Quick Look

MEP to contest under UPFA

The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) will contest nine districts under the UPFA umbrella at the forthcoming Parliamentary election, a (MEP) press release stated on Thursday.

The MEP will contest the Colombo, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Hambantota, Anuradhapura, Kandy, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya and Digamadulla Districts. MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena will contest the Colombo District, the release stated.

Seminar on disability

The Sri Lanka School of Prosthetics and Orthotics (SLSPO) hosts Sri Lanka's first regional seminar on disability caused by diabetes, leprosy, on Sunday, February 14 at 9 a.m. The opening ceremony of the regional seminar hosted by the SLSPO will take place at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo.

The seminar, on Prosthetic and Orthotic Services including rehabilitation related to Diabetes and other Neurophatic Disabilities, is part of a range of SLSPO activities to support the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry to build Prosthetics and Orthotics services as part of the healthcare services in Sri Lanka. It is co-ordinated by the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) and funded by the Nippon Foundation of Japan and ISPO.

New CB Deputy Governor

Assistant Governor Central Bank P.D.J. Fernando has promoted to the post of Deputy Governor with effect from January 5. This promotion has been made in line with succession plan of the Bank and to address the new challenges of the Central Bank.

P.D.J. Fernando has 33 years of experience in a wide range of areas in Central Bank activities including Human Resources Management, Management Audit, Statistics, Information Technology, Currency Functioning, Finance, Premises, Security Services and also has functioned as Secretary to the Monetary Board. He has held the position of Assistant Governor for about 5 years.

Motorcyclist killed

Rafik JALALDEEN

A motorcyclist was killed in a road accident in Siyarapitiya, Katuwana yesterday morning, police spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody said.

A motorcycle and a hand tractor collided near a school on the Gagulandeniya road around 9.45am. K. Wimalasena who was injured in the incident died after admission to the Katuwana hospital.

"The hand tractor driver had fled the area. However, police traced the tractor in the same area. The suspect is yet to be arrested", he added.

Father-in-law arrested

Puttalam Group corr.

A person who happeded to be a father-in-law was arrested by Walachchenai police for stealing a gold necklace worth Rs 430,000 belonging to his daughter-in-law from a house at Udappuwa. The suspect was arrested on a complaint made by the husband of the victim to Mundalam police which had obtained the assistance of Walachchenai police to nab the culprit from that area.

Dolosmahe Pirith chanting ends on Feb 28

The dolosmahe (12 month) continuous pirith chanting which started near the Ruwanweli Cetiya in Anuradhapura on January 10 last year will conclude after 414 days with a sanghika dana to 3,000 bhikkhus on February 28 morning. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest, said Ven. Pallegama Hemaratana Nayake Thera of the Ruwanweli Cetiyaramaya.

Praise and worship service

A unique service of ‘Praise and Worship’ will be held at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Bauddhaloka Mawatha (adjoining the BMICH) Colombo 7 tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. This service is open to all.

The Speaker and Minister at this special service, conducted under the umbrella of the ministry of ‘Peace for All,’ will be Dr. Vijaya Corea who will speak on “The key that can positively change your circumstances and grant you your heart’s desire”.

School books distribution

A distribution of free school books and educational equipment among 650 students of low income families will be held near the Buddha statue at Beruwala town today at 3.30 p.m.

Buddhist Ladies sports meet

The annual inter house sports meet of Buddhist Ladies’ College, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7 will be held at the NC Grounds, Colombo 7 on February 18, Thursday at 1 p.m. The Chief Guest will be Sports and Recreation Ministry Secretary S. Liyanagama. Several circuit and Zonal Educational officials will also be present.

Aussie child health specialist here

Australian child health specialist Professor Geoffrey Cleghom, will arrive in Sri Lanka next week to attend a scientific symposium.

He will also attend several scientific sessions organised by professional associations in Sri Lanka.

He will speak to Sri Lanka’s most eminent professionals many of whom have been most respected amongst the child health fields.

