In Brief

Several heads of Foreign Missions met Senior Presidential Advisor and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa last Friday at the Presidential Secretariat. The Diplomats had discussions with the Minister on the country’s economic development and future development perspectives. They assured their support for Sri Lanka’s future endeavours. From left: Ambassador of Iran Mahoud Rahimi Horji, Ambassador of the Netherlands Leoni Cuelenaere, Ambassador of Norway Tore Hattrem, Ambassador of Japan Kunio Takahashi and Ambassador of Indonesia Djafar Husein meeting Minister Rajapaksa. - Pix: Chaminda Hittatiya

O+/O- Kidney needed

A. A. Sunil of No. 38/17, Lakesidewatta, Walpola, Batuwatta is suffering from acute kidney ailment.

The Consultant Nephrologist, Dr. Rasika Lanarolle of the Colombo National Hospital has recommended urgent kidney transplant to save his life.

Sunil 51 and a Samurdhi recipient, has to feed three in the family from it and thus seeks financial assistance from charity organisations and the general public as well as a kidney donor. (O+ve/O-ve)

Contributions may be remitted to A/c No. 175200170001220 of the People's Bank, Kandana branch.

Global Action Week Competition 2010

The Education International (EI) will launch the Global Action Week (GAW) to express solidarity and enhance quality education for all among EI family members under the theme 'Education Beats Poverty'.

The Union of Sri Lanka Teachers' Solidarity (USLTS), an affiliate of EI with hold psychosocial and educational activities especially for the needy children in North of Sri Lanka under the concept of 'A Gift to North from EI' to coincide with the GAW 2010.

The following competitions have been organised under the theme, 'Education Beats Poverty'.

1. Poster competition (size 18 x 14)

Age limit: 7-14 and 15-21

2. Essay competition for the teachers (200 words) The national highlight event will be held at G/Madampagama Central College, Madampagama, Kuleegoda, Ambalangoda. The creations must be certified by the principal and sent on or before 20th May, 2010 to Gen. Secretary, USLTS Head Office, No. 100, Main Street, Walasmulla. For more details, President (H.G.D. Cyril), Tel: 047225718, Hot line: 0718149732.

General Secretary (Mrs. D.M.M. Seneviratne), Tel: 0472245385, Hot line:

0718616723, Email: [email protected]

Six dead, 50 wounded in Mogadishu blasts

MOGADISHU, May 1, 2010 AFP -

At least six people were killed Saturday and a further 50 injured in two explosions at a crowded market area in the Somali capital Mogadishu, officials said. "I saw six people dead and more than 50 wounded," Ali Muse, the head of Mogadishu's ambulance service told AFP, adding some bodies had been removed from the scene before he arrived. The explosions went off near a mosque in Bakara market, he said.

An official of the Al Qaeda-inspired Shebab Islamist group told AFP the blasts targeted its head of mobilisation Sheikh Fu'ad Mohamed Khalaf, better known as Fu'ad Shongole, who was in the mosque.

But Shongole was unhurt in the blast, the official said.