Quick Look

Red carpet welcome awaits Cardinal

The Archdiocese of Colombo has made arrangements to welcome His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith today at 8.15 am at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Illegal cardamom destroyed

Kumarasiri PRASAD

Customs Department Superintendents Parakrama Basnayake and C Perinpanayagam handed over 650 kilos of cardamom to be destroyed to the Airport Quarantine Branch officers.

The cardamom worth Rs 3,250,000 had been illegally brought by 21 passengers from India and Dubai in October and November.

Dhamma school exams tomorrow

The Dhamma School examination for grades 6 to 10 will be held tomorrow. A total of 777,576 candidates are expected to sit the exam being held under the guidance of the Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Ministry and Samastha Lanka Shasanarakshana Mandalaya.

Examinations for grades 6 and 7 will be held from 8.30 am to 9.30 am, grades 8 and 9 from 10.00 am to 11.30 am and grade 10 from 8.30 am to 10.30 am.

The examination will be held at 3,383 centres representing the 311 Shasanarakshaka Balamandalas.

Christmas stamps out on Nov 28

Two stamps in the denomination of Rs 5 and Rs 15, a souvenir and the first day cover will be issued by the Postal Department Philatelic Bureau on November 28 to mark Christmas, a press release said. The cancellation of the first day cover will be held at Kegalle St Mary's Church on the same day at 10am. Prime Minister and Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Minister D M Jayaratne, Postal Services Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga and Religious Affairs Deputy Minister M K D S Gunawardena will participate.

School holidays begin Dec 10

The third term of all Government schools (Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims) ends on December 10, 2010 and the first term for 2011 will begin on January 3.

Economic Summit

The Colombo University Economics Department will hold the Seventh South Asian Economics Students' Meet (SAESM) at the Tourism and Hotel Management Institute Auditorium, Colombo on November 29, 30 and December 01 on the theme Economic Freedom and Poverty Reduction in South Asia.

The SAESM is an initiative of the undergraduates from South Asian countries to share their knowledge and experience in economic policy, issues and research findings.

Memorial oration

The 23rd Professor A C E Koch Memorial Oration will be delivered by Dr Asoka S Dissanayake, one of Prof Koch's star pupils on November 27 at 6.30 pm at the auditorium of the Colombo University Medical Faculty, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8.

Prof A C E Koch was the first Sri Lankan Professor of Physiology in the 140-year Colombo Medical School.

Two day program

A two day certificate program on Human Rights for Arts Faculty undergraduates of Colombo University will be held on November 27 and 28 at the Faculty of Law. This program is organized by the Centre for the Study of Human Rights under the University Projects.

Oration

The S R Kottegoda Memorial Oration delivered by Professor Arjuna Aluwihare on Presentation, Portrayal and Truth: A Contemporary Ethical Dilemma will take place on November 29 at 5 pm at the SLAAS auditorium 120/10, Vidya Mawatha (Off Wijerama Mawatha), Colombo 07.

All are welcome.

Lecture

A lecture organized by the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka will be held on December 3 at 5 p.m. Dr Singha Raja Tammita Delgoda will speak on "An Inside View of Eelam War IV"

War fuelled by 'Peace'

The book Sri Lanka - the War fuelled by "Peace" authored by Palitha Senanayake will be launched at the Public Library Auditorium on Monday November 29 at 2 pm.

The Keynote address will be delivered by Power Minister Champika Ranawaka. The Chief Guest will be Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. Senior Minister Athauda Seneviratne will be also addressing the audience.

Old Anandians AGM, Reunion

Senior Old Anandians will hold the Annual General Meeting including the Annual Reunion and lunch on November 28 at 9am at the Centenary Building of Ananda College.

The Guest of Honour will be Technology and Research Minister Prof Tissa Vitharana. He will address the members on Reconciliation - the Need of the Hour.

Among the items included in the agenda are the Heritage Forum of Young Anandians and Cultural Fellowship Tours of the Senior Anandians at least 50 years ago who have not yet joined, are welcome to join.

Special mention for Bindu

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

Somaratne Dissayake’s film Bindu won a Special Mention by the main jury award at the 2010 FICI Madrid International Film Festival held in Spain recently.

Around 200 international films were showcased at the event.Bindu and nine other films were nominated for the awards. The Best Film by the main jury award went to the Iranian movie Time to Love directed by Ebrahim Forouzeh while the Indonesian film El Sonador by Riri Riza bagged the Best Film by the Spanish Youth Jury award. Germany’s Los Cocodrilos, directed by Christian Ditter, clinched the Audience award and Turkish filmMommo, el hombre del saco by Atalay Tasdiken won the Best Film by the International Jury award.

The 2010 FICI Madrid International Film Festival was held from November 15 to 20.

Point of view

Dayasiri Jayasekera (UNP) said in Parliament yesterday that according to the UNP point of view, this Budget is one that should have been presented by the UNP.

“It is a good Budget according to the open economy vision of the UNP. But it is contradictory with your vision,” he said.

Brazil sugar for Lanka

Dinesh DE ALWIS

Sugar will be imported from Brazil to control its price, Co-operative and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said. He also said the Government will intervene to control the price of essential goods during the festive season. The Minister said so following discussions with Brazil Ambassador Pedro Henrique Lopes at the Ministry yesterday.

Temporary shelter for landslide hit

Residents in 13 houses in Heltenna and Wewatenna were evacuated and provided temporary accommodation in safe areas following a landslide caused by heavy rains on Wednesday, Kandy Disaster Management Co-ordinating officer Major Kamal Herath said.

He said six houses were damaged in the earthslips. Meanwhile, 10 houses in Manikkumbura have been submerged by flood waters of the Pinga Oya.

MPs to attend workshop

Three Parliament Members below 35 years left for Thailand yesterday to attend the young parliamentarians’ workshop to be held in Bangkok.

Tourist zones in Kandy

H A W Hewawasam - Kandy Special Corr

Polgolla, Kothmale and Victoria Mahaweli Reservoirs of Kandy which come under High Security Zones will be converted as Tourist Zones, said Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella at a meeting held to welcome him at Lhewella in the Kundasale Electorate.

The Minister said the private sector is invited to carryout activities of entertainment such as boat service.

He said strict discipline will be maintained in the Zones.

Help Pasindu

H M A Pasindu Damsara (12) of Gulugaha Watta, Janaraja Mawatha, Kumbalgama, Devinuwara is suffering from Meningitis Haemophilus Influenza Type B/VE. Doctors recommended him a surgery which costs Rs 2,400,000. Pasindu’s mother seeks assistance to meet the child cause. Donations can be sent to A C Number 5774122 at the Bank of Ceylon, Matara Branch.

AB+kidney needed

T M Wattegama (55) of Pahala Dimigahahena, Getamanna Road, Kudaheella North, Beliatta a father of three has been diagnosed as having end stage renal failure by the consultant Nephrologist of the National Institute for Nephrology Consultant Dr S M Seneviratne.

The doctor recommended him a Kidney transplant. He seeks an AB+Kidney.

Anybody willing to donate can contact 077-3477028.

Life saving program

Dinesh DE ALWIS

A special life saving training program for schoolchildren to prevent accidents caused by water is to be held in the Mount Lavinia beach today at 9am. The training program consist of two-hour practical secession and about 40 schools in Colombo will be participated.

The objective of the program is to make aware the public how to prevent those accidents.