The reception hall built by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLA F) facing the Negombo lagoon in Katunayake was opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday. The opening also coincided with events to mark the SLA F’s 62nd anniversary. This facility enables service personnel to hold weddings and other functions at a fraction of the cost of hotels which offer similar facilities. The reception hall will also be available
for public booking. Ministers Felix Perera, Priyankara Guneratne, Deputy Minister Sarath Guneratne, Sudarshani Fernandopulle MP, Defence and Urban Development Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Air Force Commander Air Marshal H D Abeywickrama, Army Commander Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage, IGP N K Ilangakoon and Chief of Presidential Staff Gamini Senarath were among others present.
Pictures by Chandana Perera

Agitation on Lanka’s Human Rights record:

GUNS FALL SILENT

UK, France etc mum:

Neither Britain nor France raised the issue of human rights in Sri Lanka in the time allotted to them for the opening statement at the 22nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva although they had been in the forefront of the Western powers’ campaign to ensure civilian safety in the last and decisive phase of Eelam War IV in 2009, the New Indian Express reported. Germany did not speak about the Rights situation in Lanka. The US was the only member country to raise the issue of Human Rights violations in the time allotted for it.

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UN human rights agenda on SL prejudiced; won’t change

‘The Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) would rather pursue its own agenda on Sri Lanka than take cognizance of the country’s progress in national reconciliation,’ said Mohan Samaranayaka, presidential spokesman.

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US pleased with N- E progress

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator (SDAA) Denise Rollins expressed her satisfaction over the development work in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

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Pictorial warnings on cigarette packs:

Bigger the Better

Commenting on efforts to introduce pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs, experts said yesterday the effectiveness will depend upon the size and the position of the warning message. Cancer Care Association president and National Cancer Hospital medical officer Dr Samadhi Rajapaksa said the effectiveness of warning labels has been shown to increase with the size of the warnings.

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