Quick Look

Road to be reopened

Asela Kuruluwansa

The main road opposite the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy that remained closed for several years due to terrorism will be opened to traffic during the day, security sources said.

They said it will be kept open for traffic from 5.30 am to 7.30 pm soon but the opening date has not been decided yet.

Badhuriya Kanduri

The Annual Badhuriya Kanduri will be held at Yatiyantota Masjidun Noor Jummah Mosque Garagoda on January 2.

The Grand Kandhuri will be held on January 3, 2010 at Noon.

Recruiting graduates

The Education Ministry which has made arrangements to recruit fine arts graduates has requested graduates having the required qualifications according to the gazette notification dated November 20, 2009 who have not yet sent in their applications to forward them to the Commissioner General of Examinations before December 31.

Renowned Islamic leader visits Sri Lanka

A leading Islamic Friday prayer leader and Islamic scholar in America, Imam Abdul Alim Musa will arrive on Saturday for a four-day visit on the invitation of the Al Islam Foundation.

He will be the Chief Guest at the Al Islam Foundation organized ‘Best of the Best of the Best’ Islam/General Knowledge Quiz Competition Finals at the Hill Regency Banquet Hall, Dehiwela on Sunday. He will also deliver public lectures at the Moors Islamic Cultural Home Hall at Lily Avenue, Wellawatte on Monday evening and the Peradeniya University on January 5.

Rotary continues to help tsunami affected

As the fifth anniversary of the Tsunami disaster, approaches, Rotary clubs worldwide, including in Sri Lanka, remain committed to providing long-term care to those still impacted by the December 26, 2004 catastrophe.

Shortly after the Tsunami struck and killed almost 230,000 people in eleven countries, the international disaster relief charity ShelterBox, supported by Rotary clubs worldwide, quickly raised $ 10.5 million to ship 13,000 ShelterBoxes filled with tents and other emergency supplies to Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and the Maldives - enough to house 130,000 people for up to six months.

Rotary clubs focused on long-term recovery such as rebuilding schools, hospitals, housing, and economic development. To help facilitate support from Rotary clubs throughout the world, Rotary clubs in the affected region established the Solidarity in South Asia fund. Contributions to this fund totalled nearly US$6 million with Sri Lanka receiving 35 percent of the funds.

An additional $484,000 came in the form of Rotary matching grants to support projects in Sri Lanka and throughout the affected region which Rotary clubs in other countries - from Australia to Denmark, South Africa to the United States - partnered with clubs in the affected region.

New employment generation project for Kundasale

An investment program linked to the production process has been drawn up for the Kundasale electorate to provide employment to nearly 400,000 youths.

This will be implemented as soon as President Mahinda Rajapaksa is re-elected to power at the forthcoming election, said Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

Rambukwella said this at a meeting attended by a group of businessmen and youth from the Kundasale electorate recently.

Rambukwella said eradicating the pangs of hunger among the people would be a simple task for the President who cleared their mental agony by eradicating 30 years of terrorism within four years.

He said the President while conducting a costly war had never neglected national development.

Nearly 400,000 people including graduates have been provided with employment while giant development schemes such as Norochcholai coal power plant and Upper Kotmale project have been implemented.

This is in addition to expressways, flyover bridges, Hambantota port project and the Mattala international airport project.

It was under the President’s leadership that the country was able to launch a development war while defeating terrorism, he said.