Quick Look

Vegetable packing boxes for farmers

Sigiriya Group

The Kandalama Cultivations Committee distributed 1,000 vegetable packing boxes among farmers. They were made of plastic and supplied by the Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Ministry.

A Cultivation Committee Member said these plastic boxes save the time of farmers and help them to bring their produce to the market in good condition.

They reduce substantial wastage in transporting.

Anniversary celebration

The Ahadiyyah School, Mattakkuliya has organised its 20th anniversary celebration at the Elphinstone Hall, Maradana on January 3 at 8.30 a.m.

Colombo District Ahadiyyah Schools Federation President M.R.M. Zarook will be the chief guest.

Illicit sand miners flee

Five boats used to transport sand were seized by Kalutara South police following a raid on illicit sand miners near Kaluganga estuary early yesterday.

The sand miners had escaped by swimming across the river. Kalutara South police are investigating.

Electricity projects

Mahaweli systems corr

The Government has launched 12 more rural electricity distribution projects in the Galgamuwa electorate.

The Iranian government funds Rs 150,000,000 for the projects.

Bus depot for Kalawanchikudi

Irangika Range

A new bus depot will be opened by Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma today at Kalawanchikudi, Batticaloa as part of the current program to strengthen the bus services in the East parallel to the rapid resettlement of IDPs in the Eastern Province.

A Sri Lanka Transport Board spokesman said that the Government has given priority to the Northern and Eastern Provinces to cater to the influx of civilians. More buses will be put on the roads in the East while more depots will be opened under the “Negenahira Navodaya’ project. This marks the re-emergence of the public transport service after 25 years. The new Kalawanchikudi bus depot will provide transport to civilians including schoolchildren as in other areas of the Island.

All night pirith chanting

An all night pirith-chanting will be held on December 31 at the Independence Memorial Hall, Colombo 7, to invoke blessings on the government, Security Forces, Police and the entire nation. It will be held under the patronage of the Rajja Seva Bauddha Sangamaya in association with the Ministries of Buddha Sasana, Cultural Affairs and sports.

Dhamma sermon and meditation

Ven. Galigamuwe Gnanadeepa Thera will conduct Dhamma sermons and a meditation program on January 2 (Saturday) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Hall, Bauddhaloka Mawatha.

Three die after falling into gem mine

Three persons engaged in gem mining died of suffocation after falling into a licenced gem mine in Muttetuwakumbura in Kahawatta on Monday.

The deceased have been identified as G.K. Don Chaminda Gunaratne, 40, of Moratota, G.B. Nishantha Udayakumara, 53, and V. Nishantha Udayakumara, 22, of Udathula in Pelmadulla.

The post-mortem report submitted at the inquest said the deaths had been carried due to inhalation of a poisoners gas. Kahawatte police are investigating.