Quick Look

Replica of Galeon Andalucia arrives in Colombo

Dinesh De ALWIS

A replica of the 17th century Spanish ship Galeon Andalucia arrived at the Colombo Port yesterday morning and anchored at the Bandaranaike berth.

Captain of the ship, Gonzalo De La Crvz said "the aim of this voyage is to promote Spanish culture and the tradition around the world. The ship is heading to China to promote everything it can offer. Speaking about Sri Lanka he said "this is a natural and exotic country. Everyone helpful and wonderful."

The ship with her crew of 30 including 2 women, will head next to Singapore and leave Colombo on Friday.

Redress for fishermen soon

Permanent and sustainable solution will be brought to relieve the difficulties encountered by our fishermen as a result of going beyond the territorial waters, said Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne.

He said an automatic signal system to show the sea limit will be installed soon. The Minister said that action will be taken to sign a memorandum of understanding with India to stop arresting fishermen encroaching the Indian waters. The Minister expressed these views when he made an observation tour to Beruwala Fisheries Harbour recently.

Buddha statue procession

A marble Buddha statue gifted to Sri Lanka by Myanmar will be taken to Uggalboda, Budugalgoda temple in a motorcade tomorrow at 7.30 a.m. This follows a request made to K. K. A. B. A. Kumarasinghe by J. A. L. C. K. Jayakody and Ven. Kanoyaye Sarananda Thera of Uggalboda, Budugalgoda temple. The motorcade will start from Kalavana Hastivanarama temple under the patronage of Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka, Deputy Minister Pandu Bandaranayake and Ambassador of Myanmar, Ohn Thwin.

Monthly lecture series

The monthly lecture of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka will be held on May 31 at 5.00 p.m. at the Gamini Dissanayake Auditorium of the Mahaweli Centre, 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 07. The lecture titled 'Ancient Construction and Contemporary Conservation and Restoration of Stupas of Sri Lanka' will be presented by Prof. M.P. Ranaweera.

Exhibition, sale in North

The Provincial exhibition of rural products in the Northern Province under the theme Prosperity through Growth of Local Production will be held on May 28, 29 and 30 at Central College, Jaffna.

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiyutheen, Northern Province Governor Major General G. A. Chandrasiri will participate as Chief Guests.

Office for pensioners' trust fund

Wehelle PIYATHILAKE -Mahargama special corr

A spacious office room was allocated for the purposes of the Maharagama Government Pensioners Trust fund in the base flow of the newly commissioned Maharagama Divisional Secretariat.

Maharagama Pensioners' Trust Fund Chairman A.V.S. Gunawardane requests Government pensioners within the Maharagama Divisional Secretariat area to enrol of the trust fund and enjoy the facilities given by the Trust Fund.

Buddhist talk

Sudath Jayasundara 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 29 at 4.30 p.m.

Vesak program

A full day Vesak Poya program in English will be held at the Servants of the Buddha Maitri Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya, on May 27, from 6.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The program will commence with the observance of Ata sil followed by Heel Dana.

The program will consist of talks, discussions, meditation and chanting conducted by Buddhist speakers.

Noon Dana and refreshments will also be provided. All are welcome.

Lantern competition

Prince of Wales Old Bodhu Haula has organized a Lantern Competition for the ninth consecutive year from May 27 to 30 opposite Prince of Wales' College premises at 7 p.m.

Ice cream dansela

A Vesak - Ice cream dansala organised by the Kelaniya People's Bank Manager Chandana De Silva, Business Promotion Manager Gaminie Konara and the staff will be held at the bank premises, Kelaniya, on May 28 for the fourth time.

Vesak Zone in Galle Face

A number of Vesak programs have been organized by the Buddhist Association of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority in the Galle Face Green during the period May 27 to June 5th.

During this period Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Chaithya of the port of Colombo will be open for the veneration of the devotees. A colourful Vesak pandol is also displayed during this period.

Free Budusarana copies to be distributed countrywide

Priyanka KURUGALA

Three hundred thousand copies of the Budusarana religious tabloid will be delivered throughout the country as a Damma offering by Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority to mark Vesak. This is the fifth time the Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority has organized the free gifting of Budusarana. They will deliver the Budusarana across 20 districts including 1,000 temples.

The program will be launched under the Samurdhi Bank Associations and Samurdhi officers.

Floods receding

Rafik JALALDEEN

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said as flood water began receding in many areas, several local and international organizations assisted the Centre in its relief measures.

DMC Deputy Director Pradeep Kodippili said 9,748 people are provided with shelter in 51 camps while around 671 houses were completely damaged and 3,259 houses partially damaged.

Nearly 600,000 people were affected by floods last week. The number has now reduced to 238,534. The death toll from the floods is 28.

More rain predicted

The Meteorology Department predicted rains in the Southwestern parts of the country and strong winds in the next few days with sunny interval in the coastal areas.

Meteorology Department Deputy Director S. R. Jayasekera said the island will experience scattered showers while Southwestern parts of the country will experience heavy rains in the next few days. RJ

Death of Minister Tissa Vitarana’s mother

The death occured of Magi Vitarana on Sunday, May 25. She is the mother of Technology and Research Minister Prof. Tissa Vitarana, Nihal and Nalin Vitarana.

Magi Vitarana was the sister of former Finance Minister and Lanka Sama Samaja Party Leader Dr. N.M. Perera.

Her funeral took place at the General Cemetery, Kanatte last evening.