Quick Look

Complaints on SLTB

The Sri Lanka Transport Board has drawn attention of the public to the special telephone number that has been introduced for the public to forward any complaints related to problems experienced in the bus service.

Complaints can be forwarded to 011-7 555 555.

Any complaints realted to the shortcoming of bus services, the malfunctioning of buses and reckless acts of bus drivers and conductors could be forwarded on this number.

The Sri Lanka Transport Board also said that complaints relating to the siphoning of fuel, removing of spare parts and other such fraudulent activities could also be made on this number.

Equal treatment for all

G P A Weerasuriya, Badulla South Group Corr

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera said he will treat all alike "Anybody can meet me at anytime.

The doors of my house are opened for all," Minister Perera said at a ceremony to welcome him organized by the people of Badulla district at the Provincial Council Library Auditorium.

Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed another two Ministers to the Badulla district to develop this area speedily and provide a wider service to the public.

Sripada pilgrims told:

Don’t bring polythene

S Duraisamy-Maskeliya group corr

The Sri Pada Season begins on Unduwap Full Moon Day, December 20 and ends on Vesak Poya Day in 2011, Viharadhipathi Ven Dhammapala Seelanantha Thera said.

He was speaking at a conference held at the Hatton-Dickoya Urban Council Auditorium to discuss facilities for pilgrims to Sri Pada.

Ven Seelananda Thera urged pilgrims to refrain from bringing polythene.

Nuwaraeliya District Government Agent D B G Kumarasiri said arrangements have been made to provide facilities to all pilgrims. Senior Superintendent of Police for Hatton Police Zone W M Swarnasinghe said temporary police stations have been established.

Facelift for rural villages

Bandula GUNASEKERA,Malimbada Group Corr

The Economic Development Ministry will develop 1,034 backward villages in seven districts including Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts under the community managed model villages project, Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said. The Ministry has implemented this accelerated project under the World Bank aid program. The project will also be implemented in Moneragala, Badulla, Polonnaruwa and Ratnapura districts.

Under the project, selected backward villages will be developed to facilitate villagers in remote areas as model villages.

Development of some villages are nearing completion, the Deputy Minister said.

More protection for shoppers

Bhakthi DHARMAPRIYA MENDIS

Police Headquarters has deployed a contingent of 400 police officers in the Colombo City to offer security to shoppers during the Christmas and New Year season.

This will include policemen in uniform and in mufti to protect people from undesirable elements, said DIG (Colombo) Anura Senanayake.

Jewellery robbed

Indika POLKOTUWA

Thieves had entered the residence of Chief Valuer P H Senaratne at Balagolla in Kandy, in broad daylight on Monday and removed jewellery and electronic items valued at nearly Rs 200,000 while the occupants were away.

SSP Ranjith Kasthuriratne said Kandy Police investigating the incident have received many clues about the culprits involved and their arrest was imminent.

Down's Syndrome Day

Kosala Dullewa Foundation for Children with Special Needs (KDF) has joined hands with the Rotaract District Organization (Rotaract District 3220) where the project will be hosted by the six University based Rotaract Clubs.

Rotaract Club, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, the organizers of World Down's Syndrome Day Commemoration 2011, are compiling personal data of children with Down's syndrome who wish to participate in the World Down's syndrome day commemoration on March 19. Parents and guardians can send details on or before December 26, 2010.

The KDF also invited parents of all children with mental and physical disabilities to register with their Foundation for future events by sending their details to Kosala Dullewa Foundation, No 6, Walagamba Mawatha, Borupana, Ratmalana. Tel: 0112626526.

Members Day

The Alumni Association of the Institute of Supply and Materials Management has organised a Members Day on Saturday 18th December at the Colombo Cricket Club (Gymkhana Grounds), Maitland Crescent from 8.30 p.m onwards.

The event is organised to boost the membership of the Alumni Association and to provide an opportunity for members of all Diploma batches to get to know each other.

Buddhist talk

Prof Rajah de Alwis will deliver a public Buddhist talk in English on 'An Introduction to Vipassana' at the meeting of the Servants of Buddha Society on Saturday, December 18 at 4.30 pm at the Maithree Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya.

Panel discussion

The next Buddhist public panel discussion of the Colombo YMBA will be held on Sunday December 19 at 10 a.m. at its Borella building on 'Life is Dukkha'.

The Panelists are Olcott Gunasekera and former National Heritage Ministry Secretary Mallika Karunaratne, with Rajah Kuruppu as moderator. All are welcome.

Delegation to B'desh

Senior Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama who is the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament Chairman will lead a delegation to Dhaka, Bangladesh to participate in a meeting of PAC Chairmen from Asian countries. This meeting on Public accountability is sponsored by the World Bank. Dr Amunugama will be accompanied by Assistant Secretary General to Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake.

Certificate program

A two-day certificate program on Human Rights for Colombo University Arts Faculty undergraduates will be held on December 18,19 2010 at the Faculty of Law in the Tamil medium. This program is organized by the Centre for the Study of Human Rights under the University Projects.

Workshop held for youth Parliamentarians

Wehelle PIYATHILAKE

An awareness workshop and a seminar to train the newly elected MPs of the Youth Parliament was held at Janakala Kendraya, Battaramulla from December 8 to 10. Ministers Dullas Alahapperuma, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake, Attorney-at-Law Ali Sabbri, Dr Dhamma Dissanayake and NYSC Chairman Lalith Pium Perera conducted the workshop.

Jetties renovated

The Kakathivu and Navanthurai jetties have been renovated.

These two jetties have been rehabilitated from the funds of JAIC at a cost of Rs 30 million.

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda will open the two jetties on December 19.

Fifty Samaneras to be ordained

A group of 50 children will be ordained as Samanera Bhikkhus at a ceremony at the Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya on December 16 at 10 am held under the patronage of Most Ven Bellana Sri Gnanawimala Mahanayake Thera of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha to mark the 2,600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthi.

Death of journalist

Journalist E V David Raju (75) expired. He joined Virakesari in 1956 as a Sub Editor and rose to the post of News Editor, Deputy Editor and acting Chief Editor. He had been working in Saudi Arabia in the King’s Palace in 2002.

He became Thinakaran’s News and Advertising Consultant.

The funeral will take place today, December 15 at 4pm at General Cemetery, Borella.