Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

Five Ambassadors and a High Commissioner presented credentials to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the President’s office yesterday. From Left: Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Pio Arpea, Korean Republic Ambassador Choi Jong-Moon, South African High Commissioner Geoffrey Quinton Doidge, Vietnam Ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh, Philippines Ambassador Bahnarim Abu Guinomia and Belgium Ambassador Pierre Vaesen.

Sri Lankan followers of the Indian spiritual leader Sai Baba sprinkle flowers next to his picture before a ceremony to pray for his soul in Colombo on April 25. Devotees wept as they bid farewell to their spiritual leader, who died aged 85 of multiple organ failure on April 24 after spending three weeks in hospital. AFP

Mt Lavinia Court’s wall collapsed due to heavy rains on Monday night. Picture by Suranjith Perera

One person was killed and two were injured when a lorry full of vegetables travelling from Agarapathana to Colombo, fell from a cliff near Ginigathena, Kadawala. The deceased was the owner of the vehicle. The driver and assistant are being treated at the Nawalapitiya hospital. Police found that the driver had fallen asleep when driving which caused the accident. Picture by Ranjith Rajapaksa

Lightning claims three farmers

Three farmers in Welikanda died after being struck by lightning while they were working in paddy fields Monday evening.

Police said one person died after being rushed to Welikanda Hospital and the other two died after being transferred to the Polonnaruwa Hospital.

The deceased were H M Wijeratne (66) of Mahasenpura, Welikanda, A K P Bandara (35) Madurangala, Sevanapitiya, Welikanda and T P Indunil Saman Kumara (20) of Sevanapitiya, Welikanda.

Ambulances abandoned

The Dambulla Base Hospital employees call on higher authorities to intervene in repairing three ambulances abandoned due to minor repairs.

The management is faced with difficulties in transferring patients to other hospitals and seek ambulances from nearby hospitals.

Snatch thief remanded

A person fleeing after snatching a woman's gold chain at Veyangoda railway station was arrested and produced before the Attanagalla Magistrate.

House burgled

A house at Galawilawatta, Nittambuwa was burgled and cash and jewellery worth Rs 6,15,000 were stolen.

Police raid illicit distillery

Veyangoda police raided an illicit distillery at Muddaragama and seized 160 litres of goda.

New Year festivals

'Sinhala-Tamil New Year unites people'

"The Sinhala and Tamil New Year unites people and develops relationships," said Wayamba Province Chief Minister Athula Wijesinghe addressing the New Year festival held at Welangolla pre-school ground organized by the Wayamba Provincial Council Cultural Ministry.

"It has been transformed into a national festival and people have come to recognize it as a national day with national games and other traditional events, said the chief minister.

New Year in Kurunegala alcohol, drugs free

This year, New Year celebrations in the Kurunegala district have been free of alcohol and drugs, according to the police.

Kurunegala hospital sources said no fire cracker accidents were reported this year. All restaurants and bars in Kurunegala town and suburbs were closed on April 13, 14 and 17.

Developing rural schools

Wayamba Provincial Council will provide footwear, stationery, school bags and books for 200 less developed schools in the North Western Province to mark the 2600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthi on May 5, 2011.

It will also renovate 1,218 schools in rural areas and improve their infrastructure.

An Atasil campaign for 5,000 schoolchildren in the district will also be launched.

Arrangements will be made by the Provincial Education Ministry to offer Atapirikara and mid-day meals for 100 Bhikkus in the Kurunegala district.

Hindi Language courses

The Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo will conduct its Hindi language classes for 2011-12. The new batch will start from May 4. The courses offered are: 100 course of Kendriya Hindis Sansthan Agra and proficiency in Hindi Language course conceived by the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo.

Both courses are for beginners in learning the language. However the proficiency in Hindi language course text books are in Sinhala and in Hindi and it will be appropriate for those who want to learn the basic things in Sinhala.

Contact the Indian Cultural Centre on 2684698 or send an email to [email protected] for more details. The Indian Cultural centre is at 16/2, Gregory's Road, Colombo 07.

Catering industry pioneer passes away

A leading entrepreneur in the catering business, and J U Caterers Managing Director H A Jayasiri of Batagolla, Yakkala passed away at the age of 72 on Sunday April 24.

He is survived by his wife, Co-Founder of JU Caterers, Udumbara and two sons, Rajith and Gayan. Cortege leaves residence at Batagolla at 3 pm on Wednesday April 27 for Cremation at Kasagahawatta cemetery, Gampaha at 4 pm.

Stockholm Convention’s conference

The Stockholm Convention’s Fifth Conference of the Parties (COP5) will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from April 25-29.

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has been working on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) for several years and conducted several workshops to make the public aware of the POPs, has also produced reading material that could be used by the public.

A group of scientists at International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) found that high levels of two flame retardants, PentaBDE and OctaBDE (recently listed by the Stockholm Convention for global elimination) in foam carpet pads.