[In brief]
School entrepreneur exhibition
by Mohammed NAALIR
The Colombo Regional school level entrepreneur exhibition under the
theme “Build-up our children; Build up our nation and the awards
ceremony 2008” organised by Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka under the
restructuring and expansion of young entrepreneurs program Sri Lanka was
held at St. Joseph’s College Bonjean Memorial Hall recently.
Mlesna Tea Company Chairman Anslam Perera was the Chief Guest.Thirty
awards were presented to the young entrepreneurs under the categories of
human resource production, marketing and finance, best businessman, best
production, best company and best annual report during this event.The
entrepreneurs from St. Joseph’s College, Thurstan College, Musaeus
College and Ananda College participated and displayed their products.
Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka (YESL) launched its program in
Batticaloa in the Eastern Province with a view to creating trust and
unity for progress, through entrepreneur education and socio-economic
development in the country.
As a result of this program forty students and their teachers
participated in the exhibition and awards ceremony from St. Vincent
Girls’ High School, St. Michael’s College and Vivekananda College
Batticaloa.
Rail track to Mannar
The Ceylon Government Railway has embarked on a project to relay the
Railway track between Talaimannar and Medawachchiya, which ceased in
1990, railway sources said.
A top-level technical team comprising senior CGR engineers visited
the Mannar region and explored the possibility of reconstructing the
railway track between the Talaimannar pier and the Medawachchiya
station, sources said. The railway service between the Talaimannar pier
and Medawachchiya commenced during British rule in 1914. The total
distance between Talaimannar and Medawachchiya is 106 kilometres. In
June 1990 the railway service between Talaimannar and Medawachchiya came
to standstill following damage to railway property by the LTTE.
According to sources six main stations, five substations and four
bridges have to be rebuilt on the Mannar, Medawachchiya stretch. Railway
operations from Talaimannar to the South via Medawachchiya were launched
by the British to transport the South Indian labour force to the hill
country to expand the tea industry. Later the clay was transported from
Murungan on the Mannar line to the Kankesanthurai Cement factory, the
sources said. AP
SLMA seminar for young doctors
by Edward ARAMBEWELA
The Sri Lanka Medical Association will conduct a one-day seminar for
junior doctors on July 19 at the Lionel Memorial Auditorium at Wijerama
Mawatha.
At this seminar Dr. Abaya Nanayakkara of the Air Force will give an
encouraging talk to the young doctors in joining the Medical Corp in the
armed services in the country.
Dr. Ruvaiz Haniffa, Secretary of the SLMA told the Sunday Observer
that the SLMA has been holding this seminar for junior doctors for the
last 10 years, and at every seminar under this group doctors have been
encouraged to join the medical corps in the country’s armed services and
help the country in maintaining a healthy armed services.
The seminar will be inaugurated by the SLMA president Prof. Rezvi
Sheriff, and the five group sessions for the day will be chaired
respectively by Dr. Lucian Jayasuriya, Dr. Vijira Dissanayake, Dr.
Indika Karunatilleke and Dr. Ruvaiz Hannifa and among those who will be
lecturing will be Prof. Ranil Fernando, Prof. Colvin Goonaratna and Dr.
Abaya Nanayakkara.
The seminar which will start at 8.30 am will end by 1.40 p.m.
The topics covered will include Management, Surgery and Finer
Specialities Universities, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Forensic Medicine,
Venereology, Community Medicine, Microbiology, Dermatology and
Pathology.
India assured of 13th Amendment
India and Sri Lanka assured to them that it would soon start an
inclusive political process of dialogue and devolution with the Tamils
in the island nation. Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna
said, “We have been assured by the Sri Lankan Government of its
intention to pursue a political process that envisages a broader
dialogue with all parties including the Tamil parties, the full
implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution and
to go beyond so as to achieve meaningful devolution of powers.” “We are
convinced that a closure to the cycle of violence and terrorism that has
plagued Sri Lanka required an inclusive political process of dialogue
and devolution. Such a process must address the legitimate aspirations
of the minorities, including the Tamil community, within the democratic
framework of a united Sri Lanka,” he said.
Mahanayake visits Settikulam camp
The Most Venerable Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera,
Mahanayaka of the Malwatte Chapter of the Siamese sect visited the IDP
Welfare Centre in Settikulam in Northern Sri Lanka today (July 10) and
assured the inmates that they will be resettled in their original
villages as soon as possible. The Mahanayaka of Malwatte, is the chief
monk of the largest Buddhist denomination in Sri Lanka and his visit, a
first for someone who has held this office, is considered to be a
historical one. He intimated to the Tamil civilians, who were displaced
by the recent war by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) the
determination of the country’s President to resettle them, in their
original villages as soon as they have been made safe for the civilians.
It is believed thousands of land mines have been buried in their
settlements as well as in their rice fields.
The Mahanayaka of Malwatte said much work is left to be carried out
by the security forces to make the village suitable for normal life and
praised the tremendous work carried out by the Defence Secretary and the
armed forces to save the lives of the civilians.
