In Brief

Plea for Auxiliary Bishop to Jaffna district

People in Jaffna district have made representations insisting on the need for appointment of an Auxiliary Bishop to the Jaffna Catholic diocese. Auxiliary Bishops have been appointed to several other Catholic dioceseS in the country. The non-appointment of one to the Jaffna diocese is a major drawS back since many Catholic churches in the Jaffna district have to be rehabilitated and developed.

Workshop for differently-abled children

The Theatre Institute for Disability Oriented Research and Advocacy (THIDORA) has organised a three-month drama therapy workshop for children with disabilities which will be held every Saturday which will be free.

Veteran drama therapist Kala Suri Rohana Deva and renowned movement therapist Ramani Damayanthi will be the chief instructor. The workshop is open for differently-abled children between the ages of 5-15 years.

Those who are interested in admitting their children to the workshop could send the details to the Creative Directress, Thidora Theatre, No.12, Cooray Mawatha, Moragasmulla, Rajagiriya.

Seminar on World Women’s Day

A seminar on the theme, ‘Develop the nation and take the vanguard’ organised by the ‘Lakmawa Diyaniyo’ affiliated to the National Freedom Front to mark the World Women’s Day will be held on Thursday 8 at 2.30 p.m. at the Folk Art Centre, Battaramulla. Construction, Engineering Services Housing & Common Amenities Minister and NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa will deliver the special commemorative speech. ‘Lakmawa Diyaniyo National Leader and Homagama PS Member Priyanga Kotelawala will also address the participants.

Seminar on ‘Women as Agents of Change’

The Centre for Gender Studies at the University of Kelaniya together with the Association of Commonwealth Universities will hold a conference on women in higher education from Tuesday to Thursday at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo.

The conference, titled ‘Critical Women: Women as Agents of Change through Higher Education’ will bring together vice chancellors, leading academics, researchers and administrators from nearly 20 countries to explore a number of key issues in higher education.

IAPH Regional Forum

The International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) this year has selected Sri Lanka as the host country for their 12th Asia - Oceania regional forum.

Themed "Global Challenges - Impact on Asia/Oceania region" will be inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on March 8 at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall - BMICH, Colombo, with the participation of more than 25 countries that include India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Maldives, Australia, Brunei, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Thailand and Kuwait.

The principal objective of the IAPH is to develop and foster good relations and cooperation among all ports and harbours in the world by proving a forum to exchange opinions and share experiences on the latest trends of port management and operations.

Bible study tomorrow

The next lecture on the Book of Genesis will be delivered by Rev. Fr. Nilindra Gunasekera, Professor in Sacred Scripture at the National Seminary, Ampitiya, tomorrow, at 6.00 p.m. in the Colombo YMCA Forum Hall, Briston Street, Colombo 1.

The lectures are organised by the Colombo YMCA Bible Study Institute. It is open to the public.

Service of Praise and Worship

A service of "Praise and Worship" will be held on Sunday, March 11 at 10.30 a.m. at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Bauddhaloka Mawatha (adjoining the BMICH), Colombo 7. The speaker and minister at this service, which is open to all, will be Dr. Vijaya Corea.

Awards day

Harcourts International School will conduct their annual awards day at the S D S Jayasinghe Hall, Dehiwala on March 6 from 2pm.

Justice Ministry Secretary Kamalini de Silva will be the chief guest.

Sing-A-Long 2012

"Sing-A-Long 2012", a fund raiser organised by the Sri Lanka Housewives' Association will be held on March 10 at Jaic Hilton Residence, Union Place, Colombo 2, from 6.30 p.m.

A part of the proceeds will be in aid of the Cancer Transit Homes in Maharagama.

Panel discussion

The Sri Lanka Women's Conference has organized a panel discussion on Women, Peace and Re-construction to mark the International Women's Day on March 8 at 10am at the Mallika Niwasa Samithiya, 45, Visakha Road, Bambalapitiya.

Breakthrough surgery straightens Lankan's spine

Surgeons at a Chennai hospital have set right the curved spine of a 19-year-old Sri Lankan by operating through the chest.For several years, Mohamed Meshari walked around with a bent back. Doctors found he had scoliosis - an abnormal curvature of the spine, which causes pain and health problems, including respiratory problems that limits activity.

Instead of cutting open the back, which was difficult in this case, doctors opened the chest and corrected the spine. TOI