In brief

The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) and Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly hold a series of monthly lectures and discussions to initiate a public dialogue on issues of public concern. Picture shows ANCL Chairman Bandula Padmakumara, SLFI Chairman Dr Ranjith Bandara exchanging copies of the signed MoU. In the picture are ANCL Editorial Director Seelaratne Senarath and ANCL General Manager Abhaya Amaradasa. Picture by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa

Wall collapses killing child

S Kathiragamathamby, Jaffna special correspondent

A child who was injured when a wall he scaled collapsed on him died at hospital. Antony David Vithujan, 11, of Emaiyanan, Udupiddy Tamil school had scaled over a parapat wall which was wet following the recent rain. The boy's friend who followed him, was also injured and admitted to Manthikai hospital.

Farmer dies in elephant attack

Amila Prabath Wanasinghe

A 55-year-old farmer died after being attacked by a wild elephant at the Uluketawewa paddy field in Kekirawa Sunday.

The deceased was identified as I G Ranbanda of Kithulhitiyawa.

Galkiriyagama Police are investigating.

Two drown in Palaminmadu

Jawfer Khan, Batticaloa group corr.

Two young men were drowned in the sea off the Palaminmadu light house in Batticaloa while bathing with three others Sunday afternoon.

They were identified as Sinharaja Joachim (19) of Punuchchumunai and T Krishnarajah (20) of Paratkudah.

Krishnarajah's body was found the same evening and Kaththankudy Police were searching the area for Joachim's body.

Kaththankudy Police are investigating.

Buddhist talk in English

Prof Raja de Alwis, will deliver a Buddhist Talk in English, on "Dealing with visions in meditation", at a meeting of the Servants of the Buddha Society, Maitri Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya, Saturday October 16 at 4.30pm.

All are welcome.

Int'l Poverty Alleviation Day national program

A national program to mark International Poverty Alleviation Day will be held at the Talawa Pradeshiya Sabha playground on October 17 under the patronage of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

The program will include an exhibition and sale of goods produced by Samurdhi beneficiaries, laying foundation stones for a Diriya Piyasa housing project and launching of several other rehabilitation projects in the area.

Annual academic sessions

The annual academic sessions of College of Venereologists of Sri Lanka will be held on October 14, 15 and 16.

The inauguration ceremony will be held on October 15 at 6.45pm, at the Auditorium of Hatton National Bank Towers (level 22), No. 479, T B Jaya Mawatha, Colombo 10.

Safe Kerosene lamp distribution

The Dayaka Sabha of the Kalugala Weheragala Purana Raja Maha Vihara has organized a distribution of safe kerosene lamps on October 16 at the temple premises in Palagala Divisional Secretariat area. This was on the direction of the Chief Incumbent of Ven Kosgalle Rathanajothi thera.

On the same day 200 spectacles will also be distributed. A police mobile service too will be held by the Galkiriyagama police.

Lecture

The Sri Lanka German Friendship Society will hold a lecture on "20 years of German Re-unification" by Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sri Lanka Dr Stefan Weckbach on Friday, October 15 at 5.30pm at the Goeth Institute (German Cultural Institute), 39, Gregorys Road, Colombo 7.

All are welcome.

Workshop

The Higher Education Ministry has organized a free workshop for university teachers who are reading for their Masters and Ph.Ds. The workshop will be held at the Post Graduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, 28, Lesley Ranagala Mawatha, Colombo 8 on October 19, 20, 21. Registration by October 13, 2010.

More information on Tel no. 2686939.

Get-together

St. Benedict's College old boarders are having their annual get-together on October 22 (Poya day) at 9.30 a.m. For more details contact: Gerry on 0777668392.

Drug addict arrested, mobile phones recovered

Rohana De Silva, Rawathawatte Group Corr

The Crime Division of Mount Lavinia police yesterday arrested a drug addict who was accused of stealing more than 40 mobile phones worth Rs 4,00,000. He was in possession of 40 mg of heroin at the time of his arrest.

The suspect who is a resident of Kalutara was in the habit of stealing mobile phones from unsuspected passengers who get into Colombo bound buses from Kalutara. Mount Lavinia Police are conducting investigations on the directives of SSP Hemantha Adhikari.

Water interruption

The water supply to Matale and several surrounding areas will be interrupted on October 13 from 4am to 6pm to facilitate urgent repairs to the filtration plant of the Matale Water Supply Scheme, the NWSDB said.

The areas affected are Matale town, Palapathwala, Aluvihare, Thenna, Imbuldanda, Kirigalpotta, Matale Watta, Dunkolawatta, Udupihilla, Naralanda, Rattota Road and Ihala Harasgama.

Suspect nabbed

Indika Polkotuwa

A suspect who snatched a pair of earnings and a wallet from a young couple by threatening them with a broken piece of glass on Louis Pieris Mawatha, Kandy was nabbed by officers of the Central Province Police Intelligence Unit minutes after the robbery. Police said the 21-year-old suspect is an IRC.

Investigations are continuing directed by Inspector R U Tennekoon under the supervision of SSP Ranjith Kasthuriratne.

Arrested for possessing porn material

Indika Polkotuwa

The Kandy Police Vice Squad has arrested 152 persons who possessed mobile phones with phonographic material during the past nine months. Among those arrested were several students attached to Kandy schools.

Most of the students were severely warned and discharged by Police while others were prosecuted, said Vice Squad OIC Chief Inspector Kulasekera.

Chain snatcher caught red handed

Indhika Polkotuwa and Asela Kuruluwansa

Kandy Police yesterday arrested a chain snatcher who journeyed by train all the way from Mirigama to the Kandy town to engage in the theft of gold chains. He was arrested when he snatched a gold chain of a woman who was taking her little daughter to school. The gold chain was said to be worth Rs 85,000. It was revealed that the suspect traveled to Kandy from Mirigama on a daily basis and after snatching chains of women returned to his original destination by train.

It is also reveled that the suspect had relieved a woman from Kekirawa of her gold chain worth Rs 80,000 near the Kandy railway station two days ago.

Bodies washed ashore

Panadura Group Corr

A 17-year-old and 57-year swimming instructor drowned in the sea off Panadura last Sunday and washed ashore on Panadura beach on Monday. The public and Panadura Police rushed the bodies to the Panadura Base Hospital.

Their relatives identified the bodies.

Heavy fines on drunken drivers

Kapila Somarathne, Panadura Group Corr.

Sixty persons who pleaded guilty to riding motorcycles and driving vehicles under the influence of liquor were fined Rs 70,000.

Their driving licences were also suspended for two months by Panadura Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake.