Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on an inspection tour visited Katuwana weekly fair in Middeniya yesterday. Picture by Nalin Hewapathirana

The Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry has taken measures to train 500 instructors attached to Technical Colleges on teaching methods of latest technology. Here, Ceyline Group of Companies Managing Director Capt Ajith Peris presenting a memento to Minister Dullas Alahapperuma.

Hudson Samarasinghe Foundation Chairperson Padmini Samarasinghe at Torrington Gardens, Colombo 7 recently donated spectacles for needy people as part of their social service activities

Shocking fines on power pirates

Eighteen persons who tapped electricity in the Pottuvil area in Ampara district were fined a total sum of Rs 131,723 by the Additional Judge Pottuvil.

The power pirates were nabbed in Pottuvil town, Periya Ullai, Komari and Oorani.

SL worlds Wedagedera

Indigenous Medicine Minister Salinda Dissanayaka addressing Indigenous Medicine and Medical Drug Producers meeting held recently at the National Chamber of Commerce building observed that the Mahinda Chintanaya had always praised the Ayurveda medical system, adding that Sri Lanka should be made the ‘Wedagedara’ of the world. People, he said go after western medicines because of their quality and attractive appearance. Our drug producers too should pay attention to the quality of their productions.

Even the westerners are fed up with the western mode of medicine. The herbal medicines were popular among the people, specially western people. Our drug producers should make efforts to meet their needs. A representative from the National Chamber of Commerce said that preparations were being made to hold the Ayurveda X-Po Exhibition 2011 on July 17 and 18 at the BMICH in Colombo.

NCC completes cleaning 1,000 schools

The National Cadet Corps has completed the cleaning of 1,000 schools and environments during the last five months as a part of a massive project which had commenced to clean all schools islandwide by school cadet corps.

The National Cadet Corps has commenced this project parallel to the project of improving the sanitary levels and developing the standards of the cities to a higher level initiated in line with a concept of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

A spokesperson for the National Cadet Corps stated that the 19th battalions of school cadets were contributing their maximum to this endeavor. He said that priority was given to schools in the three districts of Western Province while cleaning was completed in almost every schools.

He also said that the cleaning programs in other provinces too had commenced simultaneously. Cadet platoons of a number of schools were included in these 19 battalions and those cadet platoons had been instructed to maintain the cleanliness of the school and environment.

The schools with cadet platoons had been instructed to attend to the cleaning projects of the nearby schools deprived of cadet platoons.

The spokesperson stated that this project would minimize the spread of diseases like dengue and will also keep the environment clean.

He said that principals, parents, old students’ associations and students were also contributing their best to make this project successful.

Badagamuwa Tourist Centre to cost Rs 30 m

Rs 30 million has been set apart for the development of the Badagamuwa Tourist Centre in Kurunegala, by the Wayamba Development Authority on the direction of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa. Badagamuwa, situated four kms from Kurunegala City, provides information and communication facilities for tourists.

The centre is devided in to two sections, namely information and comfort centre.

The Comfort Centre comprises restaurants with all facilities, Banks with foreign currency exchange, stalls, traditional handicraft of various types of skilled workmanship. The Wayamba Development Authority has decided to construct a children’s park and an Ayurvedic Treatment Centre for foreign and local tourists.

Wayamba Development Authority Director General, Wasantha Prematillake, said that Wayamba consists of two administrative districts, namely, Kurunegala and Puttalam.

Pedestrian killed

A pedestrian at Bolawatte along the Chilaw-Negombo road was knocked down by a vehicle and killed on the spot. The vehicle driver has fled after knocking down the pedestrian.

The person killed was Stanley Lavus Perera, 55, of Agampitiya, Vaikkala and the accident took place around 4 am yesterday.

Research Conference

The Royal Asiatic Society RASSL is holding its 4th Annual Research Conference on March 25 and March 26,2011 at the Mahaweli Centre, No 96 Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. It is the largest national conference in social sciences and the humanities. This year’s Research Conference in addition to other fields, is the launching of the 1st “Philosophy Studies Conference” in the country and hosting the 3rd “Sinhala Studies Conference”. Members of the public are welcome to attend by registration (contact: Tel: 011-2699249

Reflections on Art

Visual and Performing Arts Senior Lecturer Chandragupta Thenuwara will deliver a Slide Lecture – Reflections on Art at the Indian Cultural Centre, 16/2, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7 on March 24 at 6.30 p.m.

Nav Pratibha 2011

The Indian Cultural Centre Colombo will present Nav Pratibha – 2011, an annual show presented by its students at the Kularathne Hall, Ananda College, Colombo on March 31 at 6.30 pm.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Mahinda College OBA Colombo Branch will be held at the National Museum Auditorium on March 20 at 9.30 am.

World Poetry Day

The Cultural and Arts Ministry and the Cultural Affairs Department will hold the World Poetry Day which falls on March 21 under the patronage of Cultural and Arts Minister T B Ekanayake at the John De Silva Commemoration Theatre on March 21 at 2 pm.

Prayer for tsunami victims

A special prayer and Holy Mass was offered yesterday to invoke blessings for the persons who lost their lives and property due to tsunami in Japan.

This Eucharistic celebration offered by Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC National Director Rev Fr George Sigamoney, along with Rev Fr Devaraj of Madhu Shine and the prayer of faithful has been offered by S P Anthonymuthu, Consultant, Public Relations of Caritas Sri Lanka SEDEC.

Shraddhanjalee over SLBC

The Sinhala National Service of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) will present lyric composer, poet and a journalist W K Sarath Wimalasiri through the Shraddhanjalee Program on March 19 from 12 noon to 12.45 pm.

He makes an analytical presentation of songs composed on themes that come in Buddhist Literature.

AGM

The Past Pupils Association of the Convent of Mary Immaculate, Matara (Colombo Branch) will hold its 38th Annual General Meeting on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 12 noon at the Peach Valley Chinese Restaurant, No 27, Flower Road, Colombo 07, followed by lunch. New members will be enroleed on that day.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the All Island Central College Old Pupils Association will be held on March 20, Sunday at 9.30am at the Rattanapitiya Fingara Town and Country Club in Boralesgamuwa.

Life long members of Society, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Navy Commander Somatilake Dissanayak and Executive of the World Football Federation Manilal Fernando participate as invited guests. They are due to be honoured at this function.

Old pupils of Central Colleges Jayalath Manoratne, Nissanka Diddeniya, Sandun Wijesiri, Rohana Baddege and a number of other Artists are due to participate in the event. Past pupils of Central College who have not yet obtained members hip of the Association could join as new members on this day.

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena will also launch the new website of the Association.