Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday went on an inspection tour of the National Performing Arts Theatre which has been constructed at the Nomads grounds, Colombo 7 with Chinese financial assistance. The theatre is a symbol of the longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and China. President Mahinda Rajapaksa also viewed a documentary which showed the step by step construction of the Performing Theatre. The President also inspected the facilities available for viewers and performers. External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris, Cultural Affairs Minister T B Ekanayake, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, President’s Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath, Permanent Representative to the UN Palitha Kohona, External Affairs Ministry Secretary Dr Karunathilake Amunugama and Prof Nimal de Silva were also present. Here Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yang Xiuping with President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his inspection tour. Picture by Chandana Perera

Appeal Court Judge S Sri Skandaraja took oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Appeal Court Chairman at Temple Trees yesterday. Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga is also in the picture. Picture by Sudath Silva

‘Suriya Pehesara’, a book containing literary creations of students in Hambantota and Suriyawewa compiled by Ven Vitharandeniye Vajirawansa Thera, a teacher attached to Suriyawewa National School and Hambantota District Young Bhikkhu Front president was launched at a ceremony at the Suriyawewa Town hall recently. Here, Ven Vajirawansa Thera presenting the first copy of the book to Namal Rajapaksa MP who was the chief guest. Suriyawewa Pradeshiya Sabha chairman Nandasiri Ranatunge and Suriyawewa National School Principal D B Ranatunge are also in the picture.

A delegation from the Sri Lanka – Republic of Korea Association paid a courtesy call on the new Ambassador of the Republic of Korea. Here from left: Treasurer Asoka Weerasekera, Secretary Upali S Jayasekera, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Jongmoon Choi, President Prof Daya Edirisinghe and Ex-co Member K V D W Wijegunaratne.

The Devi Balika Vidyalaya annual prize distribution was held at the school hall under the patronage of Sabaragamuwa University Vice-Chancellor Prof Mahinda Rupasinghe and the participation of Principal Pradeepa Samarasinghe recently. The school head prefect Samali Udara Liyanage receiving the Apsara Kumarage Challenge Shield for best leadership from Prof Rupasinghe. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage

France bound on scholarship

Kaumadhi Lankani Thebuwana, a past student of Vihara Maha Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Kiribathgoda will leave for France on July 2 to participate in a teacher training course at the Institute de Touraine.

She is attached to the staff of Ananda College, Colombo as a French teacher, after completing a two year course at the "Pasdunrata National College of Education', Kalutara. She is also a diploma holder on French Langauge from the Alliance Institute of the French Embassy.

YMMA annual convention

The All Ceylon YMMA Conference held its 61st Annual Convention at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka Auditorium, Colombo. The YMMA recognized two personalities of the year for their services to the community and country. They are Philanthropist Illyas Abdul Kareem and SLBC Muslim Service Former Director Moulavi Z L M Mohamed. Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem who was the Chief Guest distributed the awards.

YMMA gave away various awards to YMMA branches for specialized projects carried out during the year and presented with the following awards.

Religious Award - Ahadiyya School YMMA Hulftsdorp, Best Pre - School Award - YMMA Madawala, Health Project Eye Camp Award - YMMA Central, Best Project Award - YMMA Paragahakotuwa, Best Treasuer Award - YMMA Bandarawela, Best Secretary Award - YMMA Wattegedera, Best President Award - YMMA Badulla, Most Outstanding upcoming Youth Leader Award - YMMA Wattegedera and Most Outstanding Member YMMA - Wattegedera

Public thankful for repairing road

Dutugamunu Mawatha which runs along the Mahaweli river upto Lewella from Polgolla Division has been completely renovated with funds from the decentralized budget by Kandy District MP Dilum Amunugama.

This road was in a dilapidated condition for a long period and had been neglected.

Fined for having mosquito breeding places

Kurunegala Additional Magistrate fined 10 persons Rs 2,500 each for not cleaning their home gardens and having mosquito breeding places.

Urge to repair bridge properly

The concrete slabs of the pavement of Lewella Bridge known as President D B Wijetunga Bridge has been replaced after laying water pipes, and residents complain that the contractors had spoiled the evenness of the bridge.

Some slabs which jut out have become a problem for the pedestrians especially children.

Adhikarama Sangha Nayake appointed

Ven Naranpanawe Dhammaloka Thera has been appointed the Adhikarama Sangha Nayaka thera of Patha Dumbara Division, at a religious congregation of the Sangha Karaka Sabha.

