Quick Look

Abandoned infant found in thicket

The Kahathuduwa Police found a new born baby abandoned in a thicket at Siyambalagoda, Piliyandala Tuesday.

The baby was admitted to the Wethara hospital and later transferred to the Colombo Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital.

Police investigating to find the mother of the infant arrested a woman, resident at Weniwelkola Polgasowita for questioning.

Woman nabbed for job fraud

Samanthi WEERASEKARA

A woman resident in Kandy who had cheated three persons to the tune of Rs 120,000 promising jobs in Italy was arrested by the Kandy Police Tuesday.

She was produced before Kandy Magistrate Lalith Ekanayake and remanded till December 22.

Jewellery heist in Jaffna

Jaffna special correspondent

Gold jewellery valued at over Rs 600,000 have been robbed from the house of a woman in Neervely North. The robbers had removed the tiles and got into Rajeswary Ambal's house.

Sai Baba's birthday celebrated

Dehiowita Spl Corr

The 85th Birth anniversary of Baghavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, was celebrated at the Illuktenne Estate Kovil in Deraniyagala, on December 5.

The ceremonies were sponsored by the Arumugathasan Lalitha family, Ms Sunantha Vaikunthanathan and Susimuttucumaru, domiciled in London and organized by Mrs Perera of Eheliyagoda (wife of Inspector-Crimes Branch).

A six foot high Baba's photograph was taken in procession and placed in the kovil. A special pooja continues. Ms Perera distributed sweets to the children, sarees to female workers and sarongs to male workers. She also opened a library named "Arumugathasan Sai Library," while books on Sai Baba were also distributed.

Hospital robbed

Stanley SENEVIRATNE- Kurunegala North group corr

Valuable equipment used for by-pass operations at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital are reported to have been stolen.

According to Kurunegala Headquarters police, equipment which were stored in the upper storey of the 'Hela Suwa Medura' - the heart operation unit of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital are missing. The equipment valued around Rs 27,000,000 were stored in a section of the building which is still under construction.

 Minister Karalliyadda to Australia

Child Development and Women's Affairs Minister Tissa Karalliyadda leaves for Australia to participate at the Committee Meeting of the Standing Committee of Male Parliamentarians on the Prevention of Violence against Women's and Girls organized by the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development.

Discussions on new reorganizing methods and exchange of views among the countries will be made during this committee meeting held at Port Macquari, Australia on December 18 and 19.

Hatton SLTB on strike

Drivers and conductors of the Sri Lanka Transport Board Hatton Depot launched a strike from last evening.

It was told that there was a dispute between the police and a conductor of a bus. It was alleged that the bus conductor was assaulted by the police.

The conductor was remanded. Until he is released from remand, the strike may continue, CTB Hatton Depot Sources said.

 Help Pasindu hear well

E B Jeevaka Pasindu Bandara (9) of 'Pushpa', Nathuwala, Walasmulla, a Grade 3 student of Nathuwala Kanishta Vidyalaya is suffering from a hearing debility. Doctors at the Lady Redgeway Children's Hospital treating him have recommended a 'Cochlear BAHA System' implant to restore his hearing.

The process is estimated to cost Rs 400,000. Pasindu's father E B Vasantha Kumara says he is a carpenter by profession and not in a position to bear this expenditure on his own due to his present financial difficulties. He requests the public to assist his child's cause by sending whatever financial contributions possible to expedite the treatment.

All contributions can be remitted to Account Number 7453331 at the Bank of Ceylon, Walasmulla branch.

 Rajarata University convocation

The eleventh convocation of Mihintale Rajarata University will be held today at the BMICH Colombo.

Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake will be the Chief guest. University Grants Commission chairman Prof Gamini Samaranayake, National Business Management Institute Director Prof Laxman Jayatilake will be the key invitees.

OBA anniversary

The educational, trade exhibition and carnival organized by the Old Boys' Association of the Mahinda College, Galle to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the school Old Boys' Association will be held from December 16 to 19 at the Samanala ground Galle.

Displays of armed forces, mini zoos, trade stalls, fun games, live band with popular artists and many entertainment events will be held at the exhibition premises.

Workshop

A workshop on the production of butter and cheese organized by the Livestock and Rural Community Development Ministry for the benefit of low income group women in the Deraniyagala electorate will be held at the Deraniyagala Divisional Secretariat Auditorium on December 17 at 10 am. Deputy Minister H R Mithrapala will be the chief guest.

Certificate Awarding

The Colombo University's Centre for the Study of Human Rights (CSHR) will hold its Certificate Awarding Ceremony at the University's Faculty of Graduate Studies on December 17.

Gemi Diriya benefits

Rs 58 million worth self employment loans have been disbursed in the Hambantota district under the Gemi Diriya Project to 21,000 people, Hambantota district Gemi Diriya Project Director J K Pathirana said.

He said the people in Walasmulla Beliatta, Suriyawewa, Katuwana, Angunakolapelessa, Tangalle, Weeraketiya Divisional Secretariat areas benefitted.

Prize giving

The prize-giving of the all island essay competition conducted by the Sri Lanka Press Complaints Commission and the Education Ministry will be held Thursday, December 16 at the Sri Lanka Press Institute auditorium, No 96, Kirula Road, Colombo 5 at 10 am.

Achala Sandamali Herath (Tholanbugolla MV), B Balachandran (Manampitiya Tamil MV) and Abdul Raheem Shafana (Mahmud Ladies College) won the first prize in the Sinhala, Tamil and English medium competitions.

The second place was won by H G M Subodha Nanayakkara (Bibiladeniya Sri Gunananda Central College), K Kirubashini (St John’s Tamil MV) and Asuka Randeniya (Girl’s HS, Kandy) respectively in the Sinhala, Tamil and English media. The third place was won by W Hashini Kaushalya Gunasekera (Dharmasoka Vidyalaya), Irin Praveena (St Mary’s Tamil MV), and Rochelle Rebecca Rosairo (Cecilia’s Girls MV) in Sinhala, Tamil and English media.

Workshop

A workshop on result based development management organised by the Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry for the benefit of institutions under the Ministry purview will be held at the Grand Oriental Hotel, Colombo on December 17 at 9 am. Minister Douglas Devananda will be the chief guest.

 Carols

A Police Christmas carols program will be held at the Bambalapitiya Police grounds under the patronage of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith on December 19 at 7 pm.

Special security operation

Central Province DIGs office has taken steps to implement a special security operation in the Province from December 17 to January 7 to protect shoppers and people during the Christmas and New Year season, said Senior DIG Gamini Navaratne.

Cuban Film Festival photo exhibition

The Embassy of the Republic of Cuba has organized a Poster/Photographic Exhibition and a Cuban Film Festival to mark the 52nd Anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution. The exhibition will be held from December 16 to 21 daily from 10 am to 4 pm. The Film Festival will be held from December 16 to 21 at 4 pm. The venue is the Public Library, Colombo 7, the films to be shown are as follows:

December 16 - Viva Cuba

December 17 - Suite Havana

December 18 - Memories of underdevelopment

December 19 - Benny Moore

December 20 - Unsolvable memories

December 21 - Che/Fidel

The Embassy of the Republic of Cuba cordially invites you to the inaugural ceremony of this event on December 16, 2010 at 3 pm at the Public Library, Colombo 7.

CCTV project launch

The Colombo City CCTV project will be launched by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at a ceremony at the CCTV Control Room at the 6th Floor of the Central Police Welfare Building at No 331, Colombo 11 on December 21 at 1.30 pm.