Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at one of the stalls at a Divi Neguma Avurudu Fair. The fairs held in 407 main towns countrywide, under the guidance of the Minister, was expected to attract over three million people. The Ministry organised the fairs with the assistance of 19 State organisations including the Samurdhi Authority, Agrarian Development Department, Lak Sathosa, Second Community Development and Livelihood Improvement Project and Cooperative Development Department. Twelve thousand rural producers contributed to the success of the fairs held from April 5 to 12.

Minister of Labour and Labour Relations Gamini Lokuge launched the new official websites of Shrama Vasana Fund and National Institute of Safety and Health, at Narahenpita recently. W.J.L.U. Wijayaweera, Secretary to Ministry of Labour and Labour Relations, Herath Yapa, Additional Secretary to MOL, Dr. N.C. Amerasingha,  Director General to NIOSH, D.R. Jayalath, General Manager to SVF and representative of ILO Office to Sri Lanka were present.

Governor of the Central Province, Tikiri Kobbekaduwa opened the Buddhist Centre ‘Gnanaloka’ at Marankande in the Harispattuwa electorate recently. Ven. Hingulwala Gnanaloka Thera, who is in charge of the Centre is also in the picture. Pic: Upananda Jayasundera, Kandy Sports Spl. Cor.

Al Haj M.T.A. Furukan and Islamic Cultural Association President Omar Kamil opened a new building complex, a donation by the former, constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.2 million at the Sir Razik Fareed Maha Vidyalaya, Karandeniya recently. Principal M.J. Naufer Deen was present. Pic: A. Sumanasena, Kolonnawa Group Cor.

A handicraft exhibition by the prisoners of the Welikada Prison was held recently. Here a group of female prisoners play the raban. Pic: Wimal Karunatilleka