Quick Look

More join SLFP

Over 800 women activists of the United National Front crossed over to the SLFP and obtained SLFP membership at the residence of Health Promotion and Disease Minister Jayaratna Herath recently.

Redress for Negombo fishermen

Rafik JALALDEEN

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Felix Perera has intervened to resolve constant problems faced by the fishing community in the Negombo area.

On the instruction of Minister Perera and Father Lester Nonis a discussion was held to resolve the fishing community’s problems with the participation of six fishing community divisions, Fishing Cooperation and Multi-day boat Association at the Negombo main road church. According to a spokesman from the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry the fishermen thanked Minister Perera for his efforts to solve their urgent problems. The Minister has taken steps to remove the boats damaged by the tsunami which have been obstructing the mouth of Kothalawela river and the stopping the use of prohibited nets.

Honorary title for Ven Vanawasi Rahula Thera

Ven Vanawasi Rahula Thera the honorary caretaker of the Namal Uyana forest reserve and the rose quartz hill range at Galkriyagama, is being awarded the title Parisara Prabhodini Shasana Keerthisri by the Most Ven Weweldeniye Medhalankara Maha Nayake Thera of the Ramanna Nikaya sect at the Prime Minister’s Office at function presided over by the Premier Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka tomorrow. Several members of the Maha Sangha and distinguished invitees will grace the occasion.

Painting competition

A Vesak painting competition will be held among school and dharma school children in the Neluwa Divisional Secretariat area in connection with the Vesak festival this year.

The Neluwa DS will hold this competition under primary, junior and senior categories.

All paintings should be completed using pastel, water colours or collage system.

The size of a painting is 14”x18” and all paintings must be relevant to important events of the Buddha’s life and historical incidents of Buddha Sasana.

Paintings are accepted by the Neluwa Divisional secretariat before May 5.

PM opens fair, trade complex

Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka will open the Kamburupitiya weekly fair and trade complex on March 29 at 3.00 p.m.

The Southern Province Rural Economic Development Project has spent Rs. 300,000 for this.

AGM and get-together

The Annual General Meeting of the Old Boys' Association of Veyangoda Bandaranaike Central College will be held tomorrow at 9.30 a.m. at the college auditorium. Enrollment of new members will take place on this day.

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The Ceylon Association for the Mentally Retarded will hold its 41st Annual General Meeting for the election of office-bearers for 2010-2011, on March 31 at 6.00 p.m. at Connie Welikela Hall, 435/1, Galle Road, Mount Lavinia.

The meeting will be preceded by a fellowship from 5.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.

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The Annual General Meeting of Kegalle Pinnawala Madya Maha Vidyalaya Old Boys Association (2002 group) will be held at the College premises tomorrow at 9 a.m.

Lecture

Lecture on "Peace process in South Asia" Series II organised by the Sri Lanka Muslim Welfare Association will be held at the MLSC Auditorium on March 27 at 4.00 p.m.

Jaffna University convocation

Jaffna special corr

The 25th convocation of Jaffna University was held yesterday, March 26 after a lapse of five years, at Kailasapathy hall.

Undergraduates of the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 who completed degree courses received their degrees at this convocation.

During the three years 2005, 2006, 2007, 3,972 students have successfully completed their course.

Of this number 1,324 received their degrees on the first day of the convocation.

The others will receive their degrees today and tomorrow.

University Chancellor Professor M. Sivasooriyar presided at the convocation.

The last convocation was held on October 2005.

US Embassy employees donate blood

Over 50 employees from the U.S. Embassy volunteered to donate blood to the Colombo National Blood Bank during the Embassy's Annual Health fair.

During the event, healthcare providers also conducted general health, dental, vision, physiotherapy, breast cancer awareness, and cardiovascular screening, while others led sessions on ayurvedic medicine, yoga, and basic first aid.

RI for committing robbery

Matara roving corr.

An accused in a robbery case found guilty of the charges preferred against him was sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 20,000 by Matara High Court Judge Sisira Kumara Ratnayake.

The judge also imposed a further one year's RI on the accused in default of the fine.

In this case, Vidanapathiranage Dayawansa alias 'Ping Pong' was indicted for having a three-wheeler, a mobile phone, a wrist watch and some cash from a taxi driver after threatening to shoot him with a pistol.

Partners in crime

Bandula Gunasekara and T. K. Ariyadasa Malimbada group corr

A female clerk attached to the Ruhunu Development Bank (RDB) and her husband who had fraudulently drawn Rs. 51,49,313.32 through 21 cheques belonging to the same bank were taken into custody by the Colombo Crime Investigation Department's Special Crime Investigation Unit.

The couple reported to be residents of Batapola produced before Matara Additional Magistrate Lasith Madanayake were remanded until April 2.

The suspects who had fraudulently taken money by drawing 21 cheques of the Ruhunu Development Bank had deposited this money in five accounts of various banks. They had withdrawn the money and had bought a van, three-wheeler and jewellery, these items had been produced in Court.

Tharunnayata Hetak President Namal Rajapaksa with Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Felix Perera after a rally organized in North Batagama, Ja-Ela to ensure victory for the UPFA at the April 8 general election.

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka in conversation with a group of visiting Japanese students who called on him accompanied by a Buddhist prelate at the Prime Minister’s office Thursday.

A new Budu Medura built at the Kandy Asgiriya Maha Viharaya Pirivena was opened yesterday. Here the Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddarakkhita Mahanayaka Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter handing over a memento to Indrakumara de Silva and Mrs de Silva who donated the Budu Medura at the meeting which followed. Picture by Gamini Ramanayake