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| Sunday, 11 May 2003 |
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Vice Admiral Jacob to return with report Former Vice Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy Vice Admiral P. J. Jacob is due to return to Sri Lanka tomorrow (12) to submit his report on sea security. Admiral Jacob had met G. L. Peiris, Milinda Moragoda, key Ministers involved in the peace process, Navy Commander Admiral Sandagiri, Naval Commanders of North, East areas, Director General Operations and Head of the SLMM during his earlier visit where he had studied the situation thoroughly. Admiral Jacob is expected to submit his report after visiting the area and taking a second look at the ground situation. Special security for Vesak Special security arrangements will be in place throughout the country during the Vesak season and a special police force will also be set up as a safety measure for foreign state leaders who are due to arrive for the Vesak festival celebrations, later this week. Prime Minister of Thailand, Takshin Shrinawathra will be the chief guest at this year's vesak celebrations in Anuradhapura, Kandy and Colombo. Several other foreign delegates are also expected to arrive here to view the massive Vesak celebrations organised by the government and private sector companies. Special traffic arrangements have also been made to minimise congestion with alternative routes introduced for the use of vehicles. Bad weather warning The Department of Meteorology has issued a 36-hour bad weather warning, stating that the tropical disturbance in the southwest Bay of Bengal about 800 km to the East of Batticaloa is expected to deepened into a depression. Fairly strong Westerly winds are expected with intermittent showers over most parts of the island. Sea areas off Eastern, Southern and Western coasts will be fairly rough at times with intermittent showers and fairly strong winds. Thermal Scanners for BIA Two thermal imaging scanners, to help identify SARS patients, will be installed at the arrival gates at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, within the next two weeks. Two local experts flew to Singapore, last week, to check the machines and their efficacy. The Airport and Aviation Services Authority decided to import these machines on their recommendations. Hemasiri Fernando, Chairman, of the Authority told the 'Sunday Observer' that the two machines would cost around Rs. 15 million and the Treasury had given its approval for the importation. -SS Rahul Dravid to honeymoon in Sri Lanka From Roshin Varghese in Bangalore: The Indian cricket team's vice captain Rahul Dravid who married Vajeta Pendharkar in Bangalore a week ago, is to spend his honeymoon in Sri Lanka. The couple hope to escape the prying eyes of media and fans at an undisclosed destination here. The private, low-key wedding ceremony took place 4th May in a "high security zone" on the outskirts of the city, with only the family and a few close friends in attendance. The press were not invited. Two more women Brigadiers Colonels Sriyani Warusawithana and Chandra Jayaweera of the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps were promoted to the rank of Brigadier last week, bringing the total number of women Brigadiers to four. Both Brigadier Warusawithana and Jayaweera joined the Army as doctors MBBS and Dental respectively in the rank of Captains, twenty one years ago and held many responsible appointments. At present Brigadier Warusawithana is the Director Rehabilitation and Jayaweera Deputy Director, Dental Services at Army Headquarters. Brigadier Indira Wijeratna, Director Legal Services, was the first women brigadier in the Sri Lanka Army followed by Brigadier Mohanthi Pieris. Mass Comm. Ministry urges 'responsible journalism' Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Communication Kumar Abeysinghe has written to the Presidents of the Editor's Guild and the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka urging that the highest norms of journalism be maintained when reporting on the ethnic conflict and that the media should engage in self regulation when reporting on such issues. The letters are in response to an article in a daily paper (not an ANCL publication) under the headline 'Muttur village under LTTE control'. The Ministry Secretary has stated: "Anyone ought to know the ethnic conflict is a sensitive issue with everyone walking on tightropes to maintain a fragile peace. Therefore it is essential that the highest norms of journalism be maintained in reporting on this issue, in such a manner that it will not give rise to unnecessary communal tension." The Ministry Secretary has also stated that the government believes the media should engage in self regulation and has no intension of interfering in any way. Child with heart ailment needs help Sajith Madusanka of 109, Appugewatte, Wattala is afflicted with a heart ailment. The Apollo Hospital authorities have advised his parents that an urgent operation has to be performed to save his life. The cost of the operation has been estimated at Rs. 350,000/- The President's Fund has allocated a sum of Rs. 150,000. In view of the needy circumstances, the parents request financial assistance from kind donors. Donations can be made to Commercial Bank City Office Account No. 8758202101. In the U.S. Army Shane Tillekeratne aged 21 joined the US Army in the year 2000 straight after his high school graduation to qualify himself as a helicopter pilot which was his childhood dream. He works on the helicopters called 'Chanook' which the US Army generally uses to transport troops and supplies. He is from California and is the only Sri Lankan serving in his Regiment, 101 Airborne Aviation Regiment 7th Battalion from Fort Campbell Kentucky. He was in Afghanistan for about six months prior to his departure to Kuwait last month. Presently he is serving in Baghdad at the US Air Base. |
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