Quick Look

'Mural' fish season begins

S Kathirgamathamby

'Mural' fish season has started in Jaffna. The sea in Valigamam South West is noted for mural fishing. The mural season lasts from March to April. Large quantity of mural fish come in shoals and the fishermen capture them and get a good income. Hundreds of people go to Mathagal sea beach at night time to buy fresh fish. Some fishermen in greed use bright ola torches to capture mural fish.

Jaffna resident wins over Rs 3 m in lottery draw

Jaffna special corr

A resident from Jaffna is said to be the winner of the Mahajana Sampath draw. He has won Rs 38,200,000. This was confirmed by the Jaffna Mahajana Sampath raffle seller.

Countrywide pirith chanting

An all night pirith chanting themed Seth Sadana Meth Maga, will be conducted in several places of Buddhist worship countrywide today from 9.16 pm to invoke blessings on the country to ward off enemy threats.

This will be followed by a satyakriya tomorrow from 5.52 am to 6am. The pinkama will be held at the following venues; Mahiyangana, Nagadeepa, Kelaniya, Sri Pada, Sri Maha Bodhi, Divaguhawa, Deeghavapi, Muthiyanganaya, Tissamaharama Dagaba, Kataragama, Kiri Vehera, Mirisawetiya, Ruwanweliseya, Jethavanaya, Abhayagiriya, Thuparamaya, Mihintale, Sri Dalada Maligawa and Seruwawila.

Census to collect details of temples

S M Wijayaratne - Kurunegala Daily News Corr

The Department of Buddhist Affairs will launch an islandwide census to collect details of Buddhist temples, the incumbents and their pupil monks, the names of chapters that they belong to, names of their parents and whereabouts of the lay life of these monks and a picture of the house that they lived before becoming novice monks are collected by the officials who conduct this census.

This census is conducted by co-ordinators of Buddhist Affairs who serve in every divisional secretariat. Data was collected by 01.01.2012 and these data will be updated after every three months. The details of monks who leave the priesthood and become laymen too will be collected for future reference. "There are instances where robbers who disguise themselves as Buddhist monks and break into houses for burglaries. The Noble Saffron robe is reported to have been misused by some sinners to commit crimes and anti-social activities.

"Therefore, all members of our society should be on the vigil of such posers" the Padiwela Sri Saranapala Dhamma School Head Master of Kurunegala, Bingiriya Suneetha Nayaka Thera said.

Prawn culture thriving in Elephant Pass

The prawn culture started at Elephant Pass lagoon with the introduction of hundreds of fries about six months ago has matured into a profitable venture. The fries have matured into full grown prawns, ten of them weighing a kilogram. A kilogram of prawns is sold at Rs 400.

The living standard of nearly a thousand families will be bettered by the profit they earn from prawn culture. The Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Development Department Kilinochchi District Director E Raveendran said that permission has already been given to start prawn fishing from March 21.

Award for Dr. Mahipala

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr. P.G.Mahipala has won the ‘Man of the Year 2012’ award presented by American Biographical Institute.

He won this award for distinctive accomplishments in the medical field.

The institute’s International Board of Research decided on his nomination after a careful global evaluation of individuals who have excelled in their professions.

The nomination conclusions were not only selected from the institute’s biographical archives, but also through correspondence around the world. Prominent businesses, media resources, universities and organizations around the world.

The institute has 45 years of experience in collecting and publishing over one million biographies.

The award has been presented to Dr. Mahipala after reviewing his achievements. Dr. Mahipala obtained his MBBS degree from the Peradeniya University in 1983 and Msc.(Community Medicine) from the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, Colombo University in 1995.

Media Development Centre at Information Department

The Media Development Centre built at the Department of Government Information in keeping with the Mahinda Chinthana Policy of providing modern facilities to the media will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on March 30 at 10 am.

Acting Minister of Mass Media and Information Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene will also be present.

The five storeyed building costing Rs 374 million consists of an auditorium, media research library, two study halls, a computer unit, a government film unit, museum and a studio with audio visual production facilities.

Panel discussion

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), the Friedriche Ebert Stiftung in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Press Institute has organized a panel discussion on Investigative Journalism followed by the launch of a resource book and hand book on the same topic on March 20, 2012 at 10.30 am at the Sri Lanka Press Institute Auditorium, 96, Kirula Road, Colombo 05. The panelists are Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa, Head of Department, Media Studies, University of Kelaniya. Amal Jayasinghe, Bureau Chief for AFP – Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Victor Ivan, Chief Editor, Ravaya will be the panelists.

Lecture on Baghavad Geetha

Thavaththiru Haray Krishna Prabu of Italy will deliver a lecture on ‘Baghavad Geetha’ on March 24 at 5 pm at Wellawatte Ramakrishna Mission Auditorium hall. This lecture has been organized by All Ceylon Sri Krishna Bakthi Kalagam of Trincomalee.