Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

Four Acting Ministers sworn in

Deputy Ministers Dilan Perera, S M Chandrasena, Weerakumara Dissanayake and Gitanjana Gunawardena were sworn in as Public Administration and Home Affairs, Irrigation and Water Management, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development and External Affairs Acting Ministers respectively yesterday morning before Prime Minister D M Jayaratne at the PM’s office, Colombo 7. Picture by Thushara Fernando

Final night Perahera

The final night ‘Perahera’ of the historic Mahiyanganaya temple ‘Esala’ festival will be held on September 22. This annual festival will end with the ‘water cutting’ ceremony to be held in the Mahaweli river on 23.

Java congress and exhibition

Four members of the organizing committee of the Java World Congress and Exhibition 2010-2020 led by Dr Ishantha Siribaddana called on Public Management Reforms Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka to brief him on the Java Congress and Exhibition 2010 that will be held in November in Colombo. This is an international event focusing on the potential of ICT applications for development and solving some of the pressing needs of the humanity.

Get-together

A Sinhala-Tamil writers’ get-together and the launching of 50 new books in Sinhala and Tamil will take place at the Sarasvathie Mandapaya, Lawrence Road, Bambalapitiya at 4 p.m. Saturday September 25. It is organized by the Sinhala-Tamil writers’ collective. The chief guests are Professor Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa and Saba Jeyaraja. Among the invitees are Ministers Dullas Alahapperuma, Douglas Devananda and S B Navinna and A H M Azwer, MP. The Sinhala-Tamil Journal ‘Deepa’ will also be launched at this ceremony.

Commemoration

A special commemoration ceremony on behalf of late senior Cabinet Minister Lakshman Jayakody has been organized on September 21 (today at 7.30 pm Lionel Jayakody Mawata, Divulapitiya – Mirigama road (close to late Minister’s residence). Dharma Deshana will be delivered by Kotte Naga Viharadhipathi Most. Ven. Madoluwawe Sobhitha Thera.

Divi Aruna extended

NDB Bank will be extending its Divi Aruna program to Matara Tuesday, September 21 at 10.30 a.m. The event will be held at the bank’s Matara branch premises at No 60, Uyanwatte Road, Matara - 1st floor, SME Unit, NDB Bank.

Japanese dramas

Kelaniya University Graduates Alumni Association of Sri Lanka’s (JAGAAS) Drama and Theatre and Image Arts Unit and the Japanese embassy will present three Japanese dramas in Sinhala titled “Suminuri” (Tears of a Crocodile) directed by Prof. Patrick Ratnayake, “Kami Fusen” (Paper Balloon) directed by Priyankara Rathnayake and “Bushu” (Poison) directed by Thumindu Dodantenna on Saturday September 25 at 6.30 p.m. At the Punchi Theatre, Borella. For admission by invitation, please contact Prof. (Dr.) H.D. Karunaratne on Tel: 0718015867 before noon on Thursday 23.

Happy Birthday

Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena turns 44 today.

Trishaw - lorry collision

A three-wheeler had collided with a lorry at Kundasale, Kandy yesterday. The Three-wheeler driver injured seriously in the collision has been admitted to Kandy General Hospital.

T M Sangadasa's funeral today

The funeral of National Film Corporation Consultant and Director T M Sangadasa will take place today at the General Cemetery, Borella at six in the evening.

Death of Carl Nanayakkara

Nanayakkara was attached to the Railway Department as a Station Master and after retirement joined Lake House.

He served in the Lake House Editorial VDT Department as a Proof Reader for a decade.

Nanayakkara was an excellent writer who contributed articles on various topics to several English dailies for over 60 years.

He was involved in various religious, social and welfare activities in the Nagoda area.

His funeral took place at the Nayakakanda Church Cemetery, Hendala amidst a large gathering.

Fisherman dies after clash

A fisherman who was stabbed and grievously injured during a clash on the Battalangunduwa island in Kalpitiya succumbed to injuries while being removed to hospital.

The clash took place between a group of fishermen on the island on Sunday night at the tail end of celebrations of a local church feast. They were under the influence of liquor.

'The victim who received serious stab injuries was immediately transported to hospital in a boat.

Swifts' nests racket nabbed

Two persons including a police constable were arrested by Hasalaka Police at Hettipola when they were transporting 15 kg of swifts' nests yesterday at about 4.30 p.m. Acting on a tip off received from a Civil Defence Committee member Hasalaka OIC Chief Police Inspector M U D Gunatilaka erected a road blockade and arrested the suspects.

The arrested persons, the birds' nests and the motorcycle in which the suspects were travelling will be produced before Magistrate.

Madushan shines at London O-Ls

Sixteen year old Sudeepa Madushan Herath of Royal International School, Kurunegala has scored the highest marks in the world in Computer Science at the GCE O\L London Examination 2010, conducted by the Edexcel International Institution, England. Herath hails from Mahagama, Melsiripura in the Hiriyala Electorate.

Plans for artificial breeding of chickens

The Government is planning to import incubators for the artificial breeding of chickens in order to meet the present demand for eggs and chicken.

These incubators could artificially hatch between 7,500 and 25,000 eggs at the same time and produce chickens, Livestock Development Deputy Minister H.R. Mithrapala said. He said the Government plans to popularise the poultry industry in the North and East.

Measures have already been taken to upgrade the livestock centre in Trincomalee. He said the reasons for the price hike in chicken and eggs is due to the monopoly maintained by a handful of traders.

ATI courses in English next year

Measures have been taken to conduct all the courses in the English medium at the Advanced Technical Institutes (ATI) by next year, said Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake addressing the English Day organized by ATI,Kandy yesterday.

“A special three month English course will be conducted as the first step.” Also we are making it possible for them to learn English on-line. The Ministry hopes to supply Lap Tops for every student who are following Advanced Technical courses. This is a difficult task, but we will do it in near future,” said Minister.

At the moment there are 11 separate Advanced Technical Institutes and seven affiliated units islandwide. Several Engineering, Agriculture, IT and Accountancy Higher National Diplomas and National Diplomas are being conducted those institutes.

Girl says parents abandoned her

A girl aged about four years abandoned at the public grounds, Eheliyagoda was handed over to the probation and Childcare Services Department by the Eheliyagoda Police.

The girl says that she is Sella Mary from Negombo and abandoned by her parents. She was subjected to a medical examination at the Eheliyagoda District Hospital. Investgations are continuing.