Quick Look

Water cut in Colombo

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board yesterday announced a seven hour water interruption from 10 pm on January 8 to 5 am on January 9 from Bambalapitiya junction to Bagathale Road and surroundings due to an urgent repair.

Ceremony to felicitate S W R D

A ceremony in memory of S W R D Bandaranaike on his 112 nd birth anniversary organized by the Bandaranaike Floral Tribute Committee No 301, T B Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 will be held at the statue of the late Prime Minister at Galle Face on January 8 at 4 pm.

Annual pirith pinkama

The annual pirith pinkama organised by the Mass Media and Information Ministry to invoke blessings on the motherland, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, security forces and police and the people will be held at 'Asidisi Medura', No 163, Kirillapona Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 5 on January 7 from 8 pm.

This will be followed by a sanghika dana on January 8 morning. Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Ministry Secretary W B Ganegala and heads of public and private sector media institutions will participate.

Meeting of Minds lecture

Meeting of Minds, a series of lectures of the University of Hong Kong will be held on January 8 from 2 pm to 4 pm at the BMICH. The University's Vice Chancellor's Senior Advisor Prof John A Spinks said Sri Lankan born scientist Professor Malik Peiris will deliver the first lecture. The title of his lecture will be 'Confronting the threat of new emerging infections'.

Ajahn Brahm to deliver Dhamma talks

Meditation teacher from Perth, Australia Ajahn Brahmavamso will be in Sri Lanka and deliver Dhamma talks and hold meditation retreats during his 10-day stay.

His visit coincides with the inauguration of the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi commemorating the 2600th anniversary of the Enlightenment of the Buddha. Ajahn Brahm will deliver a talk at Navarangahala at 9 am on January 9 on 'Respect - Who, How and Why'. Admission is free and no prior registration is required. This talk will be in English.

He will conduct an advance meditation retreat at Bandarawela for 100 members of the clergy and lay meditators for which participants have already been selected.

Ajahn Brahm will also deliver a public talk on January 16 at 1 pm at the Bandarawela Townhall. The topic is Freedom from Suffering - how to find this. This talk will be translated to Sinhala.

Ajahn Brahm returns to Colombo for the full day meditation program at the BMICH on January 19. Those interested in participating on the eight precept program should obtain free passes from the Narada Centre at Sarana Road, Colombo 7 or from the Dharmavahini Foundation at Kohuwala Road, Nugegoda, during office hours.

Army to sell vegetables in 14 spots

Chaminda PERERA

In a bid to protect the consumers from unscrupulous traders, the Army yesterday said that it would sell vegetables in 14 locations in the Colombo city and Homagama and Maharagama towns at a concessionary rate from today.

Military Spokesman Major General Ubaya Medawala said the Army will start selling vegetables at Maligawatte Flats, Fort Railway Station, Hyde Park Corner, Muttiah Road, Borella, Rajagiriya, Homagama and Maharagama towns and six other places in the Colombo city and outskirts from today.

Regularizing cattle transportation

The Animal Production and Health Department will introduce a plate bearing a serial number to be used when transporting cattle to avoid illegal practices and cruelty to animals. A medical certificate of each animal, certificate pertaining to the vehicle condition and the transport permit issued by the Divisional Secretary will also be mandatory.

Costly theft

Anuradhapura Central Special Corr

Two suspects who robbed a bag containing jewellery and a mobile phone ralued at over Rs 600,000 from a woman passenger in a Jaffna-Colombo bus when she visited a hotel during a stop over at Maha-Malgollewa were released on Rs. 400,000 personal bail when they were produced before Medawachchiya magistrate Chandima Edirimanna Wednesday. The magistrate postponed the case and ordered the two suspects to report to the Medawachchiya Police every Sunday.

Help save his life

A schoolteacher (33) who is a father of one is suffering from a rare cancer, (Undifferentiated sarcoma (Pnet) over the scapulae bone).

He has undergone treatment at the Apollo Hospital, India, for 10 months. Doctors recommend that he needs further treatment in India. It will cost more than one million rupees. This amount is beyond his financial capabilities. He makes an appeal to the Public to assist him to cover the cost. Contributions can be made to the account of P D K Pathiratna A/c No. 8480042697 at Commercial Bank of Ceylon, Union Place Branch, Colombo.