Lecture at MICH

A lecture on Islam and the West. Which one represents global danger? organised by the Moor’s Islamic Cultural Home along with the Al Islam Foundation will be held at the 5th floor of the MICH reception hall, 7, Lily Avenue, Colombo 6 today at 7. p.m. The lecture will be delivered by Nigerian born lecturer Muhammad Nuruddeen Lemu who will speak on “Character of Muslim and Importance to Da’wa”

Look out for new moon

The Colombo Grand Mosque appealed to the Muslim to look out for the new moon on February 15 immediately after Maghrib to decide on the beginning of the Islamic month of Rabi-unil-Awwal Hijri 1431.

Telephone the Colombo Grand Mosque on (011) 2390783, 2432110, 2434651 or 0777366099 if the new moon is sighted.

Arms, ammo recovered

Batticaloa police Intelligence Unit unearthed arms and ammunition on information provided by an LTTE suspect on Thursday evening in Karaweddi, Vavunathivu.

Police spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody said police grilled an LTTE suspect in custody and on his information uncovered a haul of arms and ammunition hidden in the Karaweddi jungle.

Vavuniya police recovered arms hidden near a lake in Vavuniya on Thursday. RJ

Chamal Rajapaksa Ayurvedic teaching hospital opens today

The newly constructed Chamal Rajapaksa Ayurvedic Teaching Hospital at Hambantota will be opened at 10 a.m. today with the participation of Ministers Chamal Rajapaksa and Tissa Karalliyedda.

The new hospital complex costs the government Rs. 400 million and the OPD section is being opened under the first phase. In addition to the two and a half acre herbal garden, the new hospital consists of five wards, a Pancha Karma clinic for tourists, drugs manufacturing unit and research unit.

Ceylon Kennel Club show

The Ceylon Kennel Club will hold its 110th year All Breeds Championship Show on February 13 and 14 at the Race Course grounds, Reid Avenue, Colombo 7 beginning at 8 a.m. each day with a foreign judge in attendance. Entrance is free and all are welcome.

In December last year the club introduced a form of identification of registered dogs by microchipping in association with Torvan of Germany.

This exercise will be extended to all vaccinated dogs in Sri Lanka in the future and will be made mandatory for all CKC registered dogs.

The forthcoming All Breeds championship dog show (102nd) will culminate the events planned to celebrate 110 years of the club and it will be two days of fun and excitement for all dog lovers since more than a hundred dogs of various breeds will be on show. So be there without fail.

Diploma course for psychosocial volunteers

The Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry and the National Institute of Social Development, with support from The Asia Foundation, have commenced a Diploma course in counselling to train 40 psychosocial volunteers working with the Internally Displaced Persons in Vavuniya, the National Institute of Social Development stated in a press release.

The US Agency for International Development and the European Commission are providing funding to train 40 psychosocial volunteers currently working in the North. Another 100 officers from non-governmental organizations and government officers working in the North and East are also participating.

The Vavuniya-based course is modelled after the regular 18-month diploma course provided by the National Institute of Social Development in Colombo.

Lecturers from the National Institute are the lead resource persons, ensuring consistent quality of instruction.

The outreach course will be 12-months duration as the Vavuniya-based participants have considerable experience working in the psychosocial sector in the North. However, the program continues to include the required 288 classroom hours and 144 hours for field work experience needed for a Diploma.

The bi-annual friendly gathering of Asian Pacific regional Navies named Milan 2010 organized by the Indian Navy was held from February 3 to 8 at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. SLNS Samudura of the Sri Lanka Navy participated and the ship returned to the Trincomalee Harbour on Wednesday. Along with SLNS Samudura, ships from Australia, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar and Bangladesh navies also took part. A series of program to further improve the mutual understanding among the Navies of the Asian Pacific region had been organized SLNS Samudura held a reception on board the ship for Commander Andaman and Nicobar Command Vice Admiral DK Joshi, Andaman Islands Governor, personnel from participating Navies and representatives from Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard on the Andaman Islands.

Director Civil Defence Force Admiral Sarath Weerasekara retired from the post after three years. A farewell guard of honour was held in his honour by the force yesterday at the provincial office at Tibet S.Mahinda Vidyalaya, Wennawatta, Wellampitiya yesterday. Picture by Sudath Nishantha