Irida Lankadeepa Editor Ariyananda Dombagahawatte receives papers for the car loan from President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Saturday. Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Environment Minister Anura Priyadharshana
Yapa and Mass Media and Information Ministry Secretary Dr Charitha
Herath were also present. Picture by President’s Media Division

Authorities at the Banadaranaike International Airport confiscated US $ 22,000 which were to be taken illegally to the Maldive Islands by two Sri Lankans. Deputy Directors of Port Stanley Senaratne andSunil Gunawardene along with Port Superintendent C Wijetunga and Assistant Port Superintendent Nuwan Abeynayake examine the dollars taken in to custody.
Picture by Kumarasiri Prasad, airport corr

President tells journalists, artistes :

I have the greatest respect for the judiciary

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday stressed that he greatly valued the independence of the judiciary. Addressing senior journalists, artistes and writers at Temple Trees after officiating at the distribution of free laptops and interest free vehicle loans to them, the President said he had been a practising lawyer for 19 years and that he had great respect for judges, and greatly valued a free judiciary.

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Nearly half a million cataract patients in SL

There are nearly 500,000 cataract patients in Sri Lanka and between 100,000 and 150,000 patients have cataract in both eyes, Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr Palitha Maheepala said. Around 150,000 of cataract patients are senior citizens and end up blind eventually. Fifty percent among them have been reported from under developed rural areas from low income families, he said. Dr Maheepala said around 160,000 Sri Lankan children suffer from various defects in their vision.

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Permanent govt jobs for 51,420 graduates

The government will grant 51,420 graduates, undergoing training in the state sector, permanent appointments next year in accordance with regulations pertaining to development service officers. Arrangements have been made to assign them to ministries and departments by November 30. This was revealed at a conference of secretaries ministries, heads of departments and government agents presided over by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister John Seneviratne on Friday.

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Four youths shot dead, execution style

Four bodies of youths, shot dead by an unidentified group or individual, were found at Walpitawatta Tea Estate in Andurathwila in the Poddala Police division, Galle yesterday. The slain persons were blindfolded and their hands and legs tied with strips of cloth before they were shot dead.Galle and Poddala Police are investigating.

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