Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

A Carlton Suva Udana programme organised on a concept of First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was held at the Ratmalana Air Force hospital premises recently. Here First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa who was the chief guest distributing mementos among a group of women war heroes and wives of war heroes. Air Force Seva Vanitha Unit chairperson Nilika Abeywickrema was also present. Picture by Lalith Welivitigoda

Ven. Polpithimukalane Pannasiri Thera delivered a dhammadesana at Lake House on Tuesday as part of a series of dhammadesana organized by the Lake House Board of Directors led by Chairman and Managing Director Bandula Padmakumara. Here Company Secretary Mrs. Kumudu Gunawardena offers the traditional ‘deheth vattiya’ to Ven. Pannasiri Thera inviting him to deliver the dhammadesanawa. Picture by Samantha Weerasiri

Conservation and excavation programmes are being implemented at Atamasthana in
Anuradhapura under the direction of the Central Cultural Fund. Here, Cultural and Arts
Affairs minister t B Ekanayake is observing the thuparamaya site. Ruwanweliseya Chief
Incumbent Ven Pallegama Hemerathana thera, Cultural and Arts Affairs ministry Secretary
Wimal Rubasinghe, Central Cultural Fund Director General Nimal de Silva, Prof
Gamini Adikari and Project Director Sumedha Karunarathna also participated.

Registration date extended

The date of registration of external candidates sitting the 2011 GCE Advanced Level Examination for the alternative programme outside the school based assessment, has been extended till May 25, the Education Ministry said yesterday.

Series of programmes by CEB

The CEB Buddhist Association has organized a series of programmes throughout this month to mark the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi.

This will include the distribution of dry food rations among elders receiving public assistance through CEB branch offices countrywide, a sil campaign at the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya on May 14, a dansala opposite the CEB head office on May 17 night, duration of the head office building, decorating the roadside from Lake House junction to Slave Island police roundabout with Buddhist flags and bunting and a Bhakthi gee recital opposite CEB head office on May 17 night.

SLNC meeting

The Sri Lanka Nurses Council (SLNC) established under the Act, No: 35 of 2005 will convene today (12) to mark International Nurses Day (IND). Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena named nine council members yesterday as per the Act, Health Ministry sources said.

The election for the 20-member Nurses Council was held on April 9 at 21 centers islandwide. The Council is tasked with maintaining a database of nurses, establishing a code of conduct and educating nurses. Sri Lanka has a workforce of 24,000 nurses islandwide.

Missing

Nadarajah Asokan (34) of 229/9, Mahavidyala Road, Colombo 13 has been missing since May 5, 2011.

Any information regarding his whereabouts may be provided to S. Nadarajah (father) on telephone Number 0776766658. Informants will be rewarded.

Brothel raided

The Teldeniya Headquarters Police who raided a suspected brothel operated close to the Hasalaka Police station have taken into custody two suspects and a young woman suspected to be a call girl.

SLNC meeting

The Sri Lanka Nurses Council (SLNC) established under the Act, No: 35 of 2005 will convene today (12) to mark the International Nurses Day (IND). Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena named nine council members yesterday as per the Act, Health Ministry sources said.

The election for the 20-member Nurses Council was held on April 9 at 21 centres islandwide.

Vocational training centre opening

The two-storeyed building for the Piliyandala Honnantara Vocational Training Centre in the Kesbewa electorate which is functioning under the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry will be opened by Minister Dullas Alahapperuma today. Action had also been taken to provide the equipment for the Bakery course at a cost of Rs. 4.8 million and the training equipment, chairs and desks for the computer course.

Religious events at Sambodhi Viharaya

A series of Buddhist religious ceremonies are being organized by the Sri Sambodhi Viharaya Dayaka Sabha headed by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

These are being undertaken by the Dayaka Sabha on the direction of Buddhist Channel Pioneer Chairman Ven. Daranagama Kusaladhamma Nayaka Thera and on the guidance of the Siyam Maha Nikaya Asgiri Chapter Mahanayaka the Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Nayaka Thera.

The program to be held for 73 days from May 01 will reach the people through the Buddhist Channel, from FM 104.5 MHz from Colombo, FM 95.5 MHz from the hill country FM 99.0 MHz from Ruhuna over the Buddhist radio channel and from the Neth FM radio.

Vesak lantern competition

An exhibition and competition of Vesak lanterns will be held at Yatiyantota town from May 17 to 21 as part of a programme to mark the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi organized by the Yatiyantota Divisional Secretariat under the guidance of Ministers Prof Tissa Vitharana, and Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Provincial Minister Srilal Wickremasinghe.

The first three prize winners will be awarded cash prizes of Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 10,000 each.

External Affairs Ministry Dhamma deshana, dana

The External Affairs Ministry will organzie a Dhamma deshana and dana to celebrate the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi with the participation of the External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris, Deputy Minister Neomal Perera and Monitoring MP of the Ministry Sajin Vaas Gunawardena on May 13 at the Ministry.

Venerable Kakkapalliye Anuruddha Thera, Head of the Bauddha Shiksana Nikethana, Delgoda, Udupila, Professor, Department of Buddhist Studies,University of Hong-Kong will conduct the Dhamma sermon at 9.30 am. Alms giving for Buddhist Monks will take place at 11 am.

Businessman shot dead

A businessman in Batticaloa was shot at by two unidentified gunmen who came in a motorcycle in the wee hours of yesterday. The victim succumbed to his injuries on admission to the Batticaloa General Hospital.

The victim has been identified as Rasamanikkam Madiwalagam who hold the post of secretary at a kovil in the Batticaloa town. Madiwalagam, 38, was one of the coordinating secretaries of the Deputy Minister of Resettlement Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan.

Anti - vice squad blind

Residents of Panadura complain that Walana Central anti - vice squad is blind to the illicit liquor (kasippu) manufactured by a well organized gang in the Bolgoda Lake islands.

Residents say that even the Panadura Excise Officials do not visit the area to conduct raids.

Sampath Bank in Ampara

Sampath Bank ceremonially opened its 185th branch at Nintavur in the Ampara district on April 29. It is the 14th branch in district and one of the 10 branches open on that day islandwide.

Sampath Bank’s Director Denzil Goonaratna who was chief guest opened the branch while Asst General Manager Branch Credit 11 M, Najil Farouk inaugurated the business by accepting the first deposit. The branch is well equipped with the latest technology such as internet, ATMs and ebanking facilities and is a big boon to the area’s business and farming community.

Three acre herbarium

Indigenous Medicine Minister Salinda Dissanayake has decided to set up a three acre herbarium costing Rs 2 million at the Sastra Ravinda Pirivena, Polgolla, Gokarella.

Jumbo kills villager

A wild elephant has crushed a peasant to death in a village in Mahiyangana. Tikiri Banda Wickramasinha (72) a father of five had been killed when the jumbo infiltrated into the Puja Nagaraya area off Mahiyangana at dawn on April 30.

Wild elephants enter the Puja Nagaraya area from time to time and once a herd attacked a domesticated elephant belonging to the Mahiyanganaya temple last year.

Fines on errant traders

The Puttalam District Office of the consumer Affairs Authority has earned Rs 1,308,000 as court fines to the state coffers by taking legal action against 262 traders who had flouted the stipulation of the Consumer Protection Act during the first quarter of this year, said its officer in charge S M V Susantha.

Uva PC opposes Darusman report

The Uva Provincial Council unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the controversial Darusman report citing that it infringes country’s sovereignty.

Uva Provincial Minister Kumarasiri Ratnayake tabled the motion when the Council met under the chairmanship of Hema Ratnayake.

The United National Party and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna members also condemned the Darusman report.