Quick Look

Consultants terminated

The services of consultants of ministries were terminated with effect from yesterday until the new ministers review the subjects under their purview and decide whether the services of such advisors are needed by the ministries, Cabinet Secretary Sumith Abeysinghe informed all ministry secretaries, a Government Information Department press release said yesterday.

The release said the Cabinet Secretary had also informed that such advisors seconded for service from other government institutions should revert to their substantive posts with effect from today, the release said.

Suspect surrenders

Panadura group correspondent

The first accused in the Panadura Golukotuwa murder case in which five youths were murdered on August 25, 2007 was absconding surrendered to Panadura Provincial High Court through a lawyer. He was remanded by High Court Judge Malanee Gunaratna regarding another murder case pending before courts.

AGM

The Veeraketiya Past Pupils' Association Colombo chapter annual general meeting will be held on May 9 at 9.30 a.m. at Jana Kala Kendraya, Kotte.

Kidney patient seeks help

A.A. Sunil of 38/17, Lakesidewatta, Walpola, Batuwatta is suffering from an acute kidney ailment. Consultant Nephrologist Dr Rasika Lanarolle of the Colombo National Hospital has recommended an urgent kidney transplant.Sunil is 51 years and has to feed three family members. He seeks financial assistance as well as a kidney donor (O Positive/O Negative).

Donations can be sent to Account Number 175200170001220 of People's Bank, Kandana Branch.

President returns

President Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to the island yesterday after the successful conclusion of the 16th SAARC Summit in Thimphu, Bhutan.

The Summit concluded Thursday with the adoption of the Joint Declaration and Thimphu Statement on Climate Change.

Silver jubilee

The silver jubilee of the higher ordination – Upasampada – of the Sri Rohana Maha Sangha Sabha will be commemorated at a grand scale on May 1, 2 and 3 to felicitate the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi year 2600 Sabha Secretary General Ven Omare Kassapa Thera said in a press release. The event takes place at the Sri Rohana Uposthagaraya, Maha Vihara, Kotuwegoda, Matara.

The Upasampada ceremony was started by Ven Prof Kamburupitiye Wanarathana Maha Thera in 1986 and it has been held continuously up to now.

Minister sets example

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Youth Affairs and Employment Minister Dullas Alahapperuma has requested his Ministry’s secretary S.S. Hewapathirana not to display his photographs inside the Ministry buildings.

The Minister said there is no use of displaying photographs rather than working hard fulfilling people’s aspirations.

Normally photographs of every Minister of the particular ministry are displayed in every unit and sections of the Ministry spending a considerable amount of public funds.

Religious activities to deliver pledge

Priyanka Kurugala

Religious activities will be held on May 8 at 7.00 p.m. until next morning at the historic Somawathi Chetiya in Polonnaruwa following a pledge by Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera. Somawathi Chetiya Chief Incumbent Ven Pahamune Sri Sumangala Thera will direct the Pinkama Ven Meerigama Indrawansa Thera told the Daily News. A nine foot Buddhist statue will be installed near the Somawathi Chetiya as part of an all night pinkama.

In 2008 Ven Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera, at Somawathi Chetiya, chanting Damsak Pewathum Sutta, offered Adisthanapooja to protect the country from terrorism. Religious activities will be organized at Polgahawela Mahamewna Monastery, Ven Indrawansa Thera said.

NPT Review Conference begins Monday

The 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) will meet in New York from May 3 to 28.

Article VIII, paragraph three of the NPT provides for a review of the operation of the Treaty every five years.

States parties reaffirmed and strengthened the implementation of this provision at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference and at the 2000 NPT Review Conference. At the 2010 NPT Review Conference, States parties will examine the implementation of the Treaty’s provisions since 2005. The NPT is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goals of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.

Journalism Awards

The closing date of the Journalism Awards for Excellence 2009 Programme has been extended to May 14. 2010 due to numerous requests from journalists.

The Journalism Awards is organized for the 11th consecutive year by The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka (TEGOSL) and the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI).

The awards ceremony will be held in July.