Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert O’Blake called on External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris at his Ministry on Monday. US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis was also present. Picture by Indika Ranawaka

The Colombo District Literary festival was held at the Colombo Public Library auditorium with the participation of District Secretary S. Hapuarachchi. Picture shows Ven. Rambukkana Siddhartha Thera being being presented an award by Cultural Affairs Department Director General Wijith Kanugala in recognition of Thera’s service to the Sri Lankan music field. Picture by Nissanka Wijerathna

A large number of Sri Lankans staged a protest yesterday opposite the United Nation’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, against the false allegations made by extremist groups to defame the Sri Lankan government before the international community through the Darusman report on war crimes and Channel 4 videos. The protesters urged the international community not to tarnish Sri Lanka’s image when the country is on a massive development path after the eradication of terrorism. After the demonstration, Sri Lankans living in Europe handed over a petition at the UN office. Picture by Sudath Silva

The cremation of former Defence Secretary and the 22nd IGP Cyril Herath was held at Borella cemetery. Here former IGP Ana Seneviratne is in conversation with the new IGP N.K. Ilangakoon.
Picture by Nissanka Wijerathna

Devotees were engaged in amisa and prathipaththi pooja at the Kelani Rajamaha Vihara on Binara Poya Day. Picture by Nissanka Wijerathne

Man knocked down by train

Karunachalan Theelepan (27) of Palliyawatte, Hendala, Wattala knocked down by a Gampaha bound train near Hunupitiya Railway station, succumbed to his injuries at the Colombo North General Hospital, Ragama at about 7.30 pm last week.

The inquest on the death was held by inquirer into sudden deaths, Ragama R Priyankara Lal. JMO Ragama Dr L D D Kithulwatta held the autopsy.

Woman dies in road accident

A motorcyclist plying towards Wadduwa from Kalutara knocked down a woman crossing the Galle Road at Molligoda, Wadduwa. The woman died on admission to the Panadura Base Hospital.

Wadduwa Police Traffic OIC Weeratunga Gallage told the Daily News that Thewara Kamalawathi (53) was a resident from Molligoda. The cyclist did not have a driving licence.

The driver, a soldier of the Mullaithivu camp was taken into police custody and is due to appear before the Panadura magistrate.

Timber racketeers nabbed

Two persons transporting illegally felled timber were seized by the STF in Puliyankulama on Monday. The STF also seized the tractor transporting the timber.

The suspects, Nadaraja Udayarasa and Arumugam Annathurei of Paleiwadi had felled Sandalwood and Palu trees in the Sinnaaru forest reserve. The timber was estimated at Rs 250,000. Puliyankulam Police are investigating.

China's 62nd National Day

The Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association will commemorate the 62nd National Day of the Peoples Republic of China by conducting a lecture on 'Recent Economic Development in China' at 4.45 pm on September 23, 2011, at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo 07. The main speakers are Dr. Anura Karunarathne of the University of Kelaniya and Dr. Kumara Uluwatta of Wayamba University who studied in China.

The two lectures are about China's strong productivity growth, encouraged by the 1978 market-oriented reforms introduced by late Deng Xio Ping, is the leading cause of China's unprecedented economic performance. Innovation and transfer of technology in exchange for opening the domestic and international markets are important factors in this regard. This is mainly due to the effective government policies with great socio-political stability.

Irrigation Minister and Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva and Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunge will be the Guests of Honour. The Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China in Sri Lanka Yang Xiuping will be the Chief Guest.

The Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association extends an invitation to the public to attend this seminar.

Buddhist discussion

The next Buddhist public panel discussion of the Colombo YMBA will be held on Sunday, September 18, at 10 am at its Borella building on 'Practice of Panca Sila'. The panelists are Bhikkuni Kusuma and Dr Kosala de Silva, Consultant Physician and President, Servants of the Buddha Society with Raja Kuruppu as moderator. All are welcome.

AGM

The 107th Annual General Meeting of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa will be held on September 17 at 5.00 p.m at the college premises under the patronage of Principal W.D. Jayasena.

The annual get-together and dinner will also be held at the Sebastian Night Sports Club in Lunawa, Moratuwa at 8 p.m on the same day.

Schools sans grade one applicants

Around 124 schools have not received a single grade one application form from parents to enter their children to grade one. Around 1,522 schools received less than 10 application forms. This number of schools consists of 25 percent of the schools in the country.

Around 55 popular schools received the maximum number of grade one application forms.

Road renovated

The access road to the upper division of the Darawala tea estate at Dickoya in the Ambagamuwa divisional secretariat division in the Nuwara Eliya district has been reconstructed by the Ambagamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha.

Nethmi seeks your help

Nethmi Rasenka Rathnayake, 9, at No. 75, Hospital Road, Kaduwela, Ranala is suffering from a severe heart ailment. Doctors have recommended operations to save her life.

The first operation was performed in India. The second operation is due to be performed in India which is estimated to cost over Rs 600,000. Parents say they are not in a position to foot the bill and seek public assistance to expedite the cause. Contributions can be made to A/C No. 70525726 at Bank of Ceylon Branch, Kaduwela. 0776751478.

Meet the Director

The Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo will hold the programme Meet the Director with Indian film Director Buddhadeb Dasgupta followed by a talk by the Director at ICC Auditorium today at 6 pm. It will be followed by the screening of his Film "Lal Darja (Red Doors)" (Bengali with subtitles in English).