Sri Lanka News | Sundayobserver.lk

The Deepavali festival was celebrated for the first time in Galle recently with the participation of people of different faiths from the area. The Maha Sangha also participated.

Governor Southern Province, Kumari Balasuriya, addressing the event, which was held at the People's Bank premises in Galle, said she was delighted to participate in the Deepavali celebrations.

The celebration was organised by the Hindu business community in Galle. Governor Balasuriya reminded the audience that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had once said that he was sure that the Galle Hindu community would never be a danger to the area on a communal basis. This was a truth, she said.

Shri Krishnamoorthi the priest of the Galle Shiva temple administered religious rites.

Galle Mayor Methsiri de Silva, SSP Keerthi de Silva, Galle People's Bank Manager, W. Vitarana and Asistant Manager M.S.M. Nazeen and Assistant Manager also participated in the event.

Tharunyata Hetak in North concludes today

Tharunyata Hetak, the Youth-oriented program, was launched in the North and became a grand success. The week-long program commenced on October 21 and will come to a conclusion with a grand musical event at the Duraiappa Stadium, Jaffna today.

According to sources, health camps were conducted in various places of the North with the participation of more than 60 doctors from the South, as part of the program. Patients at IDP villages, schools and community centres were attended to by the doctors.

Sports events such as volleyball and soccer matches were also held in Jaffna as part of 'Tharunyata Hetak'.

A swimming pool will also be built at Jaffna Central College under this program. The pool will be the first to be built as a school in Jaffna, according to sources. Yoshitha Rajapaksa was in Jaffna for the commencement of the programs. Chairman of 'Tharunyata Hetak, Namal Rajapaksa will be in the North for the conclusion of the program today, sources said.

Russian Foreign Minister on visit

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergay V. Lavrov will visit Sri Lanka tomorrow at the invitation of Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama.

During the visit, the Russian Foreign Minister is expected to call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He will also have consultations with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Minister Bogollagama on enhancing the cordial and flourishing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Discussions are also expected to focus on boosting economic cooperation, culture, education and tourism and issues of regional and international interests.

Fresh milk for schoolchildren

The Government has embarked on a project of providing fresh milk and milk-based products to schoolchildren in a bid to improve their nutritional levels, Vice Chairman of the National Livestock Development Board Roshan Gunawardana told the Sunday Observer.

School principals in the Colombo urban and suburban areas who are keen to set up milk super centres in their schools could now seek assistance from the National Livestock Development Board. The project is expected to make students healthy, Gunawardana said.

Under this project, measures have been taken to set up Milk Super Centres in schools.

He pointed out that such centres have already been set up in 25 schools and this project would help wean students from soft drinks.

He said this project will increase local milk production and reduce the amount of foreign exchange spent on the import of milk powder. It would also increase the value addition of milk products.

Dehiwala brothel raided by Police

A brothel which had been operating under the guise of an ayurvedic massage parlour for some time in the heart of the Dehiwela town was raided by the Dehiwela Police last Friday, a spokesman for the Police Media Unit told the Sunday Observer.

Eight women and three men were taken into custody following the raid at the brothel. The women sex workers between the ages of 20 and 30 are from rural areas and had been brought for the purpose of prostitution. The three male clients found at the brothel were also taken into custody.

The massage parlour had come under the surveillance of the Dehiwela Police due to several complaints made by the public. Police obtained a search warrant from Courts to conduct the raid.

According to Dehiwela Police, although medicinal oils were on display at the massage parlour, there wasn't an ayurvedic doctor to prescribe them. "The clients came there mainly to indulge in sexual activities rather than for massages." police said. The raid was conducted on the instructions of DIG Colombo West Prasanna Nanayakara. The suspects will be produced in court, OIC Dehiwela said.

National Youth Awards day today

The Gold Awards Holders' Association (GAHA) of National Youth Award Authority (NYAA) will celebrate the National Youth Awards Day 2009 at the National Youth Centre, Maharagama today, Oct. 25 from 9.00 a.m., with distribution of gift packs to Cancer Hospital children.

NYAA Chairman, Senerath Kahandaliyanage, Western Provincial Council Minister Jagath Angage and GAHA Advisor Yogabandu Rajakaruna will participate as guests of honour.

Thurstanite 2009 on Nov.7

The Old Boys Union of Thurstan College, Colombo will host their annual reunion dinner-dance for the 19th time, on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Holiday Inn. The proceeds of the show will be channelled to the Thurstan College Trust Fund. `Rajiv and the Clan' backed by DJ Kosala with past Thurstanite `Sunil Dee' of "Yes or No" fame as the emcee. For details, Dushyantha Abeygunawardene Tel. 4967928.

ANCL staffer's mother dies

Mrs. Sarojinidevi Shanmuganathan, a retired teacher and mother of S. Krishkanthan of ANCL Production Department (Lake House) passed away at the age of 71, yesterday.

The cremation will take place tomorrow, October 26 at 11 a.m. at the Madampitiya Cemetery (Hindu Section).

On a directive by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a special meeting was held at the Jaffna District Secretariat with the participation of Social Services and Social Welfare Minister, Douglas Devananda, Northern Province Governor, Lt. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri and Jaffna GA, K. Ganesh. Minister of Power, Mahindananda Aluthgamage presided where the resettlement of 17,000 out of 35,000 IDPs in the Jaffna district. Ministers Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Mahinda Amaraweera, Premalal Jayasekera, Jayaratne Herat, Hussain Baila and Vadivel Suresh were also present.

Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) and first Vice Chairman of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) Priyantha Kariyapperuma with Prime Minister of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama and Director of the Telecommunications Standardization Bureau of the International Telecommunications Union
(ITU-T) Malcolm Johnson during the CTO Council meeting in Nadi, Fiji in September this year.

Police Seva Vanitha President, Ms. Anoma Gunatilleke Wickremaratne donated a set of electrical items to the Police Hospital, Narahenpita recently. Here Hospital Director, SSP Roshan Fernando accepting a gift from Mrs. Wickremaratne.

The 105th anniversary celebrations of the Automobile Association coincided with the recent visit to Sri Lanka of World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen. Here Raja Sinnathuray, Past President AA, Ari Vatanen, Dhammika Attygalle, President AA, Nihal Gamage, Vice President AA and Anton Kandiah, Secretary AA, at a function to mark the occasion at the Galle Face Hotel.

Deepavali in Galle