Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert O Blake called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at President’s House yesterday. External Affairs Minister Prof. G L Peiris, Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunga, Finance Secretary Dr P B Jayasundara and US Ambassador Patricia Butenis were also present. Picture by Sudath Silva

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena in conversation with the first patient to undergo a liver transplant in Sri Lanka at the Colombo National Hospital yesterday. National Hospital Director Hector Weerasinghe and Prof Mandika Wijeratne were also present. Picture by Ranjith Jayaweera

Dy Minister in Brazil for WHC session

Environment Deputy Minister Faiszer Mustapha left for Brazil to attend the 34th Session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC), which will begin on July 25, leading the Sri Lankan delegation that included Forest Conservator General M.P. Sarath Fernando and Natural Resources Director A.A. Kulatunga.

Sri Lanka is attending this session as an observer, and will seek membership to the World Heritage Committee with the support of the member nations.

A proposal to include the Knuckles and Horton Plains forest reserves as World Heritages will also be presented at this summit.

Senehasa camp

The Senehasa Youth Orphans Leadership Residential Camp will be held from August 5 to 8 at the Subodhi Institute of Integral Education, Wewala, Piliyandala. This is the seventh time the Senehasa camp is being organized and conducted by ‘Friends’.

There will be 100 children (50 girls – 50 boys) participating at this year’s camp. The children are in the age groups of 12 to 18 and have been selected from youth orphanages in Colombo and Kalutara districts.

The theme of the camp will be Education through Recreation. At this year’s camp there will be several leadership training sessions coupled with lectures, games, competitions, talent contests, a camp fire and sing song sessions.

Accommodation facilities increased to meet influx

Suraj A. Bandara

Tourist hotel room accommodation will be increased up to 40,000 this year to cope with the anticipated influx of tourists, Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

The Minister was addressing a convocation ceremony held at the Sri Lanka Tourism and Hotel Management Institute at Cinnamon Grand hotel. Sri Lanka Tourism has launched a work plan towards increasing inbound tourist to reach up to 2.5 million by 2010.

Matara MC wins first in performance

Jayasiri PEDURUARACHCHI

Matara Municipality became the first in an all island competition on institutional performance held among local government bodies. Kurunegala and Nuwaraeliya municipalities became second and third respectively.

The awards ceremony was held at the Janakala Kendraya, Battaramulla yesterday. A cash prize worth of Rs 500,000 was awarded to the Matara Municipality.

The significant fact is that this award was won when the Matara Municipality Mayor was being investigated for administrative irregularities.

[Corrections and Clarifications]

Mobitel clarifies

With reference to our page 12 news items in yesterday's edition under the headline TRC floor price, Mobitel intervenes, Sri Lanka Telecom, Mobitel (Private) Limited Chairman Nimal Welgama has sent us the following clarification.

The Statement that the "Petitioner Mobitel Limited stated that the floor price introduced by the TRC would adversely affect around half million of customers, who are public sector employees registered with the company to get "Upahara" post paid package" is incorrect. There was no such statement in the Petition filed by Mobitel.

Mobitel (Private) Limited filed application for intervention requesting that Mobitel be made a party and be heard prior to making an order in the Supreme Court Case (SC/FR/404/2010) filed by Bharti Airtel Lanka (Private) Limited.

Mobitel decided to intervene in this matter as a result of an alternative remedy prayed for by M/s Airtel that any floor price on tariffs to be imposed on all the tariff plans. This would have an adverse impact on Mobitel Upahara as well as customers of some other packages. Therefore, Mobitel decided to intervene.

Also the statement that "The petitioner stated that its future plans too would be adversely affected by the floor price of the TRC" is incorrect and misleading. There was no such statement in the Petition filed by Mobitel.

Heart patient seeks help

Akurugoda Gamage Daya Nandawathie of Kanattegedare, Hikgoda, Akuressa has undergone surgery following a heart ailment and is now on a pace maker. She says she needs nearly Rs. 900 daily for post operative medicine and other treatment. She says she cannot find this money due to her present financial plight and requests the public to assist her cause by sending whatever financial contributions possible to help her meet her medical expenses.

