Quick Look

Salary increment recovery circular suspended

The recovery of the 20 percent salary increment paid to health employees from January 1, 2005 has been suspended on the orders of Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

Circular No. CA/AQ/13/2007/01 issued by the Ministry for the recovery of this salary increment is suspended with immediate effect, the Ministry said in a press release yesterday.

The release said the Ministry would implement a suitable program in connection with this issue in consultation with the Trade Unions and the Auditor General.

Cattle to be released for Poson

Dehiwela YMBA will release over 100 heads of cattle to mark Poson Full Moon Poya Day.

The YMBA requested those interested to contribute to the Dehiwela YMBA.

German Week in Jaffna

German Week in Jaffna, a cultural pageant of theatre, the best of German movies and classical music interspersed with a lecture on educational possibilities in Germany will take place from June 14 to 18 at the Centre for Performing Arts at the Kalathuda Theatre Complex, Jaffna.

The finale is the public viewing of the World Cup Football Match between Germany and Serbia on June 18 from 4.45 p.m. on a giant screen at the same venue.

German Ambassador Jens Pl"tner said Germany's fervent hope is that the German Week in Jaffna will contribute towards a cultural renaissance to make Jaffna the cultural hub of the North as in the past.

A forgotten debit

Dharma Sri ABEYRATNE

The Bank of Ceylon (BoC) branch in Kurunegala had taken nearly six years to debit a Rs 1,000 withdrawal from a customer.

A customer in Malkaduwawa, Kurunegala had withdrawn Rs 1,000 via a BoC Automated Teller Machine on August 13, 2004. The bank had informed the customer in a letter dated June 8, 2010 that it had not been debited to the customer’s account for the Rs 1,000 withdrawn after nearly six years.

Final accounts are completed at the end of every financial year. The particular lapse has not been detected by bank officials at the year end accounts or by the audit.

Look out for new moon

The Colombo Grand Mosque appealed to the public to look out for the new moon on June 13 immediately after Magrib prayers to decide on the beginning of the Islamic month of Rajab Hijri 1431. Inform on 0112432110, 0112390783, 0112434651 or 07773666099 if the new moon is sighted.

Lokuge addresses ILO conference

Labour Relations and Productivity Improvement Minister Gamini Lokuge addressed the 99th ILO Conference in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday.

The 19-member delegation are representing Sri Lanka at the 99th ILO Conference. Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya General Secretary Leslie Devendra also addressed the conference.

Speaker to probe assault investigation

Irangika RANGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday told Parliament that he will take action to probe investigations with regard to the assault of UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara.

Puttalam District MP Range Bandara was present in Parliament yesterday.

Though 60 days has lapsed after attacks on MP Range Bandara, the CID has not been able to trace the attackers, UNP Colombo District MP Ravi Karunanayake said. MP Karunanayake complained to the Speaker that the CID was deliberately slowing down investigations.

Spiritual Festival

An extraordinary ‘Spiritual Festival’ will be held Sunday at 10.30 am which will be conducted under the umbrella of the Ministry of ‘Peace For All’ at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Bauddhaloka Mawatha Colombo 7.

Inspirational music, a message from the World of God and prayer for the individual needs of the audience will be the highlights of this special event.

Community awareness program

The Saviya Development Foundation will conduct a community awareness program on environment on July 17 at 9.00 a.m at the Galle Town Hall. Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena will be the Chief Guest.

Winners of the islandwide drawing and poster competition will be presented awards on this day.

A lecture on rich soil biodiversity wellbeing in livelihood ecosystem will be delivered by Agriculture Ministry Director Dr Hemantha Wijewardena.

The Publication Unit of Saviya Development Foundation will also be opened on this day. A publication from the National Science Foundation on environmental news will be provided to students and participants. A drawing and poster exhibition will also be held at the Galle Town Hall.

HFC Dehiwela Jubilee Celebrations

The 75th Jubilee Celebrations of Holy Family Convent, Dehiwela will be held on June 15. A thanksgiving mass presided by Colombo Archbishop Most Rev Dr Nicholas Marcus Fernando will also be held to mark the event.

Get-together

A get-together of residents of Lake Crescent Housing Scheme, Attidiya and their Government and Local Council service providers including the Mayor, Police, Grama Sevaka will be held on June 12 from 4.00 p.m at the Housing Scheme.

Central Bank earns Rs 33.64B profit

Irangika RANGE

The Central Bank has earned a profit Rs. 33.64 billion last year, Parliament was told yesterday.

The Central Bank carried foreign currency financial assets including gold amounting to Rs. 683.26 billion and local currency financial assets amounting to Rs. 120.60 billion in 2009 an answer tabled by Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on behalf of the Finance and Planning Minister. Meanwhile, the Central Bank has earned a net income of Rs. 5.28 billion from foreign currency financial assets and a net income of Rs. 25.58 billion from local currency financial assets in 2009.

Hand grenades found in bus

Indika POLKOTUWA

Three live hand grenades were found by Kandy police in a CTB bus belonging to the Kandy South Depot while the bus was undergoing repairs at the workshop on Monday. The hand grenades neatly encased to the bus body was defused by the Army Bomb Disposal Squad which was summoned to the spot.

Police said the bus was deployed for the transport of security forces personnel sometime ago.

Medical camp

A free Eye Medical Camp for the welfare of residents of Maligawatte and the neighbourhoods, organized by the Colombo Muslim League Youth Front will be held at the Nooraniya Flats Maligawatte, Colombo 10 on June 12 at 9.00 a.m.

Lecture, discussion

A lecture and discussion on Classes, States and the Politics of Diasporas: the Lankan Experience organized by International Centre for Ethnic Studies will be conducted by Ahilan Kadirgamar at the ICES Auditorium, 2, Kynsey Terrace, Colombo 8 on June 17 at 5.30 p.m.

Memorial lecture

Neelan Tiruchelvam Memorial lecture to commemorate his eleventh death anniversary will be delivered by Emeritus Professor of Ancient Indian History, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi Prof. Romila Thapar at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI), 100, Independence Square, Colombo 7 on August 1 at 6.00 p.m.

Get-together

The ninth annual get-together of the Former Railway Officers Guild will be held at the Railway Headquarters Auditorium, Colombo at 9.00 a.m. on June 12 (Saturday).

AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the St. Joseph's College Colombo Old Boys' Union will be held on June 27 at the Bonjean Hall at 8.30 a.m.

The Annual General Meeting of the Negombo Branch will be held on June 19 at Cherry Land Resort at 7.30 p.m.