Quick Look

Illicit liquor, drug menace controlled to some extent - SSP

Kapila Somaratne, - Panadura group correspondent

The illicit liquor and heroin drug menace has not been completely eradicated from this country. It has been controlled to a certain extent, Panadura Senior Superintendent of Police H M Dharmasena said.

Illicit liquor and drug dealers are responsible for most crimes and robberies. The public must provide information to the police about activities of illicit liquor dealers and drug traffickers, he said at a meeting at the Panadura Probation Office auditorium recently.

It was also revealed that about 60 dengue cases were reported from Pallimulla and Gorakana areas in the Panadura Health Division during the last few months.

A project is being planned in the Panadura Pradeshiya Sabha division to eradicate dengue from the areas.

Lankan gets Australian Alumni Award for Education

The Trade Commission of the Australian government has honoured Professor Stephen Muller, Adjunct Associate Professor of Centre for Customs and Excise Studies, University of Canberra, Australia, with the Australian Alumni Award for Education in 2012 for his excellent service for education.

This award was presented at the Australian Alumni Excellence Award - 2012 at Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo, under the patronage of the Australian high commissioner on Saturday.

Professor Muller had rendered his service to Sri Lanka Customs for 10 years. This is the first time in the history, a Sri Lankan customs officer is honoured by an award of this nature.

Woman dies in private bus accident

Yasaratne GAMAGE

A woman died when she was knocked down by a private bus at the Bulathsinhala main bus station last week. The bus was plying from Matugama to Horana when it hit the woman. The deceased was identified as L Welai of Ingiriya. Bulathsinhala police arrested the bus driver.

Meanwhile, a motorcyclist succumbed to his injuries after the motorcycle collided with a lorry at Kiripattiya junction in Hambantota. The victim, M P A Chaminda is a resident of Siribopura.

The lorry driver was arrested. Hambantota police are investigating.

Meanwhile, Nawalapitiya police arrested two persons with imitation jewelry and a pawning receipt. Investigations revealed that the duo had pawned imitation jewelery at private pawning centers in Nawalapitiya on several occasions.

The Police also raided a workshop where the suspects made the imitation jewelry.

Frenchman drowns in Kuchchaweli

Yasaratne GAMAGE

A Frenchman drowned while bathing in the coral reef at Pigeon Island in Kuchchaweli on Saturday.

A J Gabriel Rover from Saint Fort, France and two women were rescued by wildlife volunteer rescuers.

Rover was admitted to Nilaweli Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The body is lying at the Trincomalee Hospital morgue for the post mortem.

Kuchchaweli Police are investigating.

‘Arogyabhi 2012’

The Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS), the academic wing of the SWRD Bandaranaike National Memorial Foundation in association with the Department of Indigenous Medicine of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has organized a one-day ayurvedic workshop titled ‘Arogyabhi 2012’ at 9 am on February 28 at the “Mihilaka Medura” of the BMICH.

The workshop will be conducted by a group of ayurvedic physicians of the Colombo Municipal Council who visited two reputed Indian Ayurvedic institutes in November 2011. The objective of the programme is to allow the dissemination of knowledge acquired as a result of the study tour amongst selected groups of people.

The audience for the workshop will comprise representatives of key ministries, government departments and private sector organizations, university teachers and students.

The inaugural session will be held under the auspices of Pandu Bandaranaike, the Deputy Minister of Indigenous Medicine, while the Colombo Mayor A J M Muzammil will grace the occasion as the Guest of Honour.

Book launch

The book launch of Handy Perinbanayagam - A Memorial Volume and The Jaffna Youth Congress (in Sinhala, Tamil and English), edited by Santasilan Kadirgamar will be held on March 4 at 5.30pm at Saraswathy Hall, Lorensz Road, Bambalapitiya. High Commissioner of India, Ashok K Kantha will be the chief guest.

Peradeniya University Alumni AGM

The 21st Annual General Meeting of the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya, Colombo Chapter will be held on Sunday, March 4 at 9.30 am at the Shalika Hall, Park Road, Colombo 5. Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo Prof W D Laxman will be the chief guest and Seylan Bank Chairman Eastman Narangoda will be the Guest of Honour. The new Council of Management for 2012/13 will be elected on this day.