Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

Meeting Editors

Attentive
President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Editors of print and electronic media at Temple Trees yesterday. Ministers Prof G L Peiris, Keheliya Rambukwella, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Champika Ranawaka, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Media Ministry Secretary W B Ganegala were also present. Picture by Chandana Perera

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne addressing the Presidential Operations Committee on Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi at a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday

Picking of the winning entries in the Dinamina Vesak Greeting Cards designing competition organized by Lake House to mark the 2600th Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi was held at Lake House on Thursday with the participation of several Editors-in-Chief. Here, Lake House Editorial Director Seelaratne Senarath, Dinamina Chief Editor Mahinda Abeysundera, Silumina Chief Editor Karunadasa Sooriyarachchi, Chief Administrative Officer (Editorial Department) Rohana Ariyaratne, Mihira Chief Editor Ajith Dharmasiri and Sarasaviya Chief Editor Aruna Gunaratne picking the winning entries. Prizes will be awarded in four categories namely: Best designs, Best university sector design, Best Vesak photograph and Best Vesak poem. Lake House will present cash awards totalling Rs 500,000 to the winners. Picture by Nissanka Wijeratne

REN wins award

Sri Lanka's Rural Enterprise Network (REN) has won the Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development category at the 2010 Supporting Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Developments (SEED) awards.

The SEED Awards recognise inspiring social and environmental entreprenurs whose businesses can help meet sustainable development challenges. By helping entreprenurs to scale-up their activities, the SEED initiative aims to boost local economies and tackle poverty, while promoting the sustainable use of resources and ecosystems.

Woman killed

A woman aged 26 was allegedly killed at Madawa in the Mawathagama Police Division around 9.30 pm Friday. Her husband was arrested by the Mawathagama police.

Sa at Ananda

Veteran Musician Victor Ratnayake will stage his musical show Sa at the Colombo Ananda College Kularatna Hall on March 27 at 6.30 am under a program organised by the Old Anandians 70-75 group. Lyricist Kularatne Ariyawansa will be the chief guest. The program will also include a special ceremony to commemorate old Anandians Premakeerthi de Alwis, Bandara K Wijetunge, Dalton Alwis and Dayananda Gunawardena who had penned some of the songs included in the show.

Sessions and AGM

The Institute of Supply & Materials Management will hold its Technical Sessions and AGM today from 2.30 pm at the OPA Auditorium. The technical sessions would consist of two lectures by two prominent personalities on supply chain related subjects. The new ISMM President Danesha Perera will be inducted at the AGM.

AGM and get-together

The 21st Annual General Meeting and get-together of Colombo branch of Anuradhapura Central College Past Pupils' Association will be held on March 27 at 10 am at the Auditorium of Sakya, No 8, Peters Place, Kohuwala, Nugegoda.

Exhibition, trade fair

An exhibition and trade fair of Kitul and Palmyra related products will be held at the Vihara Mahadevi Park from April 1 to 3. It will be held to encourage and strengthen manufacturers of Kitul and Palmyra related products and also to give publicity to these products locally and internationally.

Ranga Rata

A concert of differently abled children called Ranga Rata organized by the Exceptional Children's Educational Development Foundation will be held today at the Tower Hall theatre. Around 22 children will participate in the event.

Ex Air Force Women's AGM

The fourth Annual General Meeting of the Ex-Air Force Women's Association will be held on April 3 at 10.00 am at the Ex-Servicemen's Association Headquarters, Bristol Street Colombo.

Awards ceremony

The National Health Awards ceremony will be held at the BMICH, today at 2 pm under Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena's patronage.

The festival is being organized to felicitate health professionals who render a commendable service in the hospital network.

AGM

The 61st Annual General Meeting of the UNA (United Nations Association) will be held today at 11 am at the UNA auditorium 39/1, Cyril Janz Mawatha, Panadura.

Teenager knocked down

A girl aged 13 was in serious condition after being knocked down by a private bus. She was admitted to the Galewela hospital Wednesday and transferred to the Kurunegala Base Hospital.

The Galewela Police arrested the bus driver and produced him before the Dambulla Magistrate.

Myanmar quake kills 75

At least 75 people were killed and hundreds left homeless Friday after a strong earthquake hit Myanmar, as aid workers said it could be days before the extent of the damage becomes clear.

Tremors were felt as far away as Bangkok, almost 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the epicentre, Hanoi and parts of China when the magnitude 6.8 quake hit late on Thursday.

Earth Hour: Lights off of several buildings

Sri Lanka and 131 countries and more than 4,000 cities will switch off lights of several landmark buildings and structures today from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm in a move to take action against climate change as the country observes Earth Hour.

Train services disrupted

Train services between Kandy and Nanu Oya came to an abrupt halt when train No. 24 bound to Kandy was derailed at Watagoda Railway station yesterday morning.

One compartment of the train jumped the track and arrangements were being made to restore the train service by yesterday evening.