Relief measures for Jaffna fishermen
Fisheries Minister,Felix Perera today met the fishing community in
Jaffna at the Weerasingham Hall and offered relief measures to their
problems connected with the fishing industry.
The fisherman present at this meeting sought freezing facilities for
their catch and the minister promptly agreed to provide freezing
facilities for storage of their production. With regard to the
production of fish from Jaffna being sold in Colombo,Minister Perera
told the fishermen that he would set up sales points in Colombo to
expedite such a process to prevent waste.
Answering another problem with regard to transportation of the Jaffna
catch to Colombo, the minister said the Special Committee headed by
Senior Presidential Advisor, Basil Rajapaksa, MP, has already formulated
a scheme to provide insulated trucks to bring the Jaffna fish production
to Colombo.
The Fisheries minister assured the Jaffna fishing community that he
would personally be monitoring the progress and would meet them
regularly.
The fishing community in Jaffna appreciated the goodwill visit of the
minister that solved many of their problems when life had returned to
normal in the North. (news.lk)
Promotions and appointments in SLA.
On the recommendation of the Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka
five Brigadiers were promoted to the rank of Major with effect from last
Wednesday. Accordingly Brigadier, Jagath Alwis from the Presidential
Security Division, Brigadier Mahesh Senanayaka, Director Plans,
Brigadier Janaka Walgama, GOC 22 Division, Brigadier Harsha Weeratunga
Director Budget and Brigadier A. L. R. Wijetunga have been promoted to
the rank of Major General
Meanwhile, Lt. Colonel Kithsiri Liyanage the Commanding Officer of
the 7 Sinha Regiment has been appointed as the Brigade Commander of 672
Brigade .
Pradeepa Halls in Colombo to be redeveloped
The Pradeepa Halls in Colombo where cultural and social ceremonies
are held will be redeveloped
Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff who made an
inspection tour of the Pradeepa Halls in the Colombo City recently
directed the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) officers to
complete the refurbishment work within two months and make them ready
for the public use from September.
The Pradeepa Halls were built by the NHDA in Colombo nearly 25 years
ago.
During the tour Minister Ashraff inspected the Pradeepa Halls located
in Maligawatta, Gunasinhapura and Mutwal.
The Minister also directed the affiliated Institutions of Housing and
Common Amenities Ministry to make the best use of these Pradeepa Halls
after their renovation.
Plans are afoot to renovate the remaining 25 Community Centres under
the management of the NHDA.
NHDA General Manager L.S. Palansooriya, Deputy General Manager Sarath
Kumara, Working Director M.T.M. Sadik, Colombo Central Manager Shantha
Fernando and several other officers attached to the NHDA also
accompanied the Minister. MN
SriLankan Airlines beats tourism drum
The end of a 30-year-old civil war will help in attracting foreign
tourists to Sri Lanka, the visiting Chairman of the Island Nation’s
Flagship Airline said in Tokyo last week.
“Under the impact of the global economic setback, the downtrend in
foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka will prevail till the end of the
year”, said SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe. “But
we are witnessing signs of an upturn for the next year.”
Wickramasinghe and some of his fellow directors are in Tokyo to
attend events marking the 25th anniversary of the beginning of direct
flights to Tokyo from the Indian Ocean nation.
The company now flies nonstop to Tokyo three times a week.
Wickramasinghe said he hopes to increase that to daily flights in the
near future.
Colombo YMCA speech contest
The Colombo Y.M.C.A. Speech contest based on Sir Edwin Arnolds "The
Light of the World" will be held on Aug. 5 and 12 and is open to
students below the age of 18 years.
Entries will close on Thursday, July 30. Entry forms can be obtained
from the Colombo Y.M.C.A. Youth Department.
Winnie Hettigoda's solo cartoon exhibition 'Isthawaraya'
Winnie Hettigoda's solo cartoon exhibition 'Isthawaraya' will be held
on July 17 and 18 from 9.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. at Colombo Art Gallery.
The theme of the expo will be crushing of Tiger terrorism,
international conspiracies, NGOs' conduct, stupidity of certain
politicians, magnificent role played by the Armed Forces etc.
The event is organised by the Patriotic National Centre.
Dental AGM
The General Dental Practitioners' Association will hold its Annual
General Meeting on July 19 at 9 a.m. at the SLDA Auditorium.
Dr. Sarath Wijemanne, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist will
deliver a lecture on the Role of Dental Surgeon Antinatal Care Dr.
(Mrs.) Sunethra Rajapaksa, Professor of Periodontology University of
Peradeniya will speak on 'Clinical Periodontology'.
Public lecture
The third in the series of lectures on the Gospel of St. Mark will be
delivered by Very Rev. Father Nilendra Gunasekera, Professor in Sacred
Scripture at the National Seminary, Ampitiya, on Monday, July 13, at
5.30 p.m. in the Colombo YMCA forum hall.The lectures are held on every
second Monday of the month at the above venue and are conducted at the
invitation of the Colombo YMCA Bible Study Institute.
The lectures are open to the public. |