Music and dance know no borders

by W. T. J. S. Kaviratne - Ambalangoda Special

"PIYARANGA - FRIENDS IN HARMONY" a multi Cultural Show an integration of cultural items representing all three communities of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities was held recently at Galle Town Hall.

Aru Sri Art Theatre and Skills Development Fund had launched this cultural show with the patronage of Royal Norwegian Government.

"Music and dance know no borders and no ethnic divides. Sri Lanka is a land in the region rich in a wider diversity of cