Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris, during his visit to the United Kingdom last week, delivered an address on current developments in Sri Lanka at prestigious Savile Club in London. The audience consisted of British legislators, diplomats, academics and leading members of the business community and civil society in Britain. Seen with Prof Peiris, after the delivery of the address, are Baroness Flather, Lord Rogan of Lower Iveagh, Baroness Greengross, Mrs Peiris and Royal Commonwealth Society Deputy Chairman Dr Chris Nonis.

The Hulu-ganga which is a main tributary supplying water to the Victoria Reservoir has reduced to a trickle due to the current drought as pictured near the Orutota bridge. Picture by Karaliyadda Group Corr

A human tragedy on the eve of the New Year was averted and a loss of a human life averted by the timely action taken by alert Naval personnel on duty. A woman who was spotted being dragged away by the strong current in the seas off the Colombo Light House was saved from drowning at noon yesterday (April 12) by Naval personnel who responded quickly. The unconscious woman was safely brought ashore and rushed to the Naval Hospital for emergency medical treatment.

Office-bearers

Board of Trustee-Katugastota Inigala Masjidul Ahzam Jummah Mosque

Board Members: T B Thuan Anees, M H M Kaleel, R M Sarook, S M Assan, M A Pakeen, S Niyas Khan, M M Nazoor

Vice Presidents: Capt (rtd) Ranjith Salpitikorala (Finance), Rohit J Silva (Marketing and Promotions), Rohan Jayasekera (Assets and Special Projects), Sanjeeva Hewapathirane (Training, Workshops and Welfare), Suranjith de Soysa (Magic Competitions), Nihal Weerasinghe (Affiliations and Supernumerary), Devsiri Fernando (International Affairs and Website), Hony General Secretary D D C Heendeniya, Hony Asst Secretary H D N Gunasekera, Hony Treasurer A Wijesinghe, Hony Asst Treasurer Elrea Pereira, Hony Librarian - Sambuddika Ratnayake, Legal Adviser Michael Fernando

Committee Members: Terry Amarasekera, Lalith Wickremasinghe, B Anandarajah, Kamalshantha Silva, C Gamage, Shelton Jayasekera, S K Dharmapala

External Bookkeeper: Shiranga Ratnasinghe, Chartered Accountants - Messers Dayananda Samarawickrama and Co.

‘Do your utmost to develop Beruwela’

Almost every office in the Beruwala electorate which is under the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), should assist the development of the Beruwala area, said Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne.

The newly appointed Praheshiya Sabha members have a great task before them to develop the Beruwala electorate. They must extend their support to achieve these goals, Dr Senaratne added.

The Minister was addressing the oath taking ceremony of the newly appointed Beruwala Pradeshiya Sabha members at the Sabha Premises.

Nearly two weeks ago Millfer Kapoor and Sajith Dewapriya took oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Beruwala Municipal Council. Prasanna Sanjeewa and Kusman De Silva were sworn-in as the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Beruwala Pradheshiya Sabhawa.

Postcard shortage

Still a popular mode of communication despite the advancement in telecommunications, there is a severe lack of postcards in the Kelaniya, Kadawatha, Ragama and Deltota post offices.

Pillion rider killed

A pillion rider of a motorcycle driven by her father was killed Saturday when they crashed against a private bus in Henegama, Gedumana.

The inquest into her death was held by the Wathupitiwala Inquirer into Sudden Deaths, R K. Gunathilake at the Gampaha Hospital Sunday.

Yaga pooja to bless Japanese people

Peliyagoda Sri Upulwan Vishnu Kovil organized a Yaga pooja programme on Sunday and Monday to invoke blessings on the Japanese people affected by the earthquake and tsunami. It was held under the patronage of Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva.

Vocational training centre

Youth in Kilinochchi can now acquire vocational and technical training with the new training centre of the National Apprenticeship and Industrial Training Authority established in Kilinochchi.

Education centre in Buttala

‘Room to Read Sri Lanka,’ a non-government organization on education development established an Education Centre with a reading room and other facilities for a library in the Buttala Piyananda Kanishta Vidyalaya. It was inaugurated recently by ‘Room to Read Sri Lanka’ officials and principal of the school.

New stalls for fruit sellers

Twenty one fruit stalls and eight shops constructed opposite the Victoria Park grounds have been allocated to those who had temporary fruit selling locations in the ground below the Nuwara Eliya post-office. These modern stalls were constructed by the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council.

Easter Choral festival

The Easter Choral Festival and Easter Drama ‘Oba Sitiyanam’ (if you were there) will be held on April 23, 2011 at 5.30 pm at the Holy Emmanuel Church, Parish Hall, Moratuwa.

New Year festival

A New Year Festival organized by Suhada Sports Club, Thelikada will be held on April 16 at G/Thelikada M.V. Ground. Also a musical show backed by Hikkaduwa “Sound Win” will be held there.

Tele conference workshop

An islandwide free one day tele-conference workshop on Information Technology for Provincial Correspondents was held at Polgolla Open University Information Technology Centre. This was in co-ordination with Higher Education Ministry Distance Education Services. About 25 provincial correspondents participated.

In state of disrepair

The bus route from Ginigathena to Peragolla in the Ambagamuwa divisional secretariat division in the Nuwara Eliya district is in a state of disrepair.

The road which has not been repaired for the past few yeas is full of potholes which turn to muddy puddles on rainy days inconveniencing both motorists and pedestrians.

The Nawalapitiya and Hatton CTB depots which have been operating a bus service on the Ginigathena-Peragolla road have been compelled to operate on the dilapidated road with great difficulty.

Affected bus commuters request to reconstruct the Ginigathena-Peragolla road swiftly.

End to monopoly

The Fisheries Corporation opened a fish retail outlet at the Ginigathena town in the Nuwara Eliya district. Thus ending the private fish monopoly that prevailed in the Ginigathena town until recently compelling the people to buy fish at exorbitant prices during the past several years.

Now the affected consumers are able to purchase fish at reasonable prices with the commissioning of the new fish retail outlet at the Ginigathena town.

Applications for recitation contest

A Sinhala recitation contest based on the Rev. W. Jacob Wijesinghe’s ‘Kaw Ama Watura’ will be organized by the Colombo Y.M.C.A. for youth below the ages of 14 years, 17 years and 20 years as on May 31 2011.

The rules for the contest and entry forms are available with the Christian Emphasis Department, Colombo Y.M.C.A., 39, Bristol Street, Colombo 1. Entries close on Friday, May 13, 2011.

Service

Tomorrow, Thursday, April 14 will usher in an exclusive service of ‘Praise, Worship, Teaching and Healing’ at 5.30 pm at St. Paul’s Church, Milagiriya (No. 299, Galle Road, Bambalapitiya).

ANCL employee’s mother passes away

Amara Nilumani Liyanage has passed away after a brief illness. She was the mother of Udayakumara, staffer of the Sunday Observer VDT Editorial. Her remains lie at residence No. 122, Polhena (Kahapola road) Madapatha, Piliyandala.

CEB, LECO at your service

The Power and Energy Ministry yesterday said that the Ceylon Electricity Board and LECO will remain fully operational during the festive season.

According to Ministry spokesman, the personnel attending to the Maintenance and Breakdown Sections will be on duty on shift basis during the festive season.

Consumers can contact the CEB in case of any breakdowns or power related matters on hotline 1987 or LECO on hotline 1910.