Quick Look

Dhamma talk

A Dhamma talk in English on 'The Perfecting of Generosity' by Bikkhu Varado will be conducted on May 28 at 6.30 p.m. at the Siri Vajiraramaya Temple, Bambalapitiya. All are invited for this Pinkama.

Vesak at Town Hall

Rafik JALALDEEN

The Colombo Municipal Council will hold a lantern competition and many other events to mark the National Vesak Festival today at the Town Hall. CMC Chief City Administrator Omar Kamil said the National Vesak Festival has been conducted by the CMC for ten years. However, this ceased since 2006 due to the security situation and bad management of the CMC.

"The security situation in the city is peaceful. Therefore, we can hold the National Vesak Festival in a peaceful manner", he added.

The National Vesak Festival was organized by the CMC in coordination with a group of private companies and sponsors. DSI PVT LTD Chairman Nandana Rajapaksa will chair the National Vesak Festival.

He said a number of events will be taking place at the Town Hall to mark the NVF.

The events will commence with Bakthi-gee, lantern competition, arts competition and photographic exhibition at the Town Hall.

A blood donation was held on Tuesday at the Town Hall premises to mark the NVF.

Buth dansala

Day and night Maha Buth dansala organised by the Suhada Sports Club Thelikada, Galle will be held at Thelikada junction on May 27.

Special buses for Vesak

The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) will operate several special bus services for the convenience of people visiting important Buddhist places of worship in the country during Vesak Poya.

The buses charging normal fares will leave the Pettah Central Bus station the pre-Vesak Poya day at 8 a.m. and start the return journey from the terminating station the day after Veak Poya Day at 8 a.m., the SLTB said in a press release yesterday.

Geththam Siththam

Geththam Siththam an art exhibition by Chamath Jayathiratne along with some oil paintings on canvas done by his sister Chandani Jayanetti will be exhibited from May 27 to 29 at Sudharmarama temple, Wethera, Polgasowita. This includes 150 thread craft and 75 oil paintings. Chandani Jayanetti is a music (western) teacher primary section at Visakha Vidyalaya.

Thera in Egypt for Vesak festival

Nava Polonnaru Gal Viharaya, Dehiwala Viharadhipathi and International Vihara Foundation President Ven. Dr. Kanumuldeniye Sri Dharmasoka Nayaka Thera left for Egypt yesterday to participate in a series of Vesak festivals.

Police Bhakthi Gee

The annual Police Vesak Bakthi Gee program will be held on May 29 at the Police Field Force headquarters in Bambalapitiya Saturday at 7 p.m.

Vesak in Jaffna

A Vesak festival titled Yapa Patunayi - Daham Amawayi will be held in Jaffna from today till May 30 on a concept of Jaffna Commander Maj. Gen. Mahinda Hathurusinghe. The festival will be held in a specially demarcated Vesak zone covering the Alfred Duraiappa stadium, Public Library and Jaffna Fort.

A special Vesak pinkama will also be held at the Sri Nagaviharaya and Nagadeepa Raja Maha Viharaya premises.

Islam Program

Islamic Scholar Mufhti Ismail Menk talks on Social Responsibility in Islam will be broadcast over the English Service of Radio Sri Lanka/ SLBC on the Culture of Islam program tomorrow at 9.00 p.m.

This will also be broadcast via satellite and could be accessed on www.slbc.com as well.

Badur Mowlood recital

The recital of Badur Mawlood will be conducted by M.A.M. Naeem (Muqddeem) and Al Haj Moulavi A.B.M. Mubarak (Falahi) May 27 after Magrib Prayers and will continue until Isha Prayers at Nawala Jummah Mosque.

A religious lecture will also be conducted by Moulavi Al Haj N.M. Fardhy (Aroosi) after Isha Prayers at Nawala Jumma Mosque on May 30.

Anil Koswatte, Chairman, Gems and Jewellery Authority

Anil Koswatte assumed duties as Chairman of National Gem and Jewellery Authority last week. He was the former Chairman/CEO of Export Development Board Sri Lanka. He has a wealth of experience in the private sector serving in a multinational company.

Kandy UDA ordered to demolish unauthorized structures

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

Deputy Environment Minister Faizer Mustafa Tuesday ordered the Urban Development Authority, the Central Environmental Authority and the Divisional Secretariat in Kandy to demolish all unauthorized structures on the bank of the canal that runs by the Akurana town in Kandy.

Akurana electorate has recorded the highest number of dengue cases and the disease is spreading in the area, according to Kandy Divisional Secretariat sources.

The minister instructed UDA, CEA and Kandy Divisional Secretariat officials to remove all shops, kiosks and other buildings around the canal.

Ravi Mayan, President, OBU, Carey College

Ravi Mayan was re-elected as the Colombo Carey College OBU President recently.

Ravi presently attached to Cargills PLC, Colombo as Senior Human Resource Manager. He was a brilliant student and won the all round best student trophy at Carey.

A father of two daughters, he obtained the B.Com Degree from the Kelaniya University and later completed Human Resource Management professional qualification at NIBM.

SLCYJF hosts China Education Exhibition

The Sri Lanka China Young Journalists' Forum (SLCYJF) hosted the first ever China Education Exhibition in Sri Lanka at the BMICH Colombo recently.

This two-day exhibition named 'China Education Exhibition - 2010' was held under the patronage of the Chinese Embassy and the China Scholarship Council free for Lankan students eager to strengthen their higher educational capacities overseas.

More than 40 renowned Chinese Universities that offer degrees of international recognition and standard of many spheres such as medicine, pharmaceutics, aeronautics and Astronautics, IT and telecommunications, technology, agriculture, fine arts were present.

AL cut off scores out next week

The cut off z-scores for the GCE Advanced Level Examination 2009 will be released by the end of next week, sources said. The scores will be released to newspapers and the selected candidates notified via mail.

The results of the August GCE Advanced Level Examination was released in November last year. DG

Help her live

E. W. Shani Umesha of 'Nandana', Hittetiya, Matara is suffering from a severe disability in her spinal cord.

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. M. Vasantha Perera who is treating her has recommended a surgery to correct the disability. The surgery and the spinal implants needed for the surgery are estimated to cost Rs. 550,000. Umesha's mother K. K. Priyanthi de Silva says her family cannot foot this bill due to their present financial plight. She has requested the public to assist her daughter's cause by sending whatever financial contributions to help them to expedite the surgery.

All contributions should be remitted to account number 1695323 at the Bank of Ceylon Matara branch.

Road reopened

Colombo-Horana Road (Route No. 120) which had been temporarily closed from Raththanapitiya to Pepiliyana was reopened for traffic from yesterday morning.

As the bridge constructed earlier over the Kalu ela close to Raththanapitiya Junction was too narrow the whole area faced the threat of floods. On the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the new bridge was constructedc within four days.

The new bridge cost Rs. 22 million was declared open by Labour Relations and Productivity Minister Gamini Lokuge, Highways Development Deputy Minister Dr. Mervyn Silva was also present.

Funds for housing project

The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council has set apart Rs 25 million for the construction of 950 houses for low income families in the province, Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Maheepala Herath said.