According to Railway Department's Commercial Superintendent Wijaya Samarasinghe, alternative arrangements were in place for the passengers travelling to and from Colombo to Nanu Oya.

Murder suspects netted

Three absconding murder suspects were taken into custody and produced before Balapitiya Magistrate by Ambalangoda Police recently. They were remanded.

According to Police, these suspects stabbed a youth travelling in a private bus from Ambalangoda to Baddegama via Madampe last week.

The injured youth was admitted to the Balapitiya Base Hospital where he died later.

Lightning warning

The Meteorological Department warned the public to pay attention to minimize damages that can be caused by lightning.

Meteorological Department Director S H Kariyawasam said that it is common in Sri Lanka that lightning increases rapidly during the end of March and April compared to other months as the day time temperature is high during the inter monsoon period of the year which is known among the public as Bakmaha Akunu. If there is lightning, the Meteorological Department advised the public to avoid using telephones and walking in open areas. People should not shelter under a isolated tree.

They also advised people to disconnect electrical appliances from the main power supply.

Four thousand home garden projects

The Bibile Divisional Secretariat Division will launch 4,000 home gardens in line with the Government's one million domestic economic units program.

The Economic Development Ministry is expected to spend Rs 40 million on this 4,000 home gardens project.

Please help Roshan

E J Roshan Priyantha (27) a bachelor of Aluthgedara, Thambalapelessa, Kariyamadiththa is suffering from acute renal failure. Doctors treating him have recommended an urgent kidney transplant to save his life.

The surgery is estimated to cost Rs 375,000. Roshan says he is unable to foot this bill due to his family's financial plight.

He requests the public to assist his cause by sending financial contributions. Contributions can be sent to Account No. 101053726568 opened in the name of his sister H M A Udayangani at the Sampath Bank, Matara branch. He also request a donor willing to donate a 'O' positive or 'A' positive kidney to contact him at the above address.

Tamil medium students benefit

The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council will provide facilities for Tamil medium students to study the GCE Advanced Level in Commerce and Science streams.

Under this program, a newly constructed Advanced Level laboratory built at a cost of five million rupees at Al-Azaar College in Hemmathagama, Mawanella was handed over to the students by Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Mahipala Herath recently.

RI for one

An accused who pleaded guilty of possessing and trafficking heroin was sentenced to two year rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000 by Kurunegala High Court Judge V L Jayasuriya yesterday.

Electricity schemes

Three electricity schemes will be implemented to provide electricity for the plantation community in the Balangoda Pradeshiya Sabha division.

Electricity will be supplied to lower division of Pettigala estate at a cost of Rs 420,000 and Heramitigala division of Rassagala estate at a cost of Rs 1,716,000 and Palama division of Lankabarana estate at a cost of Rs 1,340,000.

More houses in Kurunegala

Four hundred and five houses have been constructed under the housing development program implemented by the National Housing Development Authority in the Kurunegala district during 2010. These houses have been constructed under housing aid program and housing loan program. Rs 31,743,500 has been granted under these two programs.

Meanwhile eight houses have been constructed under a Samurdhi development program for war heroes in the Hiriyala area.

New Minister consular

D A Uthumalebbe who worked as senior deputy leader of the Natoinal Congress has been appointed as a minister consular to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Lebanon by the External Ministry.

Blood donation

A blood donation campaign organized by the Galenbindunuwewa Sasanarakshaka Mandalaya with the participation of 39 Dhamma Schools will be held at the Galenbindunuwewa, Kanmaduwa Rajagiri Raja Maha Vihara premises today.

Education program

Dhamma for Young Heart, the education development program organized by the National Youth Services Council with the objective of directing the youth on the correct path, will be held at White House Hotel in Kosgoda on March 26 from 9 am to 2 pm.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting of Chamber of Small Pharmaceutical Industries Union will be held at ‘Summer Hut’ Hall, High Level Road, Maharagama on March 26 at 9 am.

Fishermen fear naval presence

The presence of Indian Navy patrol boats in the Vadamaradchy sea is preventing fishermen from Vadamaradchy from going for fishing.

A few days ago three Sri Lankan fishermen had been arrested by the Indian Navy. Vadamaradchy Fishermen Association President Anthonipillai Amiliampillai said that the Indian Navy boats are frequently seen at Inparsiddy, and Point Pedro Munai areas and the Vadamaradchy fishermen fear that they too would be arrested if they go for fishing. They have kept away from the sea for four days.

Light houses to be repaired

The light houses in the Northern coast of Jaffna that were in disuse during the ethnic conflict are to be rehabilitated. The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister has called for estimates to rehabilitate the light houses at Kankesanthurai, Karainagar, Nainathivu, Point Pedro and Mullaithivu. These lighthouses had been a guide to the fishermen fishing in distant sea and for boats to reach safely the shore.

Solid waste program for Dhamma students

The Central Environment Authority has organized a training program on solid waste management for Dhamma schools students islandwide. The first program commenced at Negrodaramaya in Boossa recently.