Quick Look

Special IDs for Galle trishaw drivers

Richmond WIJESEKERA- Bentota Group Corr

The Galle Heritage Foundation with Galle Municipal Council approval has launched a program to issue identity cards to three-wheeler drivers who travel within the Galle Fort area.

Three-wheeler drivers who do not posses these identity cards will not be allowed to transport tourists within the Galle Fort.

These drivers will also be given lessons in the English language, how to communicate with tourists and the history of the Galle Fort.

Getabaruwa Viharaya Esala pageant Sept 18 to 24

Thihagoda special corr.

The Esala pageant of the historic Getabaruwa Raja Maha Viharaya and Devalaya will be held from September 18 to 24, a Perahera Committee spokesman said.

The pageant will commence with the Peli Perahera on September 18 and the Randoli Perahera will be held on September 21 and 22. The pageant will conclude on September 23 with the Deva Thovilaya and the Deva Danaya.

Garbage dumpers nabbed in the act

Wehelle PIYATHILAKE- Maharagama special corr

Four persons who dumped garbage at Pathiragoda Junction, Maharagama were fined Rs 5,000 each by the Gangodawila Magistrate.

Two Public Health Inspectors attached to the Maharagama Urban Council and Police nabbed the four persons when dumping the garbage.

Blooming news for CP horticulturists

Samanthi WEERASEKERA

The Economic Development Ministry has allocated Rs 2 million to improve income levels of horticulturists in the Central Province under the Kandurata Udanaya program. Botanical Gardens Department Director Dr Cyril Wijesundera said these funds will be utilised for the welfare of members attached to 230 Horticulturists' Associations in the Kandy, Matara and Nuwara Eliya districts.

Rs 900 m to purchase A’pura yala harvest

Gamini Jayasinghe

Rs 900 million has been allocated by the Paddy Marketing Board to purchase paddy from the farmers in the Anuradhapura district during this Yala season. Accordingly arrangements have been made to purchase 30,000 MT of paddy through the 20 purchasing centres in the district.

Over 15,000 A-L candidates from North NCP Correspondent

A total of 15,324 candidates from Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya districts are sitting the GCE A-L Examination which commenced on August 9 at 131 centres handled by 53 co-ordinating centres set up.

Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya have been named as question paper distribution and answer script collection centres.

Rs 1,319 m for village development

The Economic Development Ministry has allocated Rs. 1,319 million for the '3060 Samurdhi villages' development project implemented by the Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority this year.

A press release by the Government Information Department said 4,522 development projects will be implemented under this program.

Samurdhi Authority's Director General Bandula Thilakasiri said work on 874 programs coming under this project has already been completed and it is hoped to complete the other programs soon.

Mihiri, WWI's first Sri Lankan grad

Sarath MALALASEKERA

Mihiri Kumarasinghe, an old girl from Devi Balika Vidyalaya, is the first ever Sri Lankan Student WWI to graduate from the whistling Woods International (WWI) Institute for Films, T.V, Animation and Media Arts in India. Mihiri believes that the easy access to beautiful locations in Sri Lanka and special facilities provided at "Mahinda Rajapaksa National Tele Cinema Park at Ranmihitenna" will attract Indian film-makers.

Buddhist Talk in English

Dr. S. Seneviratne Epa, will deliver a Buddhist Talk in English on Spiritual Health at a meeting of the Servants of the Buddha Society, Maitri Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya, on August 14 at 4.30 p.m.

University Scholarships

The A D V de S Indraratna Foundation will award five scholarships to three students of Economics from the Colombo University and two from the Peradeniya University this year.

The Foundation will also award an annual gold medal to the best candidate at the Final Examination for the Economics Special degree of the Sabaragamuwa University.

Gold Medal will be awarded at the Sabaragamuwa University Convocation at the end of this year and the five scholarships will be awarded at a ceremony on August 12 at 5.00 p.m. at the Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka Auditorium.

