Quick Look

Handloom centre on verge of closure

Nimal Wijayatunga - Eheliyagoda special corr

Due to negligence as well as improper maintenance, the Hindurangala handloom centre at Kiriella is now on the verge of closure for the second time.

According to employees this handloom centre that has a history of five decades, lacks almost all the basic facilities such as electricity, water etc.

The employees complain that during rainy days rain water leaks into the centre through the roof-cracks and as a result most employees do not report for work on such days.

Sports meet for New Year

The 51st Division of the Army has organised a mega sports meet at Selvapuram and Yogapuram to celebrate the Hindu and Sinhala New Year.

The sports meet will have events such as marathon race, cycle race for males and females, cross country race, tug-of-war, climbing the greasy pole, blind man’s buff which will be main attractions at the meet. Sports items for children will also be held. The cycle race for males and females will be held in the morning.

Funds for college extension

The Economic Development Ministry has allocated 16 million rupees for the construction of a prayer hall, the library extension, and cycle park at Hartley College, Point Pedro.

“The library extension and the cycle park construction have been completed and the prayer hall construction will be completed before the end of this month”, said Deivendrarajah, Principal Hartley College.

Causeway over Kollawadola stream

Theja Vidyarupa - Akuressa group corr

A causeway across the Kollawadola stream at the E.W. division on the Viharahena – Selwakanda road in Deniyaya is being constructed in place of the old bridge which was destroyed by the flash floods in 2003.

The Economic Development Ministry has granted Rs 2,500,000 for this purpose.

About 300 Sinhala families and 920 Tamil families living in Selwakanda, Imbulwarawa, Illunduwawa, Jayatunkanda and Halpandeniya will benefit once this causeway is completed.

Journalist’s house burgled

Matara group corr

A thief entered the house of a female journalist in Kekenadura, Matara and robbed her of a handbag containing Rs 37,000, a mobile phone worth Rs 12,000 and a wristwatch worth Rs 1,800, around 2 a m on Sunday. Matara Police is investigating.

Funds to build kitchens

One hundred and ninety one schools in the North will be provided a kitchen and stores by the WHO (World Health Organisation) to stock food stuffs to cook meals for schoolchildren.

Many village schools do not have kitchens or store rooms to stock and prepare afternoon meals.

The schools in Vanni will benefit by the grant of Rs 150,000 to each school to stock their provisions.

New year celebrations

The Mullaithivu education zone has arranged a grand ceremony to celebrate the Hindu and Sinhala new year. The Governor Northern Province Maj Gen G.A. Chandrasiri will be the chief guest. The Government Agent Mullaithivu N.Vethanayagam, heads of Hindu, Buddhist and Islam religions will participate as special guests. Students of the Northern, North Central and Eastern Province will also participate.

The traditional art and music and dance of Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims will be special events in the ceremony.

Uniforms for DS staff

Government officers working in the Jaffna Secretariat and the Divisional Office will be issued blue uniforms to be worn from the Hindu and Sinhala News Year’s day onwards.

Sarees for female workers have been got down from India and the officers will wear blue uniforms to office.

Kasyapa’s palace to be renovated

A A L Dias Matale district group corr

The Cultural Triangle Project has taken steps to renovate the dilapidated palace of King Kassapa, on the Sigiriya rock. Financial assistance is provided by the Central Cultural Fund for this purpose.

Since local and foreign tourist visits to this spot have increased, the Central Cultural Fund could collect a considerable income, the officials said.

Therefore the renovation activities can be performed without any delay, they said.

New building

A new two storeyed building built at a cost of Rs. 14 million at the Karavita Kanishta Vidyalaya Nivithigala was opened by Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Maheepala Herath on Tuesday April 3.

This new building will help ease congestion at the school which has a student population of 1100. The Chief Minister also opened a new computer unit at the Lokadeniya Vidyalaya Nivithigala the same day.

Woman's body found in house after five days

Yasaratne GAMAGE

The body of an elderly woman was found at her home in Handana, Badulla on Sunday.

The Police had identified the woman as Rohini Weerasingha, 76. The body had been lying on a chair for nearly five days and was in a decomposed state, the Police said. The Police arrested the woman's son, who is mentally retarded, in this connection.

The body is lying at the Badulla Hospital morgue for the post mortem. The suspect was to be produced before the Badulla magistrate court yesterday.

Badulla Police are investigating.

Seth Pirith to mark Sarasaviya 50th Anniversary

Sarasaviya, Sri Lanka's pioneer weekly cinema magazine will be marking its 50th anniversary today. A Seth Pirith chanting will be held at 9.30 am at Lake House premises to mark the occasion.

Launched on April 10, 1963, Sarasaviya has brought a host of entertainment news to cinema, teledrama and art lovers. Published by Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, the magazine also organizes the Sarasaviya Awards ceremony, the most famous film awards festival in Sri Lanka.

"We will be relaunching the magazine with a new look from April 12. The online website www.sarasaviya.lk too will be updated," Sarasaviya Editor Aruna Gunaratne told the Daily News.

Liquor outlets closed for New Year

All liquor outlets in the country will remain closed on April 12 and 13 in view of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year, said Excise Commissioner L.K.G. Gunawardena in a press release.