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Harry Potter magic continues
Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince made more than 100 million on
its first day on worldwide release, Warner Brothers has announced.
 The
sixth film in the fantasy series opened in 20 countries on Wednesday,
July 16 raking in an astonishing 104 million US dollars in ticket sales.
Half-Blood took US 58.2 million dollars in America and Canada" a
tally that included a record US 22.2 million dollars from mid-night
screenings.
The only other summer blockbuster to do better on a Wednesday debut
in America was Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, which opened last
month with a US 62 million dollars haul.
"These outstanding numbers are another testament to the universal
appeal of JK Rowling's stories," said Veronika Kwan-Rubinek Warner
Brothers President of international distribution.
"We owe this record breaking opening to the remarkable fans who have
stood by us and who stood in line to be among the first to see Harry
Potter and The Half-Blood Prince," added Warnrer's Studio Chief Alan
Horn.
Warner Brothers plans to split the final novel Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows into two movies" part one will arrive in cinemas in Nov
2010 and part two in May 2011.
The franchise has brought in an amazing US 3 billion dollars in
revenues around the world to date since Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's
Stone was released in 2001.
 Deep within a forest a little turtle began to climb a tree. After
hours of effort he reached the top, jumped into the air waving his front
legs and crashed to the ground. After recovering, he slowly climbed the
tree again, jumped, and fell to the ground.
The turtle tried again and again while a couple of birds sitting on a
branch watched his sad efforts. Finally, the female bird turned to her
mate.
"Dear," she chirped, "I think it's time to tell him he's adopted."
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Birth and
death anniversaries
from July 19 - July 25 |
| August
2
Colonel Henry Steele Olcott,
co-founder of the Buddhist Theosophical Society was born in
1832.
Alexander Graham Bell, a
Scottish-born inventor of the telephone died in 1922.
Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda,
former Vice Chancellor of Colombo University, died in 1997.
August 3
Hema
Basnayake, former Chief Justice died in 1902.
Stanley Thilakaratne, a
former Speaker of Parliament was born in 1929.
H. S. Ismail, former Speaker
of Parliament (1956-1959) died in 1974.
Ven.
Kotikawatte Saddhatissa Nayaka Thera, was shot dead in 1989.
August 4
Hans Christian Anderson,
Danish fairytale writer died in 1875.
Queen Elizabeth 1, Mother of
the present Queen, Elizabeth II was born in 1900.
Ven.
Yatawara Sri Sangharakkhitha Anunayaka Thera, chief
incumbent of Asgiriya chapter passed away in 1998.
August 5
Dingirala,
a leader of the Kandyan rebellion was executed in 1848.
Guy de Maupassant, French
writer was born in 1850.
Fredrick Engles, German
philosopher died in 1895.
Neil A. Armstrong, American
astronaut, the first man to step on the moon was born in
1930.
Marilyn Monroe, Hollywood
actress died in 1962.
Richard Burton, Welsh actor
died in 1984.
August 6
Pope John Paul VI died in
1978.
Sir Alexander Fleming,
Scottish scientist, who discovered penicillin was born in
1881.
August 7
Rabindranath
Tagore, Bengali writer and a social philosopher, died in
1941.
Greg Chappell, former
Australian cricket captain was born in 1948.
Kumar Anandan, holder of
several Guiness records died in 1984.
August 8
Weera
Puran Appu, a Kandyan rebellion leader was executed in 1848.
Nittawela
Gunaya, famous kandyan dancer died in 1986.
General Denzil Kobbekaduwa
and eight other high ranking military officers died in a
bomb blast in 1992.
Dustin Hoffman, American
actor, was born in 1937. |
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Special events which took
place in
history from August 2 - August 9 |
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August 2
Survey Department of Ceylon
was established in 1800.
Sri Lanka Mahila Samithi was
formed in 1931.
Iraq invaded Kuwait under
the leadership of Saddam Husain in 1990.
August 3
The first sod was cut to
inaugurate the railway line from Colombo to Ambepussa in
1858.
Times of Ceylon, acquired by
the Government in 1977.
August 4
The Red Cross Society was
founded in England in 1870.
August 5
The State Pharmaceutical
Manufacturing Corp, was inaugurated in 1988.
Upper Volta became
independent in 1960.
August 6
Ceylon Savings Bank was
Established in 1832.
The first atomic bomb was
dropped on Hiroshima of Japan by America in 1945.
Bolivia became independent
in 1825.
Jamaica became independent
in 1962.
August 7
The Electric Chair death
sentence was first used in Auburn Prison in New York in
1890.
August 8
The Colombo Tea Traders
Association was formed in 1894.
