Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

President’s Co-ordinating Secretary Kithsiri Ganganath Abeygunawardena was awarded the Sri Rohana Keerthi Janahithakami Shasanabandu honorary title by the Sri Rohana Maha Sangha Sabha in recognition of the services rendered by him towards the cause of Buddhism. A past pupil of Richmond College, Galle, he was appointed Co-ordinating Secretary to the President in 2007. He is also the Basnayaka Nimale of the Sittamgallena Raja Maha Vihara.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa held talks with university lecturers at Temple Trees on Monday. Here the President is conducting discussions. Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education Sunil Jayantha Nawaratna, Secretary to the Finance Ministry Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, Chief of Staff of the President’s office Gamini Senarath, chairman of the University Grants Commission Prof. Gamini Samaranayake together with university Vice Chancellors, Deans and lecturers participated in the discussions. Picture by Chandana Perera

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha at the New Year festival and cultural evening held at the London Thames Vihara during his recent visit to UK. Viharadhipathi Ven Pahalagama Somaratana Thera was also present .

June, National Nutrition Month

Thus, Education Ministry Secretary H M Gunasekara in a circular has instructed all Provincial Education Directors to organize meaningful programmes to inculcate good health habits and to educate schoolchildren on the importance of consuming nutritious food that can be grown locally. Essay and poster competitions and nearly 450 awareness programmes will be held.

Foreign employment services regulated

The Foreign Employment Bureau has taken action to prohibit sending Sri Lankan employees to Saudi Arabia by obtaining visa necessary for recruiting employees privately without a foreign agent in Saudi Arabia.

The authority has also taken action to notify this procedure to local employment agencies by a circular.

Recruitment of employees will be permitted for foreign agents for whom approval has been granted by Saudi Arabia.

Five Bo trees declared protected trees

Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has directed to declare five historic Bo trees as protected trees parallel to the Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi year.

These historic Bo trees are made protected trees under the Fauna and Flora Protected Ordinance.

The five Bo trees include the Kalutara Bodhi, Nittambuwa Nitta Bodhi, Yakkala Weediyawatta Bodhi, Wel Bodhi near the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy and Gampaha Makevita Sudu Bodhi.

The aim of this action is to conserve them for the worship of future generations by providing legal and state support.

Pichchamal Pooja

The annual ‘Pichchamal Pooja’ organized by the Shanthi Padanama will be held at Anuradhapura on July 9. Two meetings will be held at Seruwila Bauddha Madyasthanaya on May 29 and July 3 for Padanama members to discuss arrangements, said a spokesman for the organizing committee.

Public talk

Dr Ranjani Ratnapala will deliver a public talk in English on ‘Mallunkyaputta attains Nibbana’ at the meeting of the Servants of the Buddha Society on Saturday May 28 at 4.30 pm at Maithree Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya.

Prize giving

The prize giving for winners of the short story competition organized by the Budusarana under the sponsorship of the Karuna Trust will be held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on May 26 from 4 pm to 6 pm.

Along with this function the Sandakada Pahana Short Story collection also will be launched.

Workshop

The Oriental Music Society of Royal College has organized a workshop for Advanced Level students following oriental music as a subject in the Western Province from May 25 to 27, 2011 at the Royal College Union Skills Centre auditorium from 8.15 am to 4.30 pm.

The workshop will be open to around 250 participants only from the Western Province.

Those students willing to participate will have to get the sanction of their school principals.

For more details, contact master in charge Ashoka Pushpakumara on 0714468164 and student Chairman, Yasod Gamage on 0716450112 of Oriental Music Society, Royal College.

AGM

The Old Boys Association of St Anthony’s College, Wattala will hold its 66th Annual General Meeting at College hall. The day’s proceedings will begin with Holy Mass at 4.30 pm. A get together will be followed after AGM.

Art Circle AGM

The 17th annual general meeting of the Moratuwa Art Circle and the get-together will be held at Sripalee Hall, Rawatawatte, Moratuwa on Sunday 29 at 5 pm.