Quick Look

A walk to mark World Diabetes Day was held yesterday from Independence Square to the BMICH organized by Tarunyata Hetak and Siriliya organizations. First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and Health Minister Maitripala Sirisena are seen taking part in the walk. Picture by Sulochana Gamage

Highway to success : At the launch Minister Basil Rajapaksa inaugurates the Northern road development project. Ministers G L Peiris, Douglas Devananda, Deputy Minister Nirmala Kothalawala, Parliamentarians Namal Rajapaksa, Sri Ranga and Northern Province Governor G A Chandrasiri and several other guests were also present at the event. Picture by Chaminda Hittatiya

Fined for indecent behaviour

Siri Wawwage Matara Roving corr.

Twelve suspects alleged to have behaved in an indecent manner in the Matara Town under the influence of liquor were imposed a total fine of Rs 36,000, 3000 each as penalties by Matara Chief Magistrate Udesh Ranatunga recently.

Matara Police Vice Squad Sergeant Nilantha had produced the suspects before the Court.

Rehabilitated LTTE cadres released

Jaufer Kahn

Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister D E W Gunasekera said that out of the 11,969 LTTE cadres who surrendered to the Security Forces, 5,400 cadres have been released after rehabilitation. He expressed these views on Saturday (13) at the meeting held in the Sri Lanka Leftists' Movement Batticaloa District Office.

He further added that all others except the LTTE cadres against whom legal action are pending would be released soon.

The Minister visited the Batticaloa prison to ascertain the shortcomings prevailing them.

Two hospital drivers clash

Indika Polkotuwa

A Kandy General Hospital ambulance driver was admitted to Kandy Hospital with serious cut injuries after a brawl with another ambulance driver of the hospital. Kandy Police investigating into the assault said the incident had occurred in the drivers' quarters and both had been under the influence of liquor. The other driver had fled the area.

Nineteen year old falls to death

Asela Kuruluwansa, Hasalaka Group Corr

A nineteen year old female an external degree candidate fell to her death falling from the Punchi Lokanthaya in Ududumbara Desan Estate on Saturday (13). Later her dead body was found lying in a precipice about 500 feet below. Deceased Dammika Kumari a resident of Teldeniya, Udawela has gone to see the Punchi Lokanthaya with her boyfriend a soldier in the Special Task Force.

Making a statement to Ududumbara Police the boyfriend has said that he was not with her at the time of the incident. Ududumbara Police investigate to ascertain the cause of the death.

Northern road development project launched

Eight main roads in the Northern Province will be developed at a cost of Rs 34,000 million. The main event inaugurating the project was held yesterday in Mullaitivu presided by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Under the project the A9 road, Nedunkerni-Puliyamkulam road leading to Mullaitivu and Oddusudan-Nedunkerni road leading to Mullaitivu will be developed.

The Chinese Government has provided a soft loan for the project.

Deyata Sevana programs

Puttalam Group Corr. W C R Fernando and Amila Prabath Wanasinghe

North Western Province Road Development, Power, Housing and Construction and Fisheries Ministry has organized a campaign to plant 11,000 mangrove saplings along the coastal belt in the province on November 15 under the ‘Deyata Sevana’ program.

In the North Central Province a similar program has been launched to plant 588,000 plants at the auspicious time of 10.07 am on the same day.

Prize day

The newly founded Sathya Sai Baba International school at Manipay held its 1st prize day at Manipay. Advisor Prasanti Council, International Governance of Sri Sathya Sai Organisation M Vamni Yasingham was the chief guest. Principal Sathya Sai school P Pathmanathan presided.

Programs to mark President’s swearing-in

Katugastota group corr.

Several socio-economic development programs have been organized in the Galagedera and Hataraliyadda Divisional Secretariat Divisions as part of ceremonies to mark the swearing-in of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his second term.

The programs organized under the initiative of Senior Presidential Advisor and Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama includes a distribution of dairy equipment among 250 families engaged in the dairy industry at the Hataraliyadda Divisional Secretariat on November 15 at 10 am and a distribution of educational scholarships worth Rs 1,000 among all students in the Galagedera Divisional Secretariat Division who have passed the Grade 5 scholarship examination at a ceremony at the Galagedera primary school on November 13 at 10 am.