The Maha Nayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Ven Udugama Saddharmakirthi Sri Dhammadashi Maha Thera handed over the Sannas Pathraya in the presence of the Maha Sangha and the public.

Religious programme

A Thowba and Bai'ath programme conducted by Aroosiyyathul Quadhiriyyah World Sufistic Order, Spiritual Head Afdhalul Ulama Al-Haj Ash-Shaikh Dr Thaika Shu'aib will be held today immediately after Isha prayers at Katakala Marathadi Thaika Shrine and Masjid 29, Clifton Lane, Colombo 09.

Fire at Sigiriya

A fire at Digampathana in the Sigiriya area on Monday destroyed nearly 30 acres of forest. The area which was under the Forest Conservation Department was planted with Kaya trees under a re-forestation programme. The fire had broken out around 1 pm on Monday. Dambulla Police with the support of the Fire Unit of the Dambulla Pradeshiya Sabha had doused the fire.

Saudi dates for Ramadhan

A consignment of 150 metric tons of dates sent by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Muslims of Sri Lanka for the Ramadhan fasting is to be officially received by Senior Minister for Urban Affairs A H M Fowzie.

Saudi Arabian ambassador Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman Al Jammaz will be handing over dates at a ceremony to be held at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, No: 43, Horton Place, Colombo 7 on June 30, 2011 at 1 pm.

Physics and Astronomy Olympiads postponed

A communique issued by the Institute of Physics, Sri Lanka says that all the Olympiad examinations due to be held on July 2, 2011 are being postponed to September 24, 2011. Accordingly, the Sri Lankan Physics Olympiad Competition, the 5th Sri Lankan Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad competition the 1st Sri Lankan Junior Astronomy Olympiad competition are rescheduled for September 24, 2011 said Dr. Chandana Jayaratne, the national coordinator on Astronomy Olympiads.

Exhibition

“Happy Hands” art and craft exhibition by Grade 1 and 2 students of Lyceum International School, Nugegoda will be held at the Lyceum International School, Nugegoda, on Thursday June 30, 2011 commencing at 2.30 pm. This Exhibition has been arranged on the guidance of Founder of the Lyceum International School Mohan Lal Grero and Coordinating Principal of Lyceum International School, Nugegoda Kumari Grero with the aim of developing the creative talent of the children.

Inaugural SAARC ISG meeting today

The maiden meeting of Intergovernmental Specialists Group (ISG) of the SAARC member countries on climate change will be held today and tomorrow at the Galadari hotel with the participation of Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

Delegations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan will participate on this occasion. The Intergovernmental Specialists Group was formed to enforce the Thimpu Declaration which was agreed on the 16th SAARC Summit last year.

The Thimpu Declaration consists of 16 basic proposals to combat climate change challenges.

The Specialists Group is to submit a report to the SAARC Environment Ministers while inspecting the “Dhaka Declaration” and the “SAARC Implementation Plan of the Climate Change”.

Left discourse

A Left discourse on “Arsenic, Science and Gods” will be held on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 4.00 pm at the N.M. Perera Centre, 106, Dr. N.M. Perera Mawatha, Colombo 8. The discourses will be led by Prof. Vijay Kumar, Chairman, Industrial Technology Institute and Senior Journalist Gamini Viyangoda.

Coconut cultivation encouraged

Arrangements have been made by the Coconut Cultivation Board to urge the householders in Matale district to promote coconut cultivation. Accordingly, 137,000 coconut saplings are to be distributed among them under the ‘Divi Neguma’ project.

Death of Clare Caspersz

Mary Clare Caspersz, Director, Claremont Hotel School (Retired) passed away on Sunday, June 26.

Clare Caspersz was an old girl of Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena and started her career as a teacher in the 1950s.

Clare Caspersz's husband was late Col FJG Caspersz. Burial today at General Cemetery Borella (Roman Catholic section). All past students of Claremont Hotel School have been requested to assemble at the Roman Catholic entrance by 5 pm.

Higher ordination

Maliboda Dhammananda Thera of Sri Lankarama Maha Vihara will receive higher ordination at Ragama, Walpola Vimalaratanaramaya on June 30. He was born in 1989 to B N Ranasinghe and W V Iranganee of Maliboda village, Kegalle district, Sabaragamuwa Province.

He was ordained in 2001 under the guidance of Devundara Sirinanda Nayaka Thera and the late Maliboda Dhammasiddi Nayaka Thera. Dhammananda Thera studied at Pepiliyana Sunethra Devi Pirivena.