Online edition of Sunday Observer

The United National Party will give priority to the stalled peace talks at the two-day National Executive Meeting of the UNP, to be held on July 4, 5 at the Mahaweli Sports Complex at Embilipitiya, Ratnapura. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will preside over the meeting, and will address the Exco on the second day of the meeting.

The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) is expected to discuss crucial political matters including contentious issues within the party when its Executive Committee meets on July 6.

While party sources said that it is a routine meeting that will focus on the current political situation and 'certain' party matters, other reliable sources said that the deliberations of the meeting would be on more crucial matters.

Party President V. Anandasangaree had expressed concern over LTTE domination in the party while a majority of the party's seven member parliamentary group had opposed him in the matter.

He, had earlier stepped down from his position as member of the Working Committee of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) of which the TULF is the main constituent. Senior Vice President of the party and MP for Batticaloa, Joseph Pararajasingham was appointed in his place. P. K

The Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Ven. Udugama Buddharakhitha Thera who was to make a historic journey to Jaffna today, has called off the visit due to security reasons. The Ven. Thera was to deliver an anusasana at a public meeting, organised by the World Solidarity Forum.

A message issued by the Thera will be read out at the meeting to be held at the Veerasingham Hall, Jaffna under the theme "Coming to a Common Mind and Raising a Common Voice".

Rev. Fr. C. G. Jeyakumar, Director, HUDEC said that the organisers have received a message to say that the Mahanayake Thera will not be attending the meeting "due to security" reasons.

Here a police officer checking the boot of a vehicle near the Gamini Hall checkpoint, at the approach to D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha. (Pic. Chintaka Kumarasinghe).

Inspector General of Police T. E. Anandarajah has ordered an increase in the number of checkpoints in Colombo and the suburbs, following the recent rise in crime, and after the recent day light murder of Dehiwala Police Intelligence Unit O.I.C. Sunil Thabrew.

Effective from last Tuesday, the checkpoints will be in operation in areas identified by the police as the most likely places where weapons have been sneaked in. Anandarajah told the Sunday Observer that the exercise would be carried out at random and only for a short time.

An 8.5 per cent private bus fare hike comes into effect Tuesday following the National Transport Policy drafted and activated last year. the National Transport Commission (NTC) Chairman A.B. Thalagune, announced. Accordingly Rs. 3.00 and Rs. 6.00 fare will remain unchanged, but the Rs.4.00 fare will go up by .50 cents and the others will also be increased accordingly. Both normal and air-conditioned bus services will also make the necessary conversions.

Amidst widespread protest by progressive Hindus, the ancient ritual of mass animal sacrifice took place in Jaffna last week with 850 goats and 600 chickens slaughtered in the name of God Veerapathra, the Hindu deity of vigil.

The ritual sacrifice took place at the remote village of Kavunawatta, close to Kankesanthurai, in the Jaffna Peninsula. According to reports from Jaffna, the goats and chickens had been beheaded one after another on a special altar erected specifically for sacrifice. The mass sacrifice is an age old ritual in the Peninsula which had not been practised in recent years due to displacement of civilians.

Several hundred people are reported to have participated in the sacrifice by offering their goats and chickens.

Soon after the ceremony the meat had been auctioned with a full grown goat fetching over Rs. 35,000. (A.P.)

Singapore Buddha Viharadhipathi the Ven. Shastrapathi Galle Uditha Thera, has been conferred the title, 'Saddhammajothi Sihapura Sangapathi' by the Karaka and Palaka Sangha Sabha of Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya in appreciation of his services to Buddhism.

Ordained at the age of 23 the erudite monk had embarked himself on a mission to propagate Dhamma abroad. In 1995, he was appointed Viharadhipathi of the Singapore Buddha Viharaya.

The official ceremony to present Akthapatra will be held today June 29 at Weliwatte Wijayananda Maha Viharaya Galle under the patronage of the Most Ven. Weweldeniye Medhalankara Nayake Thera, head of Ramanna Nikaya. A book titled 'Singapore Sangapathi Ven. Galle Uditha Thera' authored by Sahitya Keerthi Jayantha Sumanasekera will also be launched at the ceremony.

Sirasa, Island and Divaina, special correspondent P. C. Hettiarachchi of 10, Weavers Road, Chilaw is suffering from severe heart disease and has been advised to undergo early coronary artery bypass graft surgery by Dr. Y. K. M. Lahie, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, Nawaloka Pvt. Hospital, Colombo.

This surgery to be performed at Nawaloka Hospital (Pvt.) Ltd will cost around Rs. 270,000, which Hettiarachchi cannot afford. He makes an earnest appeal for contributions from the readers and the public to enable him to undergo urgent surgery and save his life. Contribution would be made to A/c: No. 01261875301 at the Commercial Bank, Wennappuwa.