Quick Look

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party Official Sinhala Publication ‘Sirilaka’ First copy was handed over to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by its editor Chandrasiri Waligamage at Temple Trees recently.

The Kanchirankudan bridge along the Pottuvil-Akkaraipattu main road got washed away due to heavy rains recently. As a result, the people to and from Pottuvil were to use a temporary footpath for nearly one week. The temporary bridge constructed in a short period by the MAGA under the Supervision of the Road Development Authority is pictured on the left. The temporary footpath (right). Picture by M. A. Phakurdeen, Addalaichenai group corr.

Mobile service to address issue of school staff

S.M. Wijayaratne Kurunegala corr.

The North Western Provincial Education Ministry will hold 154 mobile service programs to provide speedy solutions to the problems of school principals and school teachers in the Kurunegala and Puttalam Districts. Provincial educational authorities, Zonal Education Directors and Divisional Education Directors will take part in these mobile service programs to provide on-the-spot-solutions to school teachers.

Some 1.9 million Rupees will be spent for this.

Tsunami catastrophe commemorated

M.A. Phakurdeen Addalaichenai Group Corr

The people of the Ampara District commemorate the onslaught of tsunami which devastated Sri Lanka specially in the villages and towns of the Ampara District today.

Commemorative addresses, religious observances, observances of two minutes silence and 'Kathamul Quraan' in memory of those who died in the tragic circumstances would be the highlights of the program to be observed. Religious ceremonies too would be conducted in Hindu and Buddhist Temples, Mosques and Churches. Meanwhile a 'Tsunami Simulation' program organised by the Ampara Disaster Management Office will be held at the 'Early Warning Tower, at Nintavur at 9.00 a.m.

The Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Ministry signed an agreement with the Laoya consultancy company of Germany to obtain consultancy services for planning the proposed Kaluganga reservoir to be built under the Moragahakanda Kaluganga project recently. Here Ministry Secretary S. Amarasekera and Michael Chenwin of the Laoya Company exchange letters after signing the agreement before Minister Maithripala Sirisena at the Mahaweli Centre. Mahaweli Authority Executive Director N. C. M. Navaratne was also present on the occasion.

Road construction program

Matale district group corr.

The central provincial highways department has launched a rural road construction program in the Matale district. For the first stage, Rs 1,500,000 has been allocated.

Bodhi pooja

The Kurunegala District Dhamma School Teachers' Association in collaboration with all incumbents of Buddhist temples in the Kurunegala District will hold 3,000 Bodhi Pooja pinkamas on December 31 to invoke blessings on President Mahinda Rajapaksa, war-heroes and citizens of the country.

ACMC convention

The All Ceylon Muslim Congress ACMC Convention will be held at Alankudah - in the Kalpitiya Divisional Secretary's Division on December 26 Saturday. The Chief Guest will be President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Resettlement and Disaster Assistance Services Minister Risath Bathiyudeen will preside.

Tsunami victims commemorated

Arrangements have been made to pay homage to tsunami victims at Manarkadu and Uduthurai in Vadamarachchi today. About 950 bodies of tsunami victims of Vadamarachchi were buried in a separate area. It was customary for the relatives to pay homage to their dead kith and kins.

Social Service and Social Welfare Minister Devananda has made arrangements to ply special bus services to Uduthurai from distant areas such as Inbaruddi, Point Pedro, Katkovalam, Manatkadu and Allarai. (MPM)

Seminar

A seminar (forum) on 'Innovative Technologies for Tomorrow's industry' organised by the International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems (ICIIS) in collaboration with the Peradeniya University and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur will be held at the Faculty of Engineering University of Peradeniya from December 28 to 31.

It is co-sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - Region 10.

Medical camp

A free medical camp organised by the Azath Sally Foundation will be held at the Fathima Muslims Balika Vidyalaya, Bandaranaike Mawatha, Colombo 12 on December 27 at 8.30 a.m.

Felicitation ceremony

A ceremony to felicitate Baddegama Mahagodakanda Isipathanaramadhipathi Ven. Agaliye Gunananda Thera who has been appointed Chief Sanghanayaka Thera of the Galle district by the Malwatte Chapter will be held at the Isipathanaramaya, Mahagodakanda on December 29 at 2.30 p.m.

Scientific seminar

A seminar on medicinal plants on the theme 'Strategies for Development of the Herbal Drugs in Sri Lanka' organized by Sri Jayewardenepura University Medical Sciences Faculty, Anatomy Department Senior Lecturer Dr Ranil de Silva will be held at the Anatomy Auditorium on December 28, at 11.00 a.m.