Quick Look

Cutting jak tree on Poya day costs man Rs 20,000 PRIYADARSHANI

Kahawala Ingiriya central group cor

A man who cut a jak tree without a valid license on a Poya day, in a land close to the Nachchimale hermitage premises in Ingiriya, was fined Rs 20,000 by Horana Magistrate Mahinda Ranasingha. The magistrate also ordered the confiscation of the timber.

Welfare society AGM

The 13th Annual General Meeting of the retired Employees Welfare Society of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Ltd will be held on the March 23 at the Women’s International Centre at 9 am. Former Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha, CPL and CPSTL Chairman and Board of Directors have extended support to the work of the society.

Sports village in Suriyawewa soon

Raja Waidyasekera - Tissamaharama special corr

A fully-fledged sports village is to be established at Suriyawewa soon. It will be adjoining the Mahinda Rajapaksa International playground.

An extent of 2,000 acres is allocated for this purpose. The brain child behind the project is MP Namal Rajapaksa.

The construction work will be carried out by the Navy.

The BOI, the UDA, Suriyawewa DS office, Suriyawewa PS and NGOS will extend their cooperation towards this task, MP Namal Rajapaksa said.

Ishaq Baig Sathsara Sendewa

“Ishaq Baig Sathsara Sendewa”, a musical show featuring vocalist Ishaq Baig will be held at the Pinnalanda Hotel Grounds, Pinnawala, Rambukkana on March 29 at 7.00 pm. Proceeds are in aid of the Rambukkana Friendship Society.

Tickets can be obtained at ‘Sheela’ Printers, Rambukkana or at counters at the venue. For information call Kapila on 0776959084.

ACJU condemns attacks on Buddhist monks

All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) the council of Muslim theologians in Sri Lanka vehemently condemns the inhuman act of attacking the innocent Buddhist monks in Tamil Nadu recently.

They visit India mostly on pilgrimage or for further studies. It is the responsibility of the Indian government to give protection to the religious dignitaries, irrespective any religion visiting India.

All religions encourage respecting other religions the holy places of other religions, the people of other religions and especially the religious dignitaries of other religions. Islam insists that everyone must honour the lives, the properties and the feelings of his fellow beings. The ACJU requests the Indian government to bring the offenders to book as fast as possible to erase the damage caused.

More industrial ventures at H’tota seaport

Raja Waidyasekera - Tissamaharama special corr

Seven investors have expressed willingness to set up industrial venture at Mahinda Rajapaksa international seaport at Hambantota, Ports Authority Chairman Priyath Bandu Wickrama said.

He said the Hambana Petro Chemical Company has also signed an MOU in Colombo recently to implement a venture.

Divisional Secretaries positions vacant

Raja Waidyasekera - Tissamaharama special corr

The lack of divisional secretaries at Hambantota and Ambalantota cause hardships to people.

These two posts fell vacant several months ago but they have not been filled yet.

Submarine safari to be introduced

Raja Waidyasekera - Tissamaharama special corr

A submarine safari service will be introduced for the first time in Sri Lanka by the Sagara Vishwavidyalaya, the Ocean University.

This will be a boon to tourists as they will be able to admire the beauty of corals, ornamental fish species along the coastal stretch, University’s Chairman Prof. Ranjith Senaratna said.

He said with the introduction of the submarine safari service, low income group families along the coastal belt will benefit.

He said it will open a new chapter in the history of tourism in Sri Lanka, adding that Minister Dulles Alahapperuma extends his fullest cooperation towards this task.

Indian dies in accident

Sivam Packiyanathan - Batticaloa Special Correspondent

Indian national Sumramaniyam from Tamil Nadu was run over by a tractor and killed on the spot. This incident took place at Paruththisenai in the Vavunativu Police area on March 18.

The victim riding a motorcycle had swayed to a side giving way to a tractor coming behind. Unfortunately, the motorcycle had fallen into a ditch and the rider was thrown on to the path of the tractor. The body was taken to the Thandiyady hospital and the tractor and driver were taken into custody.

Vavunativu Police are investigating.