Dr A T Ariyaratna will be the Chief Guest while the Guest of Honour will be University Grants Commission Chairman Professor Gamini Samaranayaka.

Course on Anti Drug counselling

The Temperance Association is calling for applications from those interested to follow a course on anti-alcohol and anti-drug counselling to be conducted by local and foreign experts. Contact 011-4402718, 011-295859 or 071-83140838.

Dhamma sermons

A series of Dhamma desana pinkama conducted by the Dayaka Sabha, Kulangana Samithiya, Young Men's Buddhist Association under the patronage of the Viharadhipathi Madukurumulle Wijitha started on August 1 and continues till August 31.

Dhamma desanas are held daily from 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. at the Viharaya's preaching hall.

Provincial Ministers conference

The Annual Conference of the Provincial Ministers will be held at the Samurdhi Conference Hall at New Town Ratnapura on August 12, at 10.00 a.m.

Western, Uva, North Western, Southern Central, North Central, Eastern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces Provincial Ministers will participate.

Corrections and Clarification

Iranian Charg de Affaires

In the picture caption on page 4 in Monday's issue of the Daily News pertaining to the opening of a rural electrification project funded by the Iranian Government in Yapahuwa, the Iranian representative in the picture is Charge de Affaires Dr. Alireza Eghilm.

Heroin peddlar remanded

A suspect arrested by the Kandy police for allegedly peddling heroin was remanded till August 18 when he was produced before Kandy Chief magistrate Lalith Ekanayake yesterday. Police said the suspect a resident of Deiyannewela was arrested at the Kandy Bus Stand while being in possession of three packets of heroin. IP

PM lauds Muslims’ contribution to end war

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said Muslims discharged a yeoman service to end the war and the Government is aware of the needs of the Muslims living in the North and East.

The Prime Minister expressed these views when he met religious leaders of All Island Jamaitul Ulama organization at the Prime Minister’s office recently.

The Prime Minister further said the ideas of the Muslims living in the North and the East are important in developing these Provinces and it is easy to maintain peace in Sri Lanka as there is a proper understanding among the nations. Religious differences have caused internal conflicts in many countries in the world but it is a matter to be happy that Sri Lanka does not encounter such a situation.

The Prime Minister said that external forces who try to create religious conflicts and division should not be tolerated and everyone should be alert about the activities of such forces.

Dinithi needs help

Five-year Dinithi Vihinsa Dananjalee of Batanawatte, Thalpe, Habaraduwa is suffering from profound hearing loss in both ears from birth. Golden Key Eye and ENT Hospital Dr Sobitha Attygala Abeyratne has recommended an early operation to cure her. The surgery costs over Rs 1.5 million. Her parents are not in a position to find such a large amount and seek public assistance. Donations can be remitted to Ac No 0130 2040 0204 maintained at Koggala Hatton National Bank by the name W Dinithi Vihinsa Dananjalee. For further details call 091-5629905.

Look out for new moon

A conference will be held on August 11 (Wesnesday), immediately after Salath UL Maghrib under the Colombo Grand Mosque at the Madrasathul Hameediah Hall Colombo Grand Mosque, to determine the date to commence the Islamic month of Ramazan Hijri 1431 on the evidence of sighting the new moon in any part of Sri Lanka. The Colombo Grand Mosque also appealed to Muslims to look out for the new moon of Ramazan Hijri 1431 immediately after Maghrib on August 11. If the new moon is sighted inform 011 5234044, 432110, 2434651 or 0777 366099.

Charity concert

Internationally acclaimed Pippa Wilson will be in concert today Wednesday, August 11 at the CR & FC Club House at 7.00 p.m. Recognized as Melbourne’s Queen of Jazz she will be singing in aid of selected charities organised by the Y’s Men’s Clubs of Cinnamon Gardens and Colombo.

Get-together

The 61st family get-together of the Sri Lanka Naval Association (SLNA) will be held on August 15 from 9.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. at Pradeepa Hall on Mutwall-Mattakkuliya Road, Colombo 15.