Quick Look

Training courses

The National Crafts Council will enrol trainees for four courses to be conducted at Janakala Centre, Battaramulla.

The prospective candidates can apply for the six month courses in the areas of Beeralu-Renda, Wood Katayam, Mask making, leather products and clay products.

There is no age limit or educational requirement for prospective applicants.

During the training, the apprentices will get a stipend and a certificate will be presented at the end of the training period.

Necessary credit facilities will also be provided for the trainees to start new ventures.

Any interested person can obtain further information by calling 011-2785381 at National Crafts Council, Battaramulla.

Welivita in premier media exhibition

The premier international media exhibition of the Middle East, Cabsat Mena was held in Dubai a few days ago. This event was attended by renowned media personalities, technology providers, service providers and commentators.

Sri Lanka was represented by well-known media personality, Rohan Welivita. He attended a workshop on the cutting edge digital television broadcasting technology DVB-T and on the use of digital full High-Definition (Full HD) for movie making. Welivita held discussions with the world's largest media coordinating agency, Dubai Media City on opening doors to Sri Lanka as a film-location for international films and on the proposed digital broadcasting of the Sri Lankan television channel 'Srilakvahini' using the latest DVB-T technology.

Teaching appointments to Dharmacharya qualified

The Samasta Lanka Shasanarakshaka Mandalaya of the Buddhist Affairs Department had called for details of teachers in the Dhamma schools who have passed the Dharmacharya Examination with a view to give them teaching appointments in Government schools, the Department said in a release.

The decision to gather details about Dhamma teachers came following a discussion held by President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the Buddhist Advisory Council and a Cabinet decision on February 17. President Rajapaksa also said the appointment will be given after the General Election.

The Department requests the qualified persons to send copies of their Dharmacharya certificate, GCE A Level certificate and details about their teaching experience certified by the principal of the Dhamma school through the Shasanarakshaka Mandalaya of the area to the Registrar, Samasta Lanka Shasanarakshaka Mandalaya, 301, T.B.Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10. before March 31.

Probe into SPC ‘Group’s’ artificial drug shortage

State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) Chairman and Managing Director Dr. W.G. Gunawardene has sent a letter with reference to our news item with the above title which appeared in our issue of March 11, 2010.

He says: “.. there has been no artificial drug shortage created by any organized group or persons of the SPC. Also .... SPC has not been subjected to any investigation carried out either by the Bribery and Corruption Commission or the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition with regard to any such allegations.

Editor’s note: Our reporter stands by her story.

Richmond get-together

A Get-together of the Richmondites left the Richmond College in 1985 (O/L in 1982) will be held on March 19 at the Aradhana Hotel No. 184, Richmond Hill Road, Galle.

Inquiries Geethal 0777-252524

Kapila 0777-006675

Senaka 0714-453666

Needs B+ kidney

A. Katheeja Ummah (53), 197, G.M.M.S. Road, Sainthamaruthu a mother of two is suffering from a renal disease. Kandy General Hospital Consultant Nephrologist Dr. A. W. M. Wazil said she needs a kidney to survive her.

Donors help donate a B+ kidney or financial assistance, contributions can be made to A/c No. 338-2-001-6-0002571, People's Bank, Sainthamaruthu. Contact numbers 067-3679594 / 067-3693162 / 0714887629.

Dog needs home

This dog with a well cared coat needs a home. It has a red and green collar with a silver ball.

The dog has come to Dehiwela junction about two weeks ago. The dog is fed by Stanley, the owner of Glitter World, 239, Galle Road, Dehiwela. He said the dog is chased away by the people in the area after he closes the shop for the day.

The dog is here every morning, he says.

For more details call Stanley on 2712568 or Herath on 0785656093 who has shown a lot of sympathy for the dog.

Thera attends Sangha council

Nava Polonnaru Gal Viharaya, Dehiwala Viharadhipathy and International Vihara Foundation President Most Ven. Dr. Kanumuldeniye Sri Dharmasoka Nayaka Thera left for Hong Kong Thursday to attend the second Executive Committee meeting of the World Buddhist Sangha Council started on March.

Spoken English skills program

Forty English teachers of Royal College, Colombo will be trained in teaching Spoken English skills by Hyderabad trained rural English Master Trainers.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga will inaugurate the 10-day training program Monday at 8.30 a.m. at the Skills Centre of the school. There will also be a presentation on ‘Sri Lankan English’ by the Kelaniya University.

Mahasivarathri cultural program

Indian artistes - ‘Ponisai Thevaramani’ Vijalaxmi sing Raja Ram and ‘Tamil Isaithendral’ Meenakshi Srinivasan from Chennai will sing devotional songs for the Mahasivarathri festival at the Thiruketheeswaram temple, Mannar.

The Indian High Commission is supporting the cultural program which is expected to be attended by thousands of devotees. India is committed to the restoration of the historic Thiruketheeswaram temple, Mannar, which is among the five Eeswaram temples in Sri Lanka a High Commission release said. This decision was reiterated during Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao’s recent visit.

A team of experts from the Indian Archaeological Survey of India and Architecture College Mamallapuram, will be visiting Mannar soon to assist in the restoration efforts.

Students behaviour condemned

Some students had entered the Eastern University, Sri Lanka Vice Chancellor’s office on March 10 and forced Vice-Chancellor Dr. N. Pathmanathan to resign immediately from his post.

Since they had forced him using abusive language he sent his resignation to the authorities. At a special meeting of the Senate of the Eastern University, Sri Lanka on March 11, it was decided to vehemently condemn the student’s unruly behaviour, the Eastern University, Sri Lanka said in a release.

BCIS, Alliance Francaise de Kotte sign MoU

Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to offer French Language Courses in collaboration with the Alliance Francaise de Kotte on March 10.

BCIS and Alliance Francaise de Kotte envisage to strengthen the academic and cultural ties between students and scholars of the two countries.

The Alliance Francaise de Kotte will conduct courses on French as a foreign language, Beginner 1, Intermediate 1, Advanced 1 and GCE (O/L) and A/L Examinations. It would also offer courses to other organizations on request.

The MoU was signed by BCIS Board of Studies Chairman Gomin Dayasiri, BCIS Director Dr Harinda Vidanage and Alliance Francaise in Sri Lanka and Maldives General Delegate Bertrand Dufieux.

Death of DN staffer’s mother-in-law

The death occurred under tragic circumstances of Padmini Marasinghe, mother-in-law of staff photographer Saliya Rupasinghe. The body is lying at Mahinda Panagoda Florists in Koswatte, Battaramulla. Funeral takes place at Thalahena cemetery today at 3.30 p.m.