Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

We wish to apologise to our Christian and other readers who revere Jesus Christ for an inappropriate picture of Jesus which we inadvertently and by an oversight published on page 18 of the Magazine section of this newspaper on May 23, 2011, after downloading it from the Internet.

We tender our profound regrets to those whose religious susceptibilities we have thus hurt due to this oversight.

Islamic Day

Islamic Day Celebration for schools in Kandy was held at the Ashraff Memorial Auditorium of Madina Central College with Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem, as the Chief Guest, on Monday.

Thousands of Sri Lankans living in Milan and suburban areas together with Italians and other foreigners held a rally to protest against the controversial Darusman Report last Sunday. The participants signed a petition against the Darusman’s Report to be handed over to the Italian Defence Ministry and at the UN European Office in Geneva.

Singithi pola in Kurunegala

A Singithi pola launched by the Hettipola People's Bank branch, Kurunegala was recently held at Kulilmunihirigama President's model primary school, Kurunegala. Primary students were encouraged to grow fruits and vegetables in their home gardens with parents' help, and they were sold at their school premises. The pola was organized by the principal and teachers of the school.

Primary school students in the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts have opened Sisu Udana savings accounts. Earnings from the pola were encouraged to be deposited for students to learn about saving. Nearly 1,200 home gardens were formed, according to the People's Bank sources.

"The country is benefited as students are encouraged to save for the future while the future generation is learning to be self-sufficient," said Sisu Udana Savings Promotion officer S M Champika Wijayaratne.

Over 115 IT teachers for NWP

The North Western Provincial (NWP) Education Ministry has appointed over 115 well trained IT teachers to provide IT knowledge to rural students of government schools in the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts. According to NWP Chief Minister, 70 IT teachers have been appointed to remote schools in Chilaw and Maho educational zones. This is the highest when compared to other NWP educational zones. Rural and urban schools with IT facilities are provided with human resources.

NWP Education Ministry plans to offer 250,000 students with IT knowledge within this year and they are encouraged to take IT for their G C E O/L and A/L examinations, the chief minister said.

Appeal for help

D L Padma Nimal, 53, of No 4/D-2 Germanwatta, Hettikade, Pepiliyawala is suffering from a severe heart ailment. Dr Y K M Lahie, Cardio Thoracic Surgeon at Lanka Hospitals has recommended an immediate by-pass surgery to save his life.

The cost of the surgery is around Rs 540,000. He appeals for public help. Donations can be credited to the A/C No 093200114616509 at People's Bank Pugoda Branch.

Katuwanage Piyatilake (52) a resident at No. 147/6, Wijekonewatte, Pananwela Me Ella, Matara requests for donations to carry out his heart operation.

Rs 185,000 is necessary for the operation under Dr Ruwan Ekanayake of the Colombo National Hospital. Piyatilake is a low income earner without a permanent income.

Contributions can be made to People's Bank Hakmana Branch account 130-2-001-6-0043524.

Mahaweli suffers most from human-elephant conflict

Eighty four wild jumbos and six persons attacked by elephants have died in Sri Lanka during the first quarter of this year; the Wildlife Department said.

The highest number of victims in the human-elephant conflict had been reported from the Mahaweli Wildlife Zone from January 1 to March 31, sources said.

Mini-hydro stations in Matale

Arrangements are underway to set up six mini hydro power stations in the Matale district to provide electricity for remote areas which are unable to get power from the national power grid, sources said. The proposed mini power stations will be set up affiliated to Mahaweli canals and reservoirs.

Trust helps children’s home

The Sir Lalita Rajapakse Charitable Trust which has contributed to diverse social service projects in the last 25 years, has released funds to meet the electricity bill of the Wijerama Children’s Home in Balapitiya, from Vesak 2011 to Vesak 2012, to commemorate the 2600th Sambuddhathva Jayanthi.

National War Heroes Day

The National Heroes memorial day was celebrated at Manthvil, Puthukuddiirruppu in Mullaithivu district on May 21. The celebrations were organized by Vanni district army personnel. Northern province Governor Maj Gen G.A. Chandrasri EPDP parliamentarian M. Chandrakumar and Farook Muthaliba participated as special guests. The memorial day was celebrated opposite the memorial erected at Manthvil to commorate the war heroe’s sacrifice and bravery.

Preserving heritage

The National Heritage Ministry will establish community based archaeology conservation committees throughout the country to accelerate antiques conservation programmes. The first awareness programme for the rural level people will be held at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agriculture Research and Training Institute today at 9.00 am.

IT exhibition

‘NEXT IT 2011’, the National Exhibition of Information Technology organized by the Information Technology Faculty, Moratuwa University will be held at the faculty premises. The inauguration ceremony will be held tomorrow (May 24) at 9 a.m. The event is held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the faculty.

Healing Waves

An exhibition of oil paintings titled ‘Healing Waves’ by Dr. Nuwan Premachandra will be held on May 24 and 25 at the Lionel Wendt, Colombo. The opening ceremony takes place on May 24 at 11 a.m. Dr. Premachandra, an old boy of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo is a nature lover. The aim of his exhibition is to bring the beauty of nature through his oil paintings.

Mosque opening

Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie will open a mosque built by Sri Lanka Muslims living in Japan on May 28.

The mosque known as As-Salaam Masjid was completed by the As-Salaam Foundation. The Masjid apart from serving the Muslims for five times prayers, will serve as a centre for Islamic studies and Dawah activities.

Malaysians receive ordination

A group of Malaysians will receive ordination on temporary basis as part of the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi at the Gal Vihara, Rock Temple, Polonnaruwa on May 29 at 8.00 a.m. The programme is organized by Mahindarama Buddhist Temple, Malaysia.

BASL condemns attack on judge

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) condemns the alleged assault on the Matara District Judge by a person attached to the Army on the May 22.

The BASL said in a press release yesterday that it perceives the attack as a serious affront to the dignity of holders of judicial office and as an act calculated to bring disrepute to the judiciary.

National Archives Act to be amended

The National Archives Act will be amended to cover audio, visual and electronic documents as well.

The National Archives Act, No 30 of 1981 and No 48 of 1973, will be amended to cover documents other than written documents.

Quick Look

Our apologies