Quick Look

Lands demarcated for religious places

Matale District Group Corr.

The Government will demarcate the lands of religious places in the Matale District to allocate lands to them on legal deeds.

About 300 Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Catholic religious centres are functioning in the district.

The surveying is being conducted by the Survey Department.

Motorcyclist killed in accident

A motorcyclist died on the spot when the cycle he was riding collided with a cab at Tammennawa on the Kurunegala - Anuradhapura road Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Basnayake Mudiyanselage Muthubanda (42) of Rajangana.

The alleged driver of the cab has been arrested by police. Tambuttegama police are investigating.

At Dambagahapitiya, Uva Paranagama a person named Nimal Rajapaksa of Dimbulana has been hacked to death on Tuesday afternoon. Uva Paranagama Police investigating the Crime said a land dispute had led to the killing.

Homagama police arrested a 26 year old suspect resident in Pitipana in connection with the sexual abuse of a 34 year old woman at Pitipana on Monday. Investigations are continuing.

A suspect believed to be a resident of Horapewita, Kotigalahena has been arrested by Kamburupitiya police for being in possession of a locally made firearm and two 7.6 mm cartridges. Investigations are continuing.

One person died and 13 others injured and hospitalised following a head on van-car collision at Weweldeniya on the Colombo-Kandy road on Tuesday morning. The deceased was identified as Amba Ranavitantrige Piyadasa (65) of Nelumpura Road, Ratmalana. Nittambuwa Police are investigating.

RI for attempted murder

Fred Silva JINASENA - Telwatta group corr

An accused who found guilty of an attempted murder by hurling a bomb and injuring a woman was imposed 20 years rigorous imprisonment plus fines by Balapitiya High Court Judge Amal Thilakaratna.

The accused is a resident of Miriswatta, Bentota.

Schools’ closure: Provincial Education Directors can decide

Suraj A. Bandara

The Education Ministry has given powers to Provincial Education Directors to decide whether or not to keep schools open due to the prevailing weather.

It will be impossible to conduct schools regularly unless the weather changes. Each Regional Education Director can consult Principals and take a decision accordingly. Principals can inform the Regional and Zonal Education Directors and make arrangements to close schools if children are inconvenienced.

State Printing Corp gets new head

Jayampathi Bandara Heenkenda has been appointed as State Printing Corporation Chairman.

Heenkenda, an old boy of Dharmaraja College, Kandy is a veteran in the printing industry in Sri Lanka. He is the Basnayake Nilame of the Maha Saman Devalaya in Alawathugoda, Kandy and also acts as the All Ceylon Basnayake Nilame Society Secretary.

Narada Dissasekera's cremation tomorrow

The cremation of popular vocalist of yesteryear Narada Dissasekera takes place tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the Talapathpitiya public cemetery.

The remains lie at the singer's home at 21, Wetakeiyawela, Talapathpitiya, Udahamulla, Nugegoda.

Bars, meat stalls closed for Vesak

The Excise Commissioner has ordered to close liquor bars, meat and fish stalls, slaughter houses, betting centres and night clubs on May 27 and 28 for the Vesak festival.

He has also ordered to stop selling liquor and meat in super markets and tourist hotels on these days.

Photo exhibition on Palestine

The Embassy of the State of Palestine and the Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine will hold a photo exhibition on Al Nakba (The Palestinian refugees catastrophe) today from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The opening ceremony will be at 4 p.m. at the "Salon Lilac", Galadari Hotel, Colombo.

Buddhist talk

Venerable Pelpithimukulana Gnanasiri Thera will deliver a Buddhist Talk in English, on Dependent Origination at a meeting of the Servants of the Buddha Society, Maitri Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya, on May 22, at 4.30 pm. All are welcome.

Memorial Oration

The Professor Pearlyn Pereira Memorial Gold Medal Oration will be delivered by Colombo University Professor of Chemistry M Dayal P de Costa on May 26 at 4.15 p.m at the P.P.G.L. Siriwardena Auditorium, Adamantane House, 341/22, Kotte Road, Welikada, Rajagiriya.

The oration is titled 'mechanistic studies of photo-induced electron transfer and development of fluorescence probes based on hydroxamic acids for analysis of metal ions'. The oration is open to the public.

AGM

The 38th Annual General Meeting of Peradeniya University 72 Arts Faculty Batch will be held on May 22 at 10.30 a.m at the Peradeniya Arts Faculty Theatre.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajith Senaratne will be the Chief Guest.

The 11th Annual General Meeting of Old Peterites' Group of 87-92 will be held today at 7 p.m. at Sr. Flora Memorial lecture room of St. Peter's College, Colombo.

Mass Media and Communication Minister Keheliya Rambukwella speaking at a Central Province Media Correspondents’ meeting held at Celepix hall Kandy recently. Picture by L.S. Egodawita

Regional conference

Tenth South East Asia Regional Epidemiological Conference will be held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo, from May 23 to 26.

National convention

The Conference of Sri Lanka Malays (COSLAM) will hold its second National Convention in recognition of its 10 years of services to the Malay community at the YMMA Main Auditorium Dematagoda on May 23 at 9.30 a.m.

Religious ceremonies

Buddhist religious ceremonies including Mal Pahan Buddha pujas and Buddhist sermons will be organized to commemorate the 15th death anniversary of the Polonnaruwe Dimbulagala hermitage former chief incumbent Venerable Thihagoda Kitalagama Seelalankara Thera who was killed by the LTTE at Kitalagama in Thihagoda on May 26.

Rail track mishap in Trinco

Chaminda PERERA

The compartments of the Trincomalee night mail train and its break system were severely damaged when a train engine collided with the compartments at the Trincomalee station yesterday evening.

According to Railways officials, the engine of the Trinco night mail train was detached to be fixed to the rear of the line of compartments.

However, the shunting driver has brought the particular engine on the same line which caused the collision.

He said the driver was interdicted and the department officials are investigating into how this accident occurred.

Death of Ratna Wijewardena

Mrs. Ratna Wijewardena, wife of former Deputy Editor, Madhura, the weekly Lake House illustrated story magazine and mother of four including Tharunee artist Charith Wijewardena expired. Her remains lie at 1/620, Mewella Road, Pethiyagoda, Kelaniya.

The cremation take place on Saturday, May 22 at 5.00 p.m. at the Pilapitiya crematorium.