Cargills Ltd was founded in
1844.
The Great Train robbery,
first biggest mail train robbery took place at Chedington,
England in 1963. |
Over 1,000 rural schools benefit
from Nenasa
by Ananda KANNANGARA
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa launches the Nenasa educational
channel at Ranjan Wijeratne Maha Vidyalaya, Moneragala. |
Sri Lanka's first Digital Satellite Television based Distance
Educational programme, organised by Dialog Telecom PLC in collaboration
with the National Institute of Education (NIE) was launched in a rural
school at Moneragala recently under the patronage of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa.
According to the programme which commenced under the theme Nenasa ',
over 1,000 children in rural schools will be able to learn local and
international educational programmes from their school computer rooms,
like other children in several other schools.The educational programmes
are prepared by the NIE, and children who have access to the Internet
could view them via www.nenasa.lk.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha
and Dialog Telekom PLC, Group Chief Executive Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya were
at the official launching which took place at Ranjan Wijeratne Maha
Vidyalaya in Pelwatta, Moneragala.Dr. Wijesuriya said that Dialog spent
over Rs. 100 million towards this programme and television reception
equipment and audio visual devices will be donated to all schools to
connect to the Nenasa network.
Nenasa is a digital satellite television channel, managed and
operated by the Ministry of Education and the National Institute of
Education (NIE). Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said the
programmes will cater to the G.C.E (Ordinary Level) and (Advanced Level)
students sitting for their syllabus in Sinhala and Tamil mediums."In
addition, teacher training and skills development programmes for the
benefit of teachers and school leavers could be viewed, especially after
school sessions," he said.
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Model UN Conference starts today
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Burning issues pertaining to Sri Lanka today, such as terrorism,
economy, child abuse and various other international issues that have an
impact on our country will be the main topics to be discussed and
debated at the Sri Lanka Model United Nations Conference (SLMUN),
commencing today at the BMICH, Colombo. It will continue till August 4.
Over 900 children from 45 schools, including schools in Jaffna,
Trincomalee and Kilinochchi will attend the conference.
Education Minister Susil Premajayantha will be the chief guest at the
opening. Speaking to the Junior Sunday Observer, SLMUN, Charge d'
Affairs', R.L. Ellawala highlighted the importance of conducting this
conference annually and said that such conferences will immensely help
the younger generation to express their views on a public platform.
SLMUN, Secretary General, Isuru Kotigala said the conference will
help to bring various ethnic groups in the country together, under one
roof, to discuss the pressing issues of the modern world.
AK
More entertainment at Leisure World
by Ananda KANNANGARA
Entertainment, amusement and surprises are the main features of Sri
Lanka's first ever theme park, 'The Leisure World' that celebrated its
third year anniversary this year.
 The
management of the 'Leisure World' introduced a number of new additions
recently to provide more entertainment for visitors.
The General Manager, Leisure World', Rezwan Mohamed said the six-acre
Rain Forest, Game Park, Aqua Trail, Relaxing Chair and Bumper Car are
the new additions, introduced to the `Leisure World' recently.
He said these new additions were introduced mostly for the
entertainment of school children who visit the park in their thousands
during school vacations.
He added that for the first time in Sri Lanka, a new item, helicopter
rides will be introduced for visitors, commencing next month.
"We hope to open the park until 9.00 pm on weekdays and public
Holidays during the forthcoming August school vacation," he said.
'The Leisure World' which is located in a 57 acre land at Kaluaggala,
Hanwella was ceremonially opened in 2006 by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The theme park consists of two sections, the Amusement section and
the Water related activities section.
`Leisure World', Guest Relation Executive, Yaseer Saleem and Sales
and Marketing Executive Sanoji Wijesundera said apart from the new
additions, crescent swing, swing around, boat riding, octopus, lazy
river, kiddies pool, wave pool, log flume, happy express, super swing
space ship and thunder cruise are the other existing games at the park.
A gift for IDPs
A substantial amount of essential items such as milk powder,
medicines, toiletries, bed linen, clothing and food was collected by the
grade six students of the Overseas School of Colombo to be handed over
to the IDPs via the Government Secretariat. The students, who are
actively promoting the campaign among the primary and secondary classes
are seen here with the items.
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A substantial amount of essential items such as milk powder,
medicines, toiletries, bed linen, clothing and food was
collected by the grade six students of the Overseas School
of Colombo to be handed over to the IDPs via the Government
Secretariat. The students, who are actively promoting the
campaign among the primary and secondary classes are seen
here with the items.
Pix: Edward Weerasinghe - Kelaniya Group Corr. |
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