Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

Brazilian External Relations Minister Antonio Patriota paid a courtesy call on External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris at the Ministry yesterday. The Ministers signed an agreement between the two countries on exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official or service passports and a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a mechanism for political consultations. Here the two Ministers exchanging the documents.

Hi-tech technology to nab 'naughty' bus crew

The National Transport Commission (NTC) will use satellite technology to monitor misbehaving private bus crew attached to long distance buses.

"We have applied the advanced technology of Global Positioning System (GPS) for several buses plying between Colombo and down south to nab misbehaving bus drivers," a NTC spokesman said. Buses travelling at high and low speed, not stopping at bus halts and waiting a long time at bus halts can be monitored through this technology, the spokesman said.

"We can also monitor through satellite technology if the buses follow the scheduled timetable and ply according to the required time speed," he said.

"If we notice any wrong acts of drivers, satellite phones installed inside the bus will be used to instruct them," he said. IR

Agriculture dept training on agro enterprises

Peradeniya University Agriculture Department will hold a short-term training courses on agro enterprises.

Courses will be conducted in Sinhala medium. The courses are mushroom production and related services, production of organic manure, production of high quality planting material and associated services, bee honey production and related services, development of agricultural lands as commercial farms, value added products from vegetable and fruits, production of high value crops in protected houses and rice flour based commercial food production.

Letter writing contest

The Universal Postal Union is organizing the International Letter writing competition to make young people aware of the role of the postal service.

The subject chosen for the 2010 competition is "Imagine you are a tree living in a forest." Write a letter to someone to explain, "why it is important to protect forests."

Candidates should forward their entries to Superintendent, International Postal Services, Postmaster General's Office, 10, D R Wijewardena Mawatha, Colombo on or before March 18 through Principals.

The following details of the candidates must be included. First name and surname, age, candidate's gender, name of the town, personal address, grade and the school, certification by the principal to confirm that the composition submitted by the student is an original creation of his/her own, placing signature, name and the official frank.

Boy, 12, needs help

H M A Pasindu, 12, is suffering from profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. He needs Cochlear Implant surgery, which should be done soon.

The surgery is to be performed at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Hospital, Peradeniya. The estimated cost is between Rs 1.7 to Rs 2.4 million.

Donations can be sent to Account No 5774122, Dayani Dahanayake, Bank of Ceylon Super Grade Branch, Matara.

Help him

Bamunusinghe Dhanawardhana (55), Mawathgama, Haltota, father of one and a carpenter by profession is suffering from coronary artery disease and needs a therapeutic procedure urgently.

Cardiology Institute, Colombo National Hospital Cardiologist Dr Sepalika Mendis says this is available at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. It costs nearly Rs 400,000.

Since he is unable to afford this amount he appealed for financial help to perform this operation.

Contributions can be sent to Millaniya People's Bank Branch A/c No 041-200157353542.

Daily News Vesak annual 2011

Articles can be submitted for Buddha Pradeepa, the Daily News Vesak annual. Postal entries should be sent to Features Editor, Daily News Vesak annual (Buddha Pradeepa), No 35, Lake House, Colombo 10.

Appointed Senior Presidential Advisor

Former Galle District Member of Parliament and ex-Agriculture Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara has been appointed Senior Advisor on Agriculture by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Nanayakkara who has a Post Graduate Degree in Agriculture from the University of California and a Doctorate on Agriculture from the Peradeniya University possesses wide experience and practical knowledge on the subject of agriculture.

Being a prominent researcher and an intellectual on Organic Agriculture and Sustainable Agriculture in the South Asian region he has written several research papers.

At this time when much attention is being paid on agriculture and the farmer community, a special role on the subject is to be entrusted with him as a Presidential Advisor.

Gunadasa Liyanage remembered

The death anniversary of veteran writer and journalist Gunadasa Liyanage will be held on March 12.

Gunadasa Liyanage who had rendered yeoman service to literature had been an editor of magazines, author, parliamentary interpreter, a broadcaster and telecaster. He had been the chief editor of many leading papers and magazines in addition to contributing 45 books. His radio programs were very much popular among the people.

An alms-giving to mark his 13th death anniversary will take place on March 20 at Arambegedera in Divalakada, Bulathsinhala where he was born. Dr Gunadasa Amarasekera will deliver a special lecture at 10 am on March 20. A distribution of books for poor students will also take place.

Foundation laying

A ceremony to lay foundation stones to construct 332 houses islandwide will be held on March 10 at 11.17am at several Divisional Secretariat Divisions.

This program is sponsored by the National Youth Services Council and the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry. These houses are being built to commemorate the 25th World Youth Year.

Youth Services Council Chairman and Director General Lalith Piyum Perera said that 332 youth, selected from various youth clubs, will receive houses.

The foundation stone laying ceremony to construct houses in Marandagahamula, Divulapitiya will be attended by Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake, Western Provincial Councillor Chandana Jayakody and Youth Services Council Chairman Lalith Piyum Perera.

Thieves nabbed

Two men suspected of stealing goods valued at Rs 700,000 and Rs 300,000 from a Russian woman’s house in Beruwela were arrested.

Beruwela Police said the two had entered the house at Walatara, Beruwela and stolen the items and money. The men were arrested on March 7. The house had been burgled while the woman was attending a wedding.

Air Force Day in selected areas

Air Force Commander Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama said the Air Force Day would be celebrated in selected areas taking the example from the Deyata Kirula Exhibition. The Air Force Commander said he is committed to ensure the welfare of the country and its people.

Jumbo killed

A dead wild elephant, apprently killed by gun shot injuries has been found by the Karuawalagaswewa police near the Kuda Madawachciya wewa in Kuruketiyawa.

The body of the wild elephant was discussed on March 07 and gun shot injuries were there on the head of the elephant.

Police and wild life officials believe that somebody had shot the elephant in an attempt to protect his cultivation as several wild elephants had entered the cultivation in the past few days.

Businessman’s house robbed

An unidentified group of robbers in Ninja dresses entered the house of a businessman at Henwala in Balagolla and threatening the house inhabitants took gold jewellery and money to the tune of Rs 750,000 and fled away.

The gang of robbers comprised three persons all in Ninja dress. Police are investigating.

Pirith Pinkama

The annual all-night pirith ceremony followed by an alms-giving organized by the Buddhist Brotherhood Society of the Law Students of Sri Lanka Law College will be held on March 10 and 11 at the Main Hall of Sri Lanka Law College.

Get-together

The third get-together of the 89 group of Richmond College, Galle will be held on March 26, 2011 from 9 am to 3 pm at Hasara Family Restaurant Gintota. The organizing Committee would like to request the members and their families to be present on this day and make it a memorable day.

For further information please contact Nirodha Gamage on 071-4794085/0773216051 or Kokila De Silva on 071-8687555.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya (AAUP) is to be held on Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 9.30 am at the Arts Theatre, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya. Inland revenue commissioner General MKMS Kandegedara, a distinguished alumnus of the university of Peradeniya,will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest, and University of Peradeniya Vice-Chancellor Prof SBS Abayakoon as the Guest of Honour. The AGM will be followed by a lunch and fellowship at the Vice-chancellor’s residence for AAUP members and other alumni of the University of Peradeniya. For lunch tickets contact [email protected] or 0779406168 before March 21,2011.

Postponed

The 2010 Annual General Meeting of the Association of Muslim Women’s Professionals and Entrepreneurs scheduled for March 18, has been postponed. The new date will be notified later.