Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and Royal College, Colombo signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further develop and facilitate green initiatives at the college including rainwater harvesting and a biogas project yesterday. Here Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa who witnessed the signing of the MoU inspects the biogas plant at the school. CEA Chairman Charitha Herath, Royal College Principal Upali Gunasekara, EDEX Chairman Kamal Abeysinghe and ANCL General Manager and Former Secretary Royal College Union Abhaya Amaradasa were also present. Picture by Sudath Nishantha

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa hands over a promotion letter to a National Housing Authority Development employee.

A mobile consumer stall was opened for the public near Hyde Park Corner under the program ‘Mahaweli Consumer Mobile Service’ launched by Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority. Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva purchased the commodities needed by him from the stall. Mahaweli Authority Director General M C Dissanayaka was also present. Picture by Aminda Pranandu

Care International Sri Lanka provided instant assistance and relief to the flood victims in the Ampara District under their ‘Strengthening Livelihood Security of Vulnerable Communities in Ampara District’ program. Here, Care Internationals Sri Lanka’s Ampara Project Director G D D Thusitha Jayawardene handing over a parcel containing essential food items and clothing to a housewife of Alayadivembu DS Division at Akkaraipattu RKM College recently.
Pix by M A Phakurdeen Addalaichenai Group Corr.

The Katunayake Police apprehended a suspect responsible for house breaking and theft in the Katunayake and the surrounding areas. The Police were able to recover Television Sets, Baffels, Radios and other electrical equipment together with a large haul of Jewellery valued over Rs 2 million. The raid was conducted by a Police Party led by OIC Chief Inspector Prasad Fernando and IP Nandalal Padmanatha. The recovered electrical goods together with the Police party of the Katunayake Police with SSP Chandana Galappathti. Pic by H Fernando, Negombo special corr

Ministry misled

Two leading schools in the Kurunegala town misled the Education Ministry and tried to increase the grade one class rooms without permission from the Ministry.

The provincial Education Ministry requested principals of these two schools to submit details about the facilities available at their schools before January 31.

The Wayamba Provincial Education Ministry appointed a special investigation unit to inquire and take action against errant principals.

Music teacher transferred

There is no music teacher at the Kalugala Maha Vidyalaya in the Hatton Educational Zone in the Nuwara Eliya district. As a result, students of the rural school having classes from grade one to grade thirteen are in a quandary to study the aesthetic subject of music.

The transfer of the only music teacher who taught in the Kalugala MV during the past few years to a school in another area made by the educational authorities without making a replacement has attributed to the situation.

Therefore the affected students and their parents appeal to the educational authorities concerned to appoint a music teacher for this school.

Fatal accident

A five-year-old girl was killed when three-wheeler collided with a private bus near Homagama CTB depot recently. This was revealed at the inquest held by Homagama Coroner B H K Chinthaka Udaya Kumar on the death of Asini Imalka Kumaratunge of Kendalanda Homagama.

Homagama JMO Dr Asitha Galagama who performed the autopsy ruled that death was due to damages caused to the chest and internal haemorrhage. The Coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Lack of English teacher

The Gonawala Vidyalaya in the Hatton Education zone in the Nuwara Eliya district has been without an English teacher for the past few years. As a result students of the rural school having classes from Grade One to Grade Eleven are in a quandary to study English Language as a subject which is mostly essential for all the schoolchildren to face the challenges of modern world.

The affected students appeal to the educational authorities concerned to take steps to meet the need of an English teacher for their school.

Poultry farming encouraged

North Central Province Agriculture and Livestock Minister K H Nandasena said a program has been initiated to provide chicks to 2,000 low income families living in Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura Districts with the intention of producing essential consumer items within the province.

He further said these families will be given financial assistance required for commencing poultry farms.

Garbage dumpers fined

Katugastota Police have recovered over Rs 100,000 as penalties imposed by the Court on people who were detected dumping garbage by the sides of the road in Katugastota town and the suburbs during the first 20 days of the year 2011.

Traffic offender fined

Two persons who pleaded guilty of driving under the influence of liquor without a driving licence and insurance certificate was fined Rs 12,000 each by Gampaha Additional Magistrate Indika Attanagalla.

