|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 20 October 2002 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Lankan honoured K. M. Opananda, Sri Lankan tea smallholder was awarded, the 2002 Y. S. Rao Award at the 2002 'World Food day' celebrations held recently in Bangkok, organised by Food And Agricultural Organization (FAO), Asia Pacific Office of the United Nations. He was among five selected outstanding farmers from the Asia Pacific region to receive the award from the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand, Sora-at Klinpratoom, during the 2002 World Food Day regional celebration in Bangkok, for their achievements and contributions to their countries. The other awardees represented China, Palau, Thailand and Vietnam. Opananda is a tea smallholder. He owns a plantation in Gonawalapathana village in Nawalapitiya in the hills of central Sri Lanka. A chemical engineer by profession he gave up lucrative overseas job to return to his farming roots nearly two decades ago. ********************** Sith Ru notches eleven mark The eleventh anniversary of 'Sith Ru' Cultural Centre will be held today, October 20 from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at the John de Silva Memorial Theatre. It will also mark the eleventh anniversary of 'Sith Ru' Environmental Development Foundation and 'Sith Ru' Sports and the Welfare Society. The award presentation and musical show will commence at 6.00 p.m. ********************** Red wine for Reds Hardly anyone bargained for the treat of old red wine to wash down Jetwing culinary triumphs at that venue where many a grim battle was hatched in the old days of unionised labour and class struggles when even a 'cuppa' was rare. Widening of Cotta Road, no doubt a fall out of the much maligned open economy, as rumour has it, had brought in an unexpected bonanza as a price for the lost frontage that went under macadam. So to town they went on the grand old double doctor's residence sickled a new lawn, hammered a timber ceiling. On Thursday the old 'lefties' or at last some of them among unfailing loyalists, met under varnished roof and in CFL light to listen to the Honourable one who showered praise on the newly appointed Chairman of the South Centre not to be mistaken for an NGO in Hambantota. Unkind commentators say the double doctor rode to heights on the wings of the malaria mosquito and his nephew another doctor is making valiant efforts to reach those heights on the wings of the dengue mosquito. Whatever cynics might say Thursday's take off augurs well for the series of like seminars that are to come, in the silver jubilee year of the open economy. The old red guard has surely come a long way in meeting the challenges of "development". - Sniper ********************** Forged car permit racket bared An office aide attached to a government department has been taken into custody by the Kandy Police along with a forged permit to import duty-free vehicles, a senior police officer told "Lankapuwath." The suspect was arrested when he was in the act of selling the forged permit for a sum of Rs. 650,000 to a Kandy businessman. The suspect had earlier imported several vehicles in a similar manner. Several national identity cards as well as cards used for bank transactions in his possession were also seized. ********************** Model primary school project launched With the aim of upgrading the primary section in schools throughout the country, the Education Ministry recently launched a New Model Primary School Project (NMPSP) under the directive of the Education, Human Resources and Cultural Affairs Minister, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku. According to the Ministry sources, fifty schools will be selected for the first phase from different districts. " So far we have selected, ten primary schools from Western province, five from Uva province, five from North Central province, five from Vayamba, five from Sabaragamuwa, five from Southern province and one from Central province, a spokesman for the Education Ministry said. The project aims to assist in the development of IT skills of students from Grade 1 to five and improvement of playgrounds and classrooms. The Education Ministry officials will monitor the progress of the project at a low cost. "We have already commenced this project in the selected ten primary schools of the Western province. It will also be implemented in several other schools shortly", he said. ********************** Wap Full Moon Day Message from the Minister of Buddha Sasana W.J.M. Lokubandara Wap Poya signifies the end of Was-season, observed by the Maha Sanga. Next follows the fourth month, which is popularly known among Buddhists as "Cheewara Masaya", famous for Katina Pinkama, conducted with utmost veneration and devotion by Buddhists. The dawn of Wap Poya witness the Katina Cheewara Pooja, the ritual which far surpasses all other meritorious deeds. Wap provides opportunity to Maha Sanga to concentrate more in self-emancipation, in seclusion, away from the laity. From the stand point of Dhamma, Wap-season is equally important for Sanga as well as laity. During this season Buddhists are more and more inclined to observe religious precepts leading to a righteous life. Engagement in meritorious acts in quest of supermundane bliss along falls short of our obligations towards the perpetration of Buddha Sasana. The enlightened, follows the sunshine path of Dhamma culminating in realisation of Nibbana, whilst, the ignorant who indulges in material comforts always entertains far and apprehensions. Hence the need to tread the path of Dhamma leading to enlightenment of Summum-bonum of life. ********************** Gamini Dissanayake's statue to be unveiled today Gamini Dissanayake Commemoration Society has organised several programs to mark the eighth death anniversary of late Gamini Dissanayake who was assassinated while addressing a Presidential election campaign in 1994. Tomorrow, Oct 21 at 8.30 a.m. there will be a floral tribute to Gamini Dissanayake statue at Ananda Cumaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo, under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, which will be followed by re-naming Mahaweli Centre auditorium as Gamini Dissanayake Auditorium, by Power and Energy Minister Karu Jayasuriya. Colombo Mayor Prasanna Gunawardena, Plantation Industries Deputy Minister Navin Dissanayake will also participate in religious ceremonies and other activities connected with the commemoration. ********************** Appeals Master S.P.G. Yogeswararajan (12), a Tibia patient at 21/6, Church Lane, Wattala has been recommended for the Lim Reconstruction system and this would cost Rs. 190,000. Parents of the boy being poor seek financial support from the generous public. Those willing to help are kindly requested to send their contribution to A/c No. 013 5023 9716 at Sampath Bank, Maharagama branch. **** Mrs. Mala Hassen of No. B15 1/6, Soysapura Flats, Moratuwa has to undergo haemodialysis, thrice a week which cost around Rs. 15,000 a week. Dr. Chula Herath has recommended haemodialysis at the Western Infirmary by Prof. Rizvie Sheriff. She and her family are unable to meet the above cost and appeal for assistance from the general public. Contributions could be made to AC No. 0080 207 451640-1 at People's Bank, Ratmalana. Tel. 605175 (Res). ********************** Confab on peace process 'The stand of the Muslims in the on-going Peace Process' will be the theme of a major conference of Muslim organisations and community leaders convened this morning by the Council of Muslims of Sri Lanka at the Islamic Centre, Maligawatte, Colombo. The organisers hope to initiate a process that would result in proposals to be submitted to the peace negotiating process. Dr. M. S, Anees, Senior Lecturer, Political Science, University of Colombo will present the case of Muslims of the North, M. I. M. Shadath, Asst. Lecturer, University of Colombo, on Muslims of the East, Dr. M. Maharoof, National Muslim Movement on Muslims of the Central region, and Dr. M. A. M. Shukri, Director, Jamiah Naleemiah on Muslims of the South. Other speakers include Javid Yusuf, attorney, Mr. M. I. M. Mohideen and Mr. A. A. M. Marleen, PC. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