Milk collecting centre

K A Aleem Gampola Thinakaran Corr.

A new milk collecting centre was opened at the Vijerama Vihara Rupaha in Nuwara Eliya District recently. Agriculture and Livestock Central Provincial Minister Namal Piyatissa and Central Provincial Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa were present in the opening ceremony.

NCP budget

The North Central Provincial Council budget for the year 2011 will be presented to the Council by Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake today.

Aphrodisiac seller fined

Siri Wawwage, Matara Roving Corr

A businessman who sold Aphrodisiacs to Ruhunu University undergraduate was fined Rs 5,000 by Matara Chief Magistrate Udesh Ranatunga last Friday. The suspect was nabbed while was selling them to an undergraduate during a raid by Matara Police.

Teachers in trouble for cutting students hair

Siri Wawwage - Matara Roving

Matara Police Women’s Bureau submitted a report to the Matara Magistrate on an investigation it had conducted into a complaint against three lady teachers of a Girls’ High School in Matara for forcibly cutting the hair of 18 girl students with the assistance of a barber who had been invited by them to the school.

This was a request to complaints made by some parents of the affected girls to Matara Police Women’s Bureau OIC Inspector Waruni Bogahawatta.

The suspect teachers are to be produced before the Magistrate following further investigations.

Unidentified body recovered

W C B Fernando - Puttalam group corr

Mundalama police have found an unidentified dead body which was washed ashore yesterday early morning.

The deceased, believed to be about 40 years was 5 ft 5 inches tall. He was dressed in a blue trouser and a red-coloured T-shirt. The body was sent to the Chilaw hospital for post-mortem examination. Mundalama police request public help to identify the body.

Parliament meets

Parliament meets again on November 16 at 9.30 am according to a decision taken at the Party Leaders' meeting.

Nallur PS unauthorised structures out

Jaffna special correspondent

The Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha will remove shops and unauthorised structures along pavements.

A Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha spokesman said shops have been constructed without its approval.

Fishing in troubled waters

Siri Wawwage, Matara Roving Corr

Four students who had engaged in fishing at a lake without attending school were arrested and later released after being severely warned by Akuressa Police.

The students had hidden their school badges in pockets of the uniform.

Heavy fine on drunk drivers

Siri Wawwage, Matara Roving Corr

Seven people who drove after consuming liquor were fined Rs 45,000 by Matara Chief Magistrate Udesh Ranatunga.

The driving licences of six were suspended for two months. The suspects were arrested during a traffic check by the Matara Police Traffic Division.

Land Kachcheri at Welioya

Tennakoon Kulasekera

A land kachcheri will be held on November 28-29 at the Mahaweli Resident Project Office, Weli Oya to identify those who received lands during 1984-85 in order to facilitate the resettlement of peasant families in the Mahaweli L Zone in Weli Oya who fled the area due to the terrorist threat.

This decision was taken at the mobile secretariat held on November 13 at the Mahaweli L Zone under the patronage of Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Deputy Minister S M Chandrasena.

It was also decided to hold a new land kachcheri on December 1-2 to select suitable persons for distributing new lands in the L Zone.

Several decisions were also taken to provide tube wells, electricity and other facilities to the peasant villages in the area.

School terms for 2011

Richmond Wijesekera, Bentota Group Correspondent

In a special circular to all Provincial Directors of Education in the island Education Ministry Secretary Sunil S. Sirisena has sent the school calendar for 2011.

For Sinhala and Tamil schools:

First term from 03.01.2011 to 08.04.2011

Second term from 25.04.2011 to 04.08.2011 (both days inclusive)

Third term from 05.09.2010 to 09.12.2010 (both days inclusive)

The Ministry Secretary has instructed all heads of Government and approved schools to conduct 202 school sessions for 2011. The Provincial Directors of Education have been given the authority to change these school terms under special circumstances.

Lecture

Former International Court of Justice Vice-President Judge C G Weeramantry and Emeritus Professor of Law, Monash University, Australia will deliver a public lecture under the auspices of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society on “Tread lightly on the earth: religion, the environment and the human future.”

The lecture will be held at the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS), No. 120/10, Vidya Mawatha, off Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 (BMICH end) on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 6 pm. Entrance is free.