No Lak Sathosa

There is no Lak Sathosa retial outlet at the Ginigathena town in the Nuwara Eliya district. Private trade monopoly prevails in the Ginigathena town, the people in and around the town are compelled to purchase their consumer goods at exorbitant rates.

Playground to be developed

The Western Province Sports Minister Upali Kodikara has allocated 1.2 million rupees for the development of Wattekade public play ground in Tunnana, Hanwella.

Uplift for Jaffna Hospital

The Jaffna Teaching Hospital will be developed as the main Tertiary Care Hospital in the Northern Province at a cost of over Rs 2,877 million, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital spokesman this will be the main hospital in the Northern Province that accepts transferred patients from other hospitals in the Province. The Japanese Government and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are funding this project. The project is to be completed within 21 months. The funds come as an outright grant from JICA and the Japanese Government.

Rs 24,500 chain robbed

Two snatch thieves had robbed a gold chain worth Rs 24,500 from a woman pedestrian at Mugunuwatawana on the Chilaw-Kurunegala road on Wednesday noon.

Leadership program

A special leadership training program will be conducted by the Higher Education Ministry for all University freshers from this year on a proposal of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Higher Education Ministry Secretary Sunil Navaratne told the Daily News yesterday that the training program would be conducted for three weeks at a Military premises.

He also said that special attention would be given to improve the discipline of undergraduates while teaching them social etiquettes.

He said that the program would be conducted in Military camps in the respective districts. DM

Free match-making

www.yugadiviya.com website launched by a Sri Lankan company in New Jersy, USA offers automated astrology based match making service free of charge.

The website adopts the method of traditional astrology used in Sri Lanka in the form of Porondam (Poruththam) and Ashtakoota matching.

This website allows the users to register by simply entering their birth data, and then it enables users to match their profiles with other registered parties online.

Faculties reopen

The South East University of Sri Lanka’s Intensive Programs for all first year students of the Arts and Culture, Management and Commerce, Islamic Studies and Arabic and Applied Science faculties will re-commence on January 24.

Hostel students of the above faculties are requested to report to their hostels on January 23 before 5 pm.

SLCRP inauguration

The Sri Lanka Council of Religions for Peace (SLCRP) will hold its inauguration ceremony today at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo from 9 am.

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne will be the Chief Guest. Other distinguished guest speakers include World Conference of Religions for Peace Secretary General Dr William F Vendley, European Council of Religion Leaders Moderator Rev Bishop Gunnar Stalset, Ven Prof Bellanvila Wimalaratana Anunayaka Thera, Kandy Bishop Rev Dr Valancy Fernando and Religions for Peace (Japan) International Trustee Rev Norio Sakai.

Religious ceremony

A ceremony to commemorate Prophet Mohammed’s grand child Imam Seyyidina Hussain Raliallahu will be held on January 23 from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm at Dewatagaha Jumma Mosque, Colombo 7.

It is organized by the Sri Lanka Hambantota Muhammadiya Association President and Inter-Religious Alliance for National Unity Co-Chairman and Dewatagaha Masjid Imam As-Seyed Hassan Moulana.

Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana will be the Chief Guest while A H M Azwer, MP will be the guest of honour.

Prize awarding ceremony

The ceremony to award prizes and certificates to Dhamma school students in the Kalutara district who passed the final examination of the special English Course conducted by Kalutara Bhodhimaga Padanama will be held on January 23 at 9 am at Kalutra Bhodhi Premises.

Tournament

SCK Welfare Association which is celebrating 10 years have arranged a six-a-side softball cricket tournament open to all Mercantile Companies, firms and government institutes.

It will be held on January 22 and 23 at the Buddhadasa Stadium, Pelawatta, Battaramulla.

Induction

The Sri Lanka Medical Association will induct its new President Dr Sanath P Lamabadusuriya MBE in office on January 22 at 6.30 pm at a ceremony at the HNB Towers Level 22.

Public lecture

A public lecture on ‘Role of Insurance Ombudsman, Regulatory Laws governing Insurance Industry and the need for Law Reforms’ under the auspices of the Colombo YMCA Forum will be delivered by Dr Wickrema Weerasooria on January 27 at 5.30 pm in the Colombo YMCA Forum Hall.

Fines on traffic offenders

The Kandy Community Police motorcycle unit has collected Rs 12.92 million as traffic fines by instituting 22,456 cases against errant motorists in the Kandy district last year.