Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

Scientific Affairs Senior Minister Tissa Vitharana, Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rabukwella, Postal Services Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga, Telecommunication and Technology Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya held discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday at Temple Trees to exchange views for the preparation of Budget 2012. President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Finance and Planning Ministry Secretary Dr P B Jayasundara and ministry officials participated in the discussion. Picture by Nalin Hewapathirana

Fujian Province Vice Governor Hong Jie Xu welcomes Prime Minister D M Jayaratne at the Xiamen International Airport, China yesterday. The Prime Minister is in China for the 15th Chinese International and Investment trade fair. Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Ranjith Uyangoda and Prime Minister’s Private Secretary Anuradha Jayaratne were also present.

Indian naval ship ‘Kuthar’ arrived at the Port of Colombo on a goodwill visit on September 7, 2011. Sri Lanka Navy ceremonially welcomed the ship and its crew in accordance with naval traditions. The ship with a crew of 25 officers and 160 sailors is 91.1 metres in length and is commanded by Commander R B Thimmapurkar. ‘INS Kuthar’ will remain at the Port of Colombo till September 9.

Engine failure inconveniences travellers

The Colombo-Puttalam office train (power set) stalled due to engine failure at the rail crossing near the Mangala Eliya station yesterday morning disruptedtrain traffic along the route for several hours and inconvenienced motorists along the Mangala Eliya - Sinnapaduwa road.

Office workers stranded in the train had to take alternative bus rides to reach offices in Puttalam while motorists had to take alternate and time consuming routes to reach their destinations.

Applications called for Literary festival

The North Central Province Cultural Affairs Department has called applications for participation in the Provincial Literary Festival to be held in October. It will hold competitions in dancing, music, painting, announcing, essay writing, poetry and drama.

Particulars and the circular can be obtained from the NCP Department of Cultural Affairs.

Two nabbed with counterfeit notes

Wanduramba Police arrested two suspects in possession of 12 fake Rs 1,000 notes at Pitigala, Amugoda around 2 pm on Tuesday.

Following interrogation, Police raided a house at Pitigala and seized equipment used in printing forged notes including two CPU machines, two monitors, a laser printer, two keyboards, four hard drives and a pen drive and arrested another suspect involved in the fraud. Police investigations are continuing.

Fined for possessing ganja

Kilinochchi District Judge K. Sivakumar fined a person Rs 10,000 for posessing three grams of ganja. As the accused was punished for a similar offence earlier, his punishment was enhanced to six months rigorous imprisonment.

Development work completed

Under the Northern Spring programme, many development activities in the Pooneryn area are in the process of completion. Development work in health and livestock areas have been completed. The construction work in the government hospital, post office, library and the market are in the process of completion. The completed buildings will be opened soon.

Drama at wedding

A boy who was in love with a girl of Chavakachcheri staged a drama at her wedding after the girl had been solomonized in a wedding ceremony to a bridgeroom of her parent’s choice. Immediately after the thali adorning ceremony was over the young boy had entered the wedding hall and assaulted the bride’s parents, and attempted to kidnap the girl.

While this drama was being enacted, the bride and bridegroom had been whisked away in a car. As arranged earlier, the registration of their marriage was hurriedly done. The girl’s parents had made a complaint at the Chavakachcheri police about the incident.

Course in Forensic Medicine

The Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo will conduct a Diploma course in Forensic Medicine and Science for practising lawyers and for those who have a first degree in Law. The duration of the course is one year.

Lectures, seminars, practical demonstrations and tutorials will be held one to two days a week, in evening and on Saturday morning.

Applications are available at the Faculty of Medicine until September 30. Application forms and other information can be obtained from the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8. Details - 011-2694016.

Kapruk Purawara in Minipe

The coconut cultivation extension programme Kapruk Puravara has reached the Minipe area, a major 'crop field' of the Uda Dumbara electorate.

The Minipe Divisional Secretariat is co-ordinating a 20,000 coconut plants project under a programme jointly implemented by the Coconut Development Ministry and the Divi Neguma programme of the Economic Development Ministry.

Each of the Divi Neguma beneficiary families at Hasalaka will receive two plants of coconut.

Talk on Buddhism

Harshanath de Silva will deliver a public talk in English on Experiencing the results of Buddhist Practice at the meeting of the Servants of the Buddha Society on September 10 at 4.30 p.m at Maithree Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya.

Guitar recital

The Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo is organizing an Indian Slide Guitar Recital by Amano Manish (Senia Maihar Gharana) accompanied on tabla by Uday Ramdas Deshpande, a disciple of Ud. Alla Rakha on September 12 at 10.30 am at its auditorium.

Amano Manish is a gifted slide guitar player trained in the Senia Maihar Gharana tradition, founded by Acharya Allauddin Khan Sahib.

Uday Ramdas Deshpande is known as a versatile tabla player who can accompany various kinds of music such as Indian classic music, Bhajans, Ghazals, Indian classical fusion and east west fusion.

Hindi Diwas celebrations

The Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo in collaboration with the Kelaniya University Hindi Department, is organizing the Hindi Diwas celebrations titled Saandhy Geet.

The programme will commence at 10.30 am on September 14, at the Indian Cultural Centre, 16/2, Gregory's Road, Colombo 07. Contact the Indian Cultural Centre on 2684698 or Email: iccrcolombo @gmail.com for details.

Buddhist Society AGM

The 50th Annual General Meeting of the Bambalapitiya Flats Buddhist Society will be held on September 18 at 5 p m at the Bambalapitiya flats Buddhist Society hall.

Commemoration

The 157th Commemoration of Sri Narayanaguruswamy will be held at the Narayanaguru hall, Layards Broadway, Colombo on September 11 at 4.30 pm. Indian High Commissioner Ashok K Kantha and Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana will be the chief guests.

Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva and UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya will also be present.