Fraud case :

Woman released on bail

Samanthi WEERASEKERA

A woman who allegedly defrauded a leading garment factory owner in Kohuwala of Rs 23 million was arrested while hiding in a house in Mattegoda by Kohuwala Police.

The woman produced before Mount Lavinia Court Wednesday was released on two personal bail. Investigations revealed that the suspect had been working at the garment factory as a Textile Technical Officer.

Plan to develop roads

Matara group corr

The Road Development Authority has drawn up a five year plan for the development of the road network in that Matara district. Under this plan, Rs 4,995 million will be spent over the next five years to develop 22 roads extending to 166.91 kilometres

Pension scheme for self-employers

The Sri Lanka Social Service Security Board has initiated a social security pension scheme for those who are involved in self-employment activities on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said Chairman Nimal Amarasinghe in a press release yesterday. Three million persons will benefit by this pension scheme, the statement said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Finance Minister has given instructions to the Board to increase the number of pensioners to 3 million within this year. One million persons who are involved in self-employment activities are contributing to this scheme.

The Board will conduct awareness programs to educate the public about this scheme at District Secretariat,Divisional Secretariat and Grama Seva Division levels.

New year gift

The Electricity Board Akuressa depot has supplied free electricity to the Dhamma School and Dana Sala of Yahamulla Sri Bodhirukkaramaya on January 1 as a New Year gift extending its welfare services.

PC session begins

Ariyapala WANSATHILAKE

The third session of the fifth Provincial Council of the North Western Province was opened by Governor Tissa R Balalla at “Sashree” Sabha Mandapaya of the Provincial Council office complex on Thursday. The Chief Minister and the Governor hoisted the National Flag and the Provincial Flag.

Governor Tissa R Balalla said the Government uprooted the terrorism from the land and is ready to bring the country’s full economic potential.

Acid thrown on woman

A woman garment factory employee injured in an acid throwing incident at Dickwella was admitted to the Matara Hospital on Wednesday. Dickwella Police are investigating.

House collapses on children

Puttalam correspondent

A brother and sister in Karavitagara village were injured and admitted to the Chilaw Hospital when a wall of their house collapsed on them when they were sleeping on a bed on Wednesday afternoon.

The inured were identified as two and a half year old Buddhika and his sister Navodya (5). Buddhika was transferred to the Colombo National Hospital in a serious condition.

Chilaw Police are investigating.

Coloured Memories

A Children’s Art Exhibition titled ‘Coloured Memories’ will be held at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery on January 29 and 30 from 10.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.

A group of 15 young artists have come together to display their work through the sale and auction of their art works.

The proceeds from the exhibition will go towards the purchase of medical equipment to the Paediatric Intensive care unit of the National Institute of Cancer, Maharagama.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the School of Agriculture Past Students Association, Kundasale will be held at the PGRC Institute, Gannoruwa, Peradeniya on January 8 at 2 pm.

Graduate appointments

Sanjaya ASELA MATURATA

A batch of 100 graduates recruited to the Central Province Graduate Teacher Service will receive their appointment letters from Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa at a ceremony at the Governors office on January 7 at 1 pm.

Concert

A concert of guitar traditions of Sri Lanka organized by the Guitar Association of Sri Lanka will be held at the Russian Centre, Colombo on January 8 at 6 p.m. Cuban Ambassador Nirsia Castro Guevara will be the chief guest.

Book launch

A book titled Participatory Development and Social Mobilization written in Sinhala by Piyasena Wellakkage, will be launched on January 10, at SLFI, No 100, Independence Square.

Specialists in the subject and political leaders will participate.

The cadet delegation including a senior officer, two staff officers and 12 cadets who are scheduled to participate in the Indian National Cadet Corps Camp 2011

A fast Naval vessel attached to SLNS Rangalla arrested two persons in the seas of Galle Face in the early hours on January 5 for illegally diving to catch lobsters. They were handed over to the Harbour Police. Meanwhile, Naval troops attached to SLNS Parakrama and Naval Deployment Kollupitiya arrested three persons on two separate occasions on suspicion for diving to catch lobsters in the early hours of the same day. They were handed over to Fort Police. The following items were also apprehended: nine lobsters, two Oxygen cylinders, five pairs diving fins, three goggles, three snorkels, two underwater torches, one diving mask, one regulator, one back pack.