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| Sunday, 02 March 2003 |
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Packed Kovils in N-E Thiruketheswaram in Mannar and Thirukoneswaram temples in Trincomalee, the two ancient abodes of Lord Shiva in Sri Lanka were crowded with several thousand Hindu devotees observing Shivarathri yesterday. Reports from Mannar and Trincomalee told the 'Sunday Observer' unlike in the past, large number of devotees have gathered from various parts to these two shrines, where the access routes were shut down due to the warring conditions in the north and the east. Special religious ceremonies were also held at various Hindu temples in the Jaffna peninsula and the people were seen moving freely throughout the night attending religious ceremonies and viewing the cultural events. SLFP, JVP - final draft ready The draft document for the Memorandum of Understanding between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna for the formation of a joint front will be handed over to the JVP by the SLFP delegation on March 4, according to SLFP sources. They also said that necessary amendments will be proposed to the document by the JVP within a week time and the final document will be presented to the Central Committees of both the parties. PA sources said that the signing of the MoU will take place this month. New parking regulations in City New parking regulations along Galle Road and the Duplication Road came into effect on February, paving the way for a smoother traffic flow. Accordingly, on both roads, Galle Road (from Galle Face to Moratuwa) and Duplication Road (from Liberty Circus to Dickman's Road) parking will not be permitted on the sea side from 7 am to 12.30 pm and on the landside, from 12.30 pm to 7.00 pm. GCE O/L results out before N'Year Results of the GCE O/L examination which was held last December, will be released before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Examination Commissioner W. A. M. Wijayasiri told the "Sunday Observer". A record number of 513,876 candidates sat for the exam held islandwide from December 2 to 13. This included 383,015 school candidates and 138,052 private candidates. (A.G.) Integrating IHL & HR education into defence services More officers of the armed forces are to follow International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Instructor Course in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Institute of Human Rights. Thirty-five officers will commence their training on March 5 at General Sir John Kotalawela Defence Academy, Ratmalana under the Army's five-year plan of IHL and HR education.At the end of five years, it hopes to integrate IHL and HR education into the military curriculum and become self sustainable. Brigadier S.A. de Silva, Director, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law of the Sri Lanka Army, said that this training would be of immense benefit for the ongoing peace process as it would help to educate members of the armed forces of their responsibility towards achieving sustainable peace. The Army has so far trained 161 officer instructors through six training courses in the past and hopes to train 250 officers by 2005. The training programme has been designed to suit the daily activities of the participants in their service in conflict situations, military sources said. Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment promotion & Constitutional Affairs, will grace the inaugural session of the seventh course. The Ven. Saddhatissa Thera remembered by Wimal de Silva The thirteenth anniversary of the passing away of the Most Ven. Hammalawa Saddhatissa Maha Nayaka Thera, the former Sanghanayaka of Great Britain, was held amidst a large congregation of devotees and members of various faiths at the Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Centre on 15 and 16 of this month. The anniversary commemorative meeting was held on Saturday February 15, which was well attended by various dignitaries, devotees and monks including the Acting High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the UK, Mrs. Seneviratne, and several officers of the High Commission. The Ambassador for Myanmar, Prof. Kyaw Win, Colonel Sir Neil Thorne, HM the Queen's representative, Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Brent, were also present. The meeting commenced with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp followed by offering flowers by the Ven. G. Piyadassi, head of the SSIBC, in memory of the late prelate. After the administering Pansil by the Ven. Sirisumana Thera, the students of the Sri Saddhatissa Dhamma School recited a commemorative song eulogising the achievements of the late thera. No O/L results for cheating students Five hundred incidents of cheating and violence during the 2002 GCE O/L examination are being investigated by the CID and the Department of Examinations. High ranking officials of the Department of Examinations warned that any student found guilty of cheating will have his/ her results cancelled and will be banned from sitting any State examinations, for a specified period. Five-month-old needs help Five-month old Chammika Thidas Sandaruwan who is suffering from complete AV Canal defect and is in critical need of an urgent heart surgery, his parents appeal to the public to help them to find the funds for the surgery. According to Dr. Prasad Krishnan of Apollo Hospitals, Colombo, a sum of Rs. 300,000 is required to perform the surgery which has to be done within two months. Those who wish to contribute to little Chammika are requested could remit to People's Bank A/c 0225-2-037225-3. Further details could be obtained by contacting Dharmasiri Dissanayake at No. 119, Hali Ela, Uduwara. |
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