Sri Lanka News | Sundayobserver.lk

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa in conversation with a student on crutches, when he toured Mullaitivu yersterday.
Pic: Sudath Malaweera

As part of the Sri Lanka Navy’s ongoing community welfare projects, two new houses were built as a contribution to Northern area development. The houses, constructed under the Government initiative to grant new houses to resettled civilians in the Northern Province, were handed over to the recipients recently by the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy and Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Susith Weerasekera. Commanding Officer of the Karainagar Naval Base, Captain A.U.C. de Silva and Naval personnel who assisted in the house construction are seen here with the recipients of the houses.

Three-hundred-and-six rehabilitated ex LTTE cadres were released at the Tamil Maha Vidiyalayam Centre in Vavuniya recently. Here Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms D.E.W. Gunasekara hands over the rehabilitated cadres to their parents.
Pic: T. Vivekarasa, Vavuniya Special Correspondent.

Cadeting revived in Jaffna after 30 years

A large number of cadets from Jaffna schools participated in the Herman Loos and De Zoysa competition at Rantembe from October 15 - 23 after 30 years.

Accordingly, two platoons of girl cadets from Jaffna Vembadi Girls' High School and Kokuvil Hindu College and 55 male cadets from 11 schools participated in the annual camp.

After eradicating terrorism from our motherland, one of the main responsibilities of the Government was to discipline and develop the skills of the schoolchildren in the North. To fulfill this task on the instructions of Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Director National Cadet Corps (NCC) Major General Gamini Jayasundara RWP RSP took steps to reactivate cadeting in the North.

Minister Senaratne pays tribute to artistes

Civilisation culture and history of a country may change from time to time but the artistes always remain part and parcel of the society, said Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.

He was addressing the awards ceremony for schoolchildren who had achieved literary excellence.

The function was held at Aluthgama Town Hall auditorium, under the patronage of Beruwala Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Prasanna Sanjeewa.

Minister Senaratna said poems composed and sung by poetess Gajaman Nona have been altered today and is an example of changing musical rhythm in society.

‘Happiness Centre for war-affected chidlren

The ‘Happiness Centre’ - Psychosocial Centre, for the war affected children in the resettled village in Illuppukadvai, Mannar, will be opened today.

The ‘Mahilchi Illam’, the Happiness centre, for the students aged 5 to 18 years, is opened at the Illuppukadvai Government Tamil Mixed School, with the assistance of the 541 Brigade of the Sri Lanka Army and sponsored by the Action and Care Trust. Manori Unambuwe, the Coordinator said there were over 2,000 schoolchildren who were affected during the conflict and need care to mend their traumatic experiences.“They need a peaceful environment to continue their studies and this is what we try to create through promoting arts and crafts, reading, sports, music, recreational and games.”

The centre, which is opened from 8.30 am to 6.00 pm and also on weekends will facilitate the schoolchildren to use their free time to enjoy some recreational activities in order to erase off their past slowly”, she said.

New Muslim school at Hantana

A Muslim school with all facilities will be set up on a 25 acres land in Hantana, Kandy. The funds for the project have been allocated, said Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake.

Minister Dissanayake was speaking at the annual prize giving of Delanga Al-Siraj Muslim Vidyalaya. He said that due to lack of adequate facilities the Muslim schools couldn’t produce good results at the examinations.

He said that a Muslim school in the Udunuwara area will be developed with all facilities to improve the education of the Muslim students.

Minister Dissanayake expressed confidence that President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardane will take innovative steps to uplift the education sector in Sri Lanka.

Lankan Tamils detained in Thailand

Thai authorities on Friday rounded up another 114 would-be-migrants, allegedly all Sri Lankan Tamils, bound for Canada, Canadian media reported quoting its Immigration Minister Jason Kenny.

This follows the arrest and detention of 155 Sri Lankans who were getting ready to board a ship bound for Canada earlier this month.

International Terrorism expert Prof. Rohan Gunaratne said these human smuggling operations are organised by the LTTE through their local operatives in Thailand, Laos and Indonesia.

“The Tamils detained earlier will be deported to a country of their choice once they pay the fines for overstaying visas in Thailand,” Prof.Gunaratne who works with the law enforcing authorities to crack down on LTTE human smuggling network said.

Charity Bazaar on Oct. 31

Charity Bazaar, in aid of the Bethlehem Creche for Destitute Kids, organised by the SAARC Women's Association will be held on October 31, at Shalika Hall, Park Road, Colombo 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to the country stalls selling goods from the SAARC countries, there will be household items, garments, toys, books, shoes and handbags, linen and grocery stalls too.

Dr. Nithyasree to perform on Nov. 7

Kalaimanani Dr. Nithyasree Mahadevan will perform in Colombo on Sunday, November 7, at the New Kathiresan Hall, Bambalapitiya, Colombo in aid of Hindu Education Social Building Funds.

School boy needs help

Fourteen-year-old C. Vinushan, a student of Colombo Hindu College, is suffering from cancer and is in need of Rs. 360,000 for treatment.

His parents appeal to the generous public for help and those interested may send their contributions to People's Bank, Kirullapone, A/C No. 319200181154903.

In brief