Quick Look
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The press conference of the all-island
trilingual national debating competition Tharka 2011 was
held at the Royal College in Colombo. Picture shows: The
Chief Organizer Wathsala Ruberu handing over the cup to
Royal College Principal Upali Gunasekera. Also present at
the function was Sri Lanka Tourist Development Authority
Additional Director General Dilip Mudandeniya. Picture by
Sumanachandra Ariyawansa |
Thousands fear elephant rampage
Mohamed MAHAROOF- Kurunegala south group corr
Over 3,000 residents in Giribawa, Polpitigama, Galgamuwa, Yapahuwa
and Migalewa Divisional Secretariat areas in the Kurunegala district,
live in fear amidst threats of wild elephants.
Wild elephants have damaged household property and destroyed crops in
many areas.
According to the villagers, elephants had felled several coconut
trees in their gardens during the past two years. The animals had also
damaged a number of houses, killed several people and had made about 15
persons physically disabled during the last two years.
Villagers urge the authorities concerned, to set up a security fence
to protect them from danger.
Jeyaraj remembrance
Jeyaraj Fernandopulle Commemoration Committee in Raddoluwa held a
blood donation campaign to mark the 58th birth anniversary of late
Cabinet Minister and Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle at Sri
Subodharamaya Temple, Raddoluwa last week. A large number of blood
donors turned up to show their gratitude to the late Minister from many
areas of the Gampaha district. Late Minister's wife, MP for Gampaha
district, Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle organized the event with the help
of the medical staff of the Gampaha district.
Private bus-lorry accident
Sandasen MARASINGHE
A lorry driver died when a private bus and a lorry collided head on,
at Katugastota on Katugastota-Matale road, Tuesday evening. The private
bus was travelling towards Kahatagasdigiliya while the lorry was bound
for Katugastota when the accident took place in front of the Central
Province Mechanical Engineering Centre.
The deceased driver was identified as P G Lionel Gunawardane, 46, of
Katugastota. The private bus driver was arrested by the Katugastota
police and was due to be produced before Kandy Magistrate.
New Chairman
Former Army Commander General Rohan Daluwatte has been appointed as
the Gems and Jewellery Authority Chairman. He received his appointment
letter from Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa yesterday.
Daluwatte was born in Ambalangoda and studied at Dharmapala Vidyalaya,
Pannipitiya and Ananda College, Colombo.
He joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1961 as a cadet officer and received
training from the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy and Bovington Royal
Armoured Corps Institute in England. Daluwatte got Post Graduate Degree
from the National Security School in New Delhi. He retired as the Army
Commander. General Daluwatte worked as the Head of the Security Council
for two years.
Awareness programs
A series of awareness programs for schoolchildren on conservation of
water has been planned by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board
Public Relations Unit in schools in Aluthgama and Bentota. The program
will be held at the Aluthgama MMV on January 14, Zahira MV Dharga Town
on January 20 and Bentota Gamini MMV on January 27.
Cinema discussion
A discussion on the “Vidu” children’s movie made by Asoka Handagama
which is now being screened will take place at 4 pm on January 14 at the
“Janamedura” Hall in Kandy.
The Kandy talk circle appeals to the cinema-goers to participate in
the discussion and express their views.
JICA AA blood donation
The JICA Alumni Association of Sri Lanka will hold a Blood Donation
Campaign on January 29 commencing 9 am at the National Blood Transfusion
Services Centre, Elvitigala Mawatha, Narahenpita, Colombo 5 under the
patronage of Japanese Ambassador Kunio Takahashi to bestow merit on Late
Dr PR Anthonis and Ruby Anthonis. The Blood collected will go to the
National Blood Bank for use on needy patients. The JICA AA appeals to
the public to come forward to donate blood.
Royal Asiatic Society lecture
The Special lecture of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka will be
held at 5 pm Monday January 17, at the Gamini Dissanayake Auditorium of
the Mahaweli Centre, No 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 07.
The lecture title is “Sri Lanka Studies Outside Sri Lanka: Challenges
and Opportunities” presented by Prof. Karori Singh, Former Director,
South Asia Studies Centre, Jaipur, India. The lecture is open to the
public.
Get-together
A get-together and fellowship dinner organized by the Old Boys
Association of St Servatius College, Matara will be held at the Pearl
Cliff Hotel, Browns Hill, Matara on January 15.
Sanath Jayasuriya MP will be the Chief Guest.
Non presence of police:
Judiciary affected
Samanthi WEERASEKERA
Judicial proceedings are being badly affected as certain police
officers do not present themselves in the Court, Kandy Magistrate Lalith
Ekanayake said yesterday in the open Court. He also said that he would
take action to inform the Inspector General of Police when such
incidents were found out.
Except when the President is there, on most of other occasions the
arrival of the police officers are not taking place although they inform
of their coming. The Magistrate said this attitude of police officers
badly resulted in hardships to the people.
Ekanayake made this observation as he found that the police officers
involved in many cases had not turned up in the Court.
Kandy district floods:
Over Rs 1.3 m relief for victims
Nihal JAYAWARDENA
The Disaster Relief Services Ministry has allocated Rs 1.3 million to
the Kandy District Secretary's Office for the provision of relief to the
victims of the recent floods in the Kandy District. This money is being
issued to Divisional Secretaries by District Secretary Gamini
Seneviratne for the provision of relief to the victims in the district.
There are 3,072 persons in 815 families who have been badly affected
due to the adverse weather condition in the last few days. The death
tall from the disaster is eight.
In addition to these relief measures the National Building Research
Institute is engaged in identifying places where the weather may have
adverse affects and recommending the provision of shelter to the
victims.
UDA to develop Dambulla
A A L Dias- Matale district group corr
The Urban Development Authority (UDA) will develop suburban towns
around Dambulla under the Maha Dambulla development plan.
The development of the Pallepola town has started. Construction of
new trade stalls, a bus-stand and a drainage system will be completed
soon.
The Government has allocated Rs 9,600,000 for this. |