In brief

Trains collide; over 10 injured

Over ten people were injured when two trains collided in Mirigama yesterday. Train services along the main line were temporarily disrupted after a Madawachchiya-bound express passenger train collided with a service goods train.

JICA team in Lanka

A Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) team of experts arrived in Sri Lanka to initiate a three-year technical cooperation project to improve energy efficiency in the country. The Project for Promoting Energy Efficiency Improvements (EEI), to be run until March 2011, aims to establish and enhance the infrastructure necessary for materialising EEI activities within the country.

US commends decision

The United States commended the decision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) to pursue the implementation of the 13th Amendment as a preliminary political step towards the devolution of power in Sri Lanka.

Lankan held with fake visa

Immigration authorities at the Anna international terminal in Chennai arrested a 21-year-old Sri Lankan national who had attempted to board a Paris-bound flight using a fake visa.

The authorities said Jeyakumar Pranavan was holding a genuine Sri Lankan passport and was travelling to London via Paris and Chennai.

Rupasinghe to return to Parliament

Former MP for Wattala and veteran film producer, Neil Rupasinghe of the UPFA will succeed the late Reggie Ranatunga as MP for the Gampaha District.

Rupasinghe, who finished fourth in the unsuccessful UPFA candidates list of the 2004 General Election will get an opportunity to return to Parliament to replace Ranatunga, who too regained his MP post after the tragic death of Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi.

Appeal for help

Vihanga De Silva, a five-year and four months child is having a profound hearing loss in both ears since birth. Dr. Sobitha Abeyaratne, Consultant ENT Surgeon has advised to do a cochlear implant surgery. The Medical treatment will cost approximately Rs. 1.7 million, and since the parents are unable to afford the money they seek charitable contribution to help the child. Contributions can be deposited to the following accounts:

W. N. S. Fernando, Sampath Bank, Moratuwa, 1031 5339 7137, W. N. S. Fernando, Commercial Bank, Moratuwa, 859 002 3131.

Admissions open for Bharatha Natyam and Kathak

The Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo is admitting students to the Bharatha Natyam and Kathak dance courses for the year 2008.

The Bharatha Natyam classes will be conducted by Ms. Subashini Pathmanathan and Ms. Vasugy Jegatheeswaran.

The Kathak classes will be conducted by Ms. Moksha Samarasuriya. For further information on registration and class times, please contact the ICC on telephone No 2500014.

Needlecraft exhibition

Indumathi Paranavithana will hold a needle craft exhibition "Stitch Fantasy" at the National Art Gallery, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 07 from June 6 - 8. Her 3rd exhibition will include over 100 handmade items of embroidery such as ribbon, Brazilian, hardanger, huch, crewel, paper tall, paper quilling.

The exhibition will be open to the public from 9.00 a.m. - 6.30 p.m.