All contributions should be remitted to account number 207-150389-1 at the People’s Bank, Akuressa Branch.

Centenary celebrations

The centenary celebration of the Kokuvil Hindu Vidyalaya Jaffna will be held at the school hall on July 22, A highlight will be the cancellation of a commemorative stamp issued by the Postal Department at a ceremony presided by Posts and Telecommunications Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga at 10.30 am on this day. Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake will also be present on the occasion.

Awards ceremony

The Provincial productivity Awards ceremony 2009 for the Uva South and the Eastern Provinces will be held at 2.00 p.m. on July 30 at Wellawaya Mahinda Rajapaksa Conference Hall.

The National Productivity Secretariat of the Labour Relations and Productivity Promotion Ministry is organizing the Awards ceremony in collaboration with the Moneragala District Secretariat and Wellawaya Divisional Secretariat.

Monthly lecture

The monthly lecture of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka will be held at the Gamini Dissanayake Auditorium of the Mahaweli Centre, No. 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7 at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 26. The theme of the lecture presented by Prof Sirimal Ranawella is 'Madlayadesa'.

Dhamma school exam

The exam for Dhamma school teacher certificate will be held on July 24 at 19 centers.

The exam is conducted by the Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Ministry in collaboration with the Buddhist Affairs Department. Buddhist Affairs Department Assistant Commissioner W. S. Warakapola said 13, 173 candidates are due to sit the examination this year.

Adi Vel Festival

The Annual Adi Vel Festival of the New Kathiresan Temple Colombo 4 starts on June 24.

The Silver Vel Chariot carrying God Katharagama or Lord Muruga, will commence its journey from New Kathiresan Temple, Sea Street, Colombo 11 on July 24 at 8.00 a.m., and reaches New Kathiresan Temple, Bambalapitiya at 8.00 p.m.

The Silver Vel Chariot returns on July 27 from Bambalapitiya to Sea Street, New Kathiresan Temple, Trustees Rajendran Chettiar states in a press release.

Installation ceremony

The Printcare Toastmasters affiliated to the Toastmasters International has organized their Second year installation ceremony on July 23 at the Diamond Room - Tower Restaurant Aitken Spence Hotel Management Pvt Ltd, No. 315, Vauxhall Street, Colombo 02 from 7 p.m. onwards.

Play

Tissa Gunawardane's play 'Dutugemunu' will be staged on July 22 at 5 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery.

NCP records over 1,150 dengue cases

Nearly 1,165 dengue cases have been reported from the NCP during the last six months. This includes 883 from the Anuradhapura District and 282 from the Polonnaruwa district, Epidemiologist Dr Asoka Munasinghe said.

Four of the patients in Anuradhapura had died of the illness. He said dengue mosquito larvae was found in many domestic water tanks during an inspection carried out in the Anuradhapura stage three area recently.

Boost for red onion in three areas

The Agriculture Ministry will cultivate red onions in Ratnapura, Nilaveli in Trincomalee and Kirindi Oya basin to meet the local demand, Agriculture Ministry Secretary K E Karunathilake said.

He said farmers used to cultivate red onion in these areas specially in yala season. During the war, farmers had to face a lot of difficulties to find red onion seeds. Before the war, Jaffna and Vavuniya farmers produced red onion seeds.

Rs 1.2m worth buttons stolen

Mount Lavinia Police investigating the theft of a stock of buttons valued at nearly Rs 1,245,000 from the store room of the Tri Star Apparel factory at Thelawale Road, Mount Lavinia have arrested four suspects alleged to be employees of the factory and recovered a part of the loot. Investigations are continuing.

Facelift for Kandy roads

The Sri Lanka Up Country Development Authority has launched a program to develop 60.2 km of roadways in the Galagedara, Hataraliyadde, Pujapitiya, Akurana and Harispattuwa Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the Kandy District at a cost of Rs 246.29 million.

Student’s deadly ride

A 15 year old student, who was going to school on his bicycle died when the bicycle collided with a lorry on July 20 morning. The student was Gayan Chandra Kumar of 15 mile post on Medawachchiya road. Kebithigollawa police have arrested the lorry driver.

Heavy fine, RI on bootleggers

Two bootleggers who operated an illicit alcohol distillery were fined Rs 100,000 each and in default six months rigorous imprisonment by Marawila District Judge and Magistrate Nirosha Fernando.

She further sentenced them to one year's rigorous imprisonment suspended for 10 years and ordered 1,050 litres of unlawfully manufactured moonshine to be destroyed.

Eight dengue deaths in NWP

Provincial Health Director R.M.S.K. Ratnayake has taken action to conduct a massive dengue eradication campaign in Puttalam and Kurunegala Districts.

According to the Health Ministry report 36 dengue patients are receiving treatment at Kurunegala and Puttalam hospitals. The Kurunegala Teaching Hospital environment protection unit and the Kurunegala Rotary Club conducts awareness programs on dengue prevention.

Coconut seedlings for farmers

Coconut seedling distribution program for peasants in the Panduwasnuwara Divisional Secretariat area was launched by the local agrarian service centre recently.

The Coconut Development Board has inaugurated this program to encourage farmers to plant coconut in home gardens and other appropriate lands.

Under this, each receives five coconut seedlings free. Those who like to maintain a coconut cultivation in a land not less than half an acre are entitled to receive 38 free coconut seedlings.

Shramabhimani awards

A Shramabhimani awards ceremony organized by the Shramabhimani Jathika Sanvidhanaya will be held at the'Mihi laka' room at the BMICH, Colombo on July 23 at 3 pm under the patronage of Prime Minister D M Jayaratne.

A selected elite group of Ministers and Parliamentarians giving leadership to the working class, National News Editors, Electronic Media sector, members of the construction, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development sectors, Business Community and women engaged in social service will be honoured at this ceremony.

World's First Human Life Respecting Association

The (draft) constitution of the worlds' first human life respecting association in the world will be formed in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Association for the Welfare of Centenarians (SLAWC) will discuss and approve in its founding committee; at the SLMA (Sri Lanka Medical Association) committee room, at No. 7, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7, on July 24 at 10.30 am. The committee is headed by Registrar of the Ceylon Medical College Council and Chairman Sri Lanka Clinical Trials Registry Prof. Colvin Goonaratna.

Lecture on Galle Fort

Nethra Samarawickrema who is conducting fieldwork in the Dutch Fort of Galle, will deliver a lecture on "Dowries, Dupattas and Doorsteps: Insiders and Outsiders of the Fort of Galle" on July 23 at the ICES Auditorium, 2, Kynsey Terrace, Colombo 8 at 5.30 p.m. This presentation will provide a social history of Fort Muslim residents prior to the influx of expatriates, and trace the ways they are appropriating capital flows from the global tourist industry and the international real estate market.

Lecture on mental health

Dr Vasantha Gunatunge will deliver a lecture on 'mental health' at the All Ceylon Women's Buddhist Congress Hall, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo on July 28 at 5 p.m.

Seminar

A seminar to appreciate the services rendered by Prof K N Jayatilleke to the development of Sinhala literature jointly organized by the Prof K N Jayatilleke Memorial Foundation and the Philosophy and Psychology Department of the Peradeniya University will be held at the Peradeniya University Arts Theatre on July 23 at 3.30 pm. Prof R D Gunaratne will preside. Prof P B Meegaskumbura will deliver the guest lecture titled 'Buddhaghoshavathara K N Jayatilleke Vidvathano'.

Conference

A SAARC conference on the development of Open Educational opportunities will be held at the Mt. Lavinia hotel from July 26 to 28. Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena will inaugurate the conference on July 26 at 9 a.m.

Meeting

The Nuwara Eliya District Coordinating Committee meeting will be held at the District Secretariat on July 23. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa will also participate. Progress of development projects and shortcomings will be reviewed at the meeting. Projects to be started or continued in the District will also be reviewed at the meeting, District Secretary Nuwara Eliya D.P.G. Kumarasiri said.