Quick Look

PM opens new building : Commemorative plaque Prime Minister D M Jayaratne reads a commemorative plaque he unveiled after opening the new administration block of the Ambanganga Korale Pradeshiya Sabha in Matale recently. Matale District Parliamentarian Lakshman Vasantha Perera and Ambanganga Korale Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sunil Wijethilaka were also present

Maize oil as substitute

Sorghum (maize) oil is to be promoted as a substitute for coconut oil by the Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry, said Minister S M Chandrasena.

The Ministry has already launched a sorghum oil project on the direction of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Compensation

Tennakoon Kulasekera

The possibility of increasing the compensation paid to victims of the Elephant-human conflict has engaged the attention of the Ministry of Agrarian Services and Wildlife, said Minister S M Chandrasena. He said at present a payment of Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000 is paid as compensation to such victims.

Spiritual Leader to visit here

The Art of Living Foundation in Sri Lanka in association with Tharunyata Hetak is to commemorate the upcoming 2,600th Sambuddha Jayanthi (2600 years of Lord Buddha’s enlightenment) in Colombo on January 21 at 10.15 am at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.

The mega event is open to the general public. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar world renowned spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living will grace the occasion this Friday.

The Sri Lanka chapter is organizing Budhu Bhakti Gee by 2600 singers.

‘Public discussion’

Institute of Constitutional Studies (ICS) will conduct a public discussion on its report titled Twenty-two years of devolution’ on Friday January 21 at 3pm at the Dangedera Samoda Co-operative Hall, Galle.

Prof Ranjith Amarasinghe, Prof A M Navaratne Bandara, Dr Jayampathy Wickremaratne PC and former Finance Commission Chairman Asoka Gunawardena will present their research findings.

Sales centre

A book sales promotion centre of the Educational Publications Department will be opened by Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene at the Fort Railway Station on January 18 at 4 pm.

Lecture

The Conference of Sri Lankan Malays (COSLAM) will hold its monthly Islamic lecture series ‘In the shade of the Holy Qur’an’ at the YMMA main auditorium, 63, Dematagoda Road, Colombo 9 on Wednesday, January 19 at 10 a.m.

Kandy New City launch

Nihal Jayawardena

The first phase of the Kandy New City Development program will be launched at 8 am on January 21 with the commencement of renovation of the William Gopallawa Mawatha at Gatambe.

William Gopallawa Mawatha will be renovated as a four track road at a cost of Rs 685 million. The Kandy city will be developed into a green city at a cost of Rs 4,000 million on the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

William Gopallawa Mawatha will be 60 metres in width after renovation which is undertaken by the Road Development Authority Kandy District Office. Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake will also participate as special guests on the occasion.

Please help this infant

Eight month old Rasali Rehana of Meegasaddara, Hungamgoda, Nawimana South is suffering from a hole in the heart.

Doctors treating her have recommended an immediate heart surgery to save her life.

The surgery is estimated to cost Rs 350,000.

Her parents say part of this money will be provided by the President’s Fund. They are unable to find the balance money needed due to their present financial plight.

They request philanthropists and the public to assist their daughter’s cause by sending whatever contributions possible to help expedite the surgery.

All contributions should be remitted to account number 042020089387 at the Hatton National Bank, Matara branch opened in the name of T D K Kuruppu.

Cattle death

Cattle and sheep breeders in Pooneryn are facing loss of cattle and sheep by starvation due to grasslands being inundated by floods after three days of continuous rain. The farmers have constructed pens to rear sheep and cattle. The sheep and cattle are let loose during day time and enclosed in the night. “Now as there are no grasslands to graze, they are dying of hunger,” the cattle breeders complain.

“Four to five cattle or sheep are dying of starvation in the twenty pens they are enclosed in daily,” lament the breeders.

Workshop for training of provincial journalists

The Department of Information with the aegis of the Distance Education Service of the Education Ministry has taken the initiatives to provide technical know-how to provincial journalists on the e.Media handling, states Government Information Department press rlease.

A simultaneous training workshop will be held at the Distance Educational Learning centers situated in Colombo, Gampaha, Matara, Galle, Rathnapura, Ampara, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Anuradhapura, Moneragala, Hambantota, Kegalle and Kandy on February 1, 2011. Senior Lecturer of the University of Colombo School of computing will be the principal consultant of this training program.

Provincial journalists interested to learn e-Media at this workshop are requested to forward their self prepared application to the Director General of the Government Information, Department of Government Information, Colombo 05, before January 21. Further details could be obtained from the Assistant Director AH Mohamed on 0112513756 or 0715455001.

Death of former ANCL staffer’s father

The death occurred on Sunday of A M Punyasara (Bandula).

He is the father of Chrishantha Priyadarshana, a former Lake House employee attached to the Daily News Editorial Department and a brother of late A M Karunaratne, former Opposition Leader in the Ambalangdoa UC and Ambalangoda Dharmasoka Kanishta Vidyalaya Principal. Funeral takes place at the Raddolugama public cemetery on January 19 at 4 pm. Cortege leaves 4B8, Raddolugama Housing Scheme, Seeduwa.