Quick Look

Deegavapi conservation stepped up

Priyanka Kurugala

Final steps in conserving the Deegavapi ancient site will commence with immediate effect, National Heritage Ministry Senior Additional Secretary Vijitha Nanda Kumara said.

Plans are afoot to complete all conservation programmes soon, he said.

The National Heritage Ministry has allocated Rs 15 million for the conservation programmes of the ancient Deegavapi site for the current year, he added.

Lecture on elephants

A lecture on the survey of elephants in Sri Lanka and its significance, will be delivered by Dr. Charles Santhiapillai, an authority on the Asian elephant on April 19 at 6 pm at the Department of Meteorogoly Auditorium, 383 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. (Opposite BMICH).

It is organised by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka.

All are welcome and entrance is free.

German Shepherd hacked with katty

Amila Prabath Wanasinghe

The owner of a piggery in Thirappane was arrested by the Kekirawa Police for killing a German Shepherd dog by hacking it with a katty.

The incident is said to have occurred after the dog had bitten several pigs in the sty. The man was arrested following a complaint made by a woman who owned the animal.

The suspect was produced before the Kekirawa Acting Magistrate Kumara Tennakoon and released on Rs. 50,000 personal bail. The case will be called again on May 27.

BCIS language awards ceremony

The language awards ceremony of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) will be held at the SBMEC Auditorium of the BMICH on April 21 under the patronage of British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka John Rankin.

Over 600 students who have successfully completed language courses in nearly 13 languages will be awarded certificates at this function.

Foreign Heads of Mission and diplomats representing countries whose languages are being taught at the BCIS will also participate.

The ceremony will also showcase the artistic tapestry of foreign cultures through song and dance recitals.

The BCIS, the academic wing of the S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike National Memorial Foundation provides a range of courses in 13 languages including local and many foreign languages in keeping with the government's objective of promoting multilingualism in the country. The BCIS for over three decades has been committed in supporting language learning among students and the public for personal, academic and professional purposes.

The languages taught at the BCIS are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Sinhala, Spanish and Tamil. The BCIS was established in 1974 by late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, breaking new ground in promoting the study of International Relations in Sri Lanka as a specialised subject.

BCIS courses in International Relations encompass wide-ranging and contemporary subject matter. The BCIS conducts regular Certificate, Diploma, Higher Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma Courses in International Relations.

Avurudu festival

The Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry Avurudu festival will be held tomorrow from 9 am at the sports development department grounds, Torrington Square. Acting Minister Wijaya Dahanayake will be the chief guest. It is organised by the ministry's welfare society with District and Divisional Secretariats. Traditional games, field events and a singing contest will be held. The Civil Defence Force music group will provide music.

Avurudu Ulela

The Avurudu Ulela organised by the Welfare Organisation, Seventh Zone Raddolugama, will be held tomorrow from 9am to 4 pm at the Seventh Zone Ground. Several competitions will be held.