Quick Look

A male elephant, she elephant and a calf fell into an abandoned agricultural well in Kiralogama while they were crossing towards the Karambe Jungle with other members of the herd yesterday afternoon. An 82-year-old resident in the area was attacked by one of the elephants when the herd strayed into the Kiralogama paddy field on their way. He later succumbed to the injuries sustained in the attack. Picture by Bandara Ekanayake, Eppawala Group Corr

Gilded railing PM opens Ata Visi Bodhi Praakaraya The gilded railing and the Ata Visi Bodhi Praakaraya surrounding the Sankapala Raja Maha Vihara Bo Tree costing nearly Rs Four million was opened under the patronage of Prime Minister D M Jayaratne. Sankapala Raja Maha Vihara Chief Prelate Ven Atthudawe Dammarama Thera and President’s Coordinating Secretary on Religious Affairs Ven Gatamanne Gunananda Thera were present.

The Spice Food Festival exhibition organized by the Kandy Hotels’ Association was opened by Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa and Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake at the Kandy City Centre yesterday. Here the Chief Guests at one of the stalls. Kandy Mayor Suminda Wickramasingha, Kandy City Centre Chairman Thusitha Wijesingha, Kandy Hotels Association Chairman Rodney Armstrong, and Secretary Samantha Rathnayaka were also present. Picture by Gamini Ramanayake

ECG monitor introduced

A low cost PC based ECG monitor has been invented by the Sir Arthur C Clarke Centre for Modern Technologies.

This appliance which is much cheaper than standard ECG monitors which has been successfully tested at the Cardiology units of the Colombo National and Kalubowila Colombo South Hospitals is now awaiting patenting to be produced on a mass scale for use in other hospitals and clinics, said a spokesman for the centre.

OIC injured in crash dies

Indika POLKOTUWA

Kandy Division Police Motorcycle Unit OIC Sub Inspector S M P Jayaweera receiving treatment at the Kandy Hospital Intensive Care Unit following injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident succumbed to his injuries Thursday.

He was due to assume duties as Kandy Police Transport Division OIC September 21.

Ranjan Ramanayake applies for anticipatory bail

Samanthi WEERASEKERA

Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake applied for anticipatory bail from Additional Magistrate's Court, Kandy yesterday in connection with an incident in which he was alleged to have defrauded Rs One million from a lady teacher promising to marry her.

Additional Magistrate Tanuja Jayaratne considered the application and postponed it for further hearing on September 29.

Katugastota and Kandy Police are conducting investigations over the incident.

Street lamps on remote control

Dinesh DE ALWIS

A special remote control with a micro control system which can be switched on and off from a distance for street lamps has been invented by the Arthur C Clarke Institute for Modern Technology.

This remote control can operate using any mobile phone or fixed telephone via GSM and GPRS technology.

This device has been introduced to street lamps at the Wellawatte area.

This is to be introduced in Colombo Municipal Council areas. There are 15,000 street lamps within the CMC and it is estimated that 500 remote control units are needed to cover the whole area.

The ACCIMT is planning to produce them within a few months.

Earlier ACCIMT invented a solar powered street lamp which switches on and off automatically.

Remanded for assaulting policeman

Manel PUSHPAKUMARI

A suspect who had allegedly assaulted a police constable on duty and caused minor injuries to him was remanded till September 30 when he was produced before Nugegoda Magistrate and Additional District Judge Rohana Anura Kumara Herath yesterday.

The suspect M Shiran Jinendra had come in a drunken stupor and assaulted constable Rangana who was on duty at the Sri Saranankara road check point after pulling him from his uniform causing injuries to him, said Police who produced him in Court.

Constables Geekiyanage and Kumara of the Dehiwala Police are conducting investigations.

As pilot project:

BTI bacteria to be used in Gampola

Katugastota Group Corr.

BTI bacteria bought from Cuba to destroy dengue mosquito larvae will be used in the Gampola area as a pilot project by the Central Province Health Ministry.

Provincial Health Minister Sunil Amaratunge said health staff on foot patrol will visit homes and spray mosquito breeding places with the bacteria since aerial spraying is not possible in the Kandy district due to thick vegetation.

Puttalam's coastal erosion under control

Suraj A. Bandara

Coastal erosion of Mudukatuwa and Katuneriya in the Puttalam district has been controlled through a boulder built with stones at the edge of the sea. Two kilometres have been preserved with a boulder costing Rs. 128 million.

Acting Port and Aviation Minister Dayasritha Thissera said Rs. 295 million has been approved for coastal preservation. After the completion of the boulder, sand will be pumped and the coastal line will be rearranged, he said.

SACKOBA Ball

The SACKOBA Ball organised by St Anthony's College OBA Colombo Branch will be held at Colombo Hilton today at 8.15 p.m. with cocktails.

The guest of honour for this year's dance is Old Anthonian Rohan and his wife Dr Neomi Wijesinghe.

Tickets from Ranjith Samarasekara at 0777 388399 or 2440096.

Students excel in Grade Five Exam

A student of Uduvil Girls College Tharani Balendran scored 187 marks and was placed first in the Jaffna district at the Grade Five scholarship examination held recently. She comes from Chunnakam in the Uduvil electorate.

Uduvil Girls College boasts of a similar achievement nine year back where one Banu Masilamany of Thavady became first in the Jaffna district.

Jaffna Hindu Primary School and St. John Bosco are the other leading schools that clinch the first place in the Grade Five scholarship examination in Jaffna.

At St. John Bosco Primary School, of the 185 who sat the examination 110 have passed the test. In Kilinochchi district Nisanth Kamsikan of St. Theresa’s Girls School scored 175 marks and was ranked first in the district.

The second place was secured by Nagulakumar Abirami of Thiruvai Aru MV scoring 173 marks and the third place by Sebestian Thanuja of Kilinochchi MV scoring 172 marks.

No Confidence Motion debate against Prof Peiris October 7

October 7 was fixed for the debate of the UNP originated no-confidence motion against External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris, as urged by the latter.

This decision was made during a meeting of Party Leaders' representing Parliament Thursday evening in Parliament.

The Minister who is accompanying the President to the United Nations General Assembly in New York had requested both the Leader of the House and the Chief Government Whip to make arrangements to move the no confidence motion immediately following his return to the island.

Discussion

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka has organized a discussion on the Proposed Local Government Election System Bill on September 28 at 4.00 p.m. at Hotel Ranmuthu, Colombo 3.

Representatives of Muslim organizations and individuals who are interested in participating at this meeting are requested to confirm participation. Contact 0777572935.

Law Olympiad contest

The Law Olympiad competition organized and conducted by Help University College, Malaysia assisted by Rishsi Overseas Travel and Education Centre, will be held today at British School, Colombo 8.

Sale and fair

The annual sale and Good news fair of the Ceylon Bible Society will be held today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Christian Reformed Church premises, Wellawatte, Colombo 6.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting of Moratuwa Eksath Vyaparika Sangamaya will be held on September 26 at Golden Carriage Hotel, Moratuwella, Moratuwa.

Abhaya Hewawasam dies

Well-Known author and translator Abhaya Hewavasam (73) died Wednesday and his funeral will take place at the Godigamuwa Public Cemetery, Maharagama today (Saturday) at 3 pm.

Hewavasam’s translations include ‘Fidel Castro’, ‘Mage Jeevithaya’, ‘Vrukayage Davasa’, ‘Yuda Ballo’, ‘Brohier Dutu Lankava’, and ‘Brohier Handunagath Lankava’.