.

At least another 10 doctors and 10 nurses are needed to arrest the situation, another senior official said.

There are 95 doctors at Menik Farm Welfare Village but they were not willing to assist the dengue menace as they had to serve the large number of IDPs, the official noted.

Lankan charged with murder in Singapore

A Singapore court yesterday charged a Sri Lankan maid with the murder of an Indian worker, media reports said.

Tharmalingan Puwaneswary, 31, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of killing Murugaiyan Selvam, 32, an assembly worker.

The Indian national had been found on his bed with fatal head injuries on December 4, according to police.

Further Court proceedings in the maid’s case were scheduled for December 24, the online edition of the Straits Times newspaper reported.

If convicted of murder, the Sri Lankan would face a mandatory death penalty. DPA

Death of former ANCL Librarian

The death occurred of G. G. L. Chandrasena, a former ANCL (Lake House) Chief Librarian after a brief illness. Remains are lying at Mahinda Florists, Mt. Lavinia. Cremation takes place on December 19 at Mt. Lavinia general cemetery at 5.00 p.m. Cortege leaves Mahinda Florists at 4.00 p.m.

Needles discovered in Brazilian boy’s heart

Brazilian doctors organized an emergency airlift Thursday for a two-year-old boy who had 42 needles inserted inside him during “black magic” rituals, after two of the slivers were discovered to be piercing his heart.

The boy was flown to a specialist cardiac surgery unit at a hospital in Salvador, the main city in Bahia state, doctors looking after him said.

X-rays earlier showed that the toddler had around 50 needles stuck inside much of his body, including his neck, torso and legs.

A careful examination counted 42 needles, some of them close to or even piercing vital organs.RIO DE JANEIRO, Thursday, AFP