News In brief
Suppression of Nuclear Terrorism
Sri Lanka has joined in to the UN's International Convention for the
Suppression of Nuclear Terrorism. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama
on Friday submitted Sri Lanka's ratification for the convention. He
presented it to the UN Under Secretary General in charge of Treaties,
the instrument of ratification of the International Convention for the
Suppression of Nuclear Terrorism.
International Elders Day
A national program is organised by the National Secretariat for
Elders in collaboration with the HelpAge Sri Lanka, to commemorate the
2007 International Elders Day, which falls tomorrow.
Tourism Development Authority
A Tourism Development Authority will be set up under the new Tourism
Act No. 38 of 2005 which will come into operation from tomorrow. The
'Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau' will undertake tourism marketing
and promotion and the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau will continue to
function while the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management
will be set up under the new Act shortly.
Better prices for crops
Farmers in the Dry Zone are receiving better prices for the crops
cultivated in the yala season. The price of a kilo of 'Samba' paddy has
increased to Rs. 22 and a kilo of 'Nadu' paddy to Rs. 17. The government
guaranteed price for the two varieties of paddy is Rs. 17.50 and Rs.
16.50 per kilo.
Children's Painting Festival
The State Children's Painting Festival organised by the Cultural
Affairs Department and the sub-committee of the National Paintings and
Sculptures will be held from tomorrow October. 1 at 10.00 a.m. at the
National Arts Gallery to mark the World Children's Day. The event which
is an annual event, with prime intention of improving and encouraging
painting ability of children. Award-winning paintings will be exhibited
at the Gallery up to October. 3 from 9.00 am. to 4.00 p.m. Cultural
Affairs Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene is scheduled to participate as
the chief guest at the prize giving ceremony.
Tyronne, Lanka's envoy to France
Senior Presidential Advisor, Tyronne Fernando will assume duties as
Sri Lanka's Ambassador to France in January.
Former Foreign Minister and Governor of the North and East Province
Fernando was also the Minister of Law Reforms and Media. He was elected
Member of Parliament from his Moratuwa electorate continuously for
twenty-seven years since 1977.
Coconut oil lorry robbed
A lorry selling coconut oil in Talduwa, Avissawella areas and on its
way to Kirillawela was alleged to have been robbed of Rs. 5 1/2 lakhs
cash and a cellular phone, by persons who were travelling in the
vehicle. On instructions of Kegalle SSP, Wilfred Mahanayake, police have
arrested two and recovered the stolen money and produced the suspects
before Ruwanwella Acting Magistrate, Suraweera Wickremesinghe who
remanded them.
Tharaveeh prayers at Prisons
Arrangements have been made by the Young Men's Muslim Association,
Maligawatte (Inc) in cooperation with the National Council of YMMA's of
Sri Lanka to enable Muslim inmates of the New Magazine and Colombo
Remand Prisons to break the fast during this holy month of Ramazan. They
will be provided with rice, coconut, dates and other items to prepare
their meals during the period.
New buses for East
The Ministry of Nation Building has sent 28 new buses and introduced
new bus routes in the East. Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa said that
the new buses were handed over to the CTB bus depots at Kalmunai,
Batticaloa, Valaichenai and Trincomalee. Five new buses were given to
the Kalmunai bus depot.
Power of attorney to press charges
A Sri Lankan housemaid, Anista Marie, who claims her Saudi sponsor
falsely imprisoned her for eight years without pay for her services, has
given the Sri Lanka mission in KSA power of attorney to press charges
against her sponsor. Arab News reported that Marie has said she would
like to get home to her family as soon as possible and added that the
desire to leave was stronger than her will to stay in Saudi to press
criminal charges against her sponsor, a Saudi woman whose name has not
been provided.
World Children's Day at Seevali Library
A function has been organised by the Seevali Branch Library to
commemorate the World Children's Day on October. 1 at the Seevali Branch
Library, Borella, on the invitation of Mrs. S. D. Sunethra
Wickremesinghe, JP, MMC under the distinguished patronage of Uvais
Mohamed Emthiyas, Mayor of Colombo with the participation of A. K. M. S.
Rajendran, Deputy Mayor of Colombo and Municipal Councillors on Monday,
Oct. 1 at 2.00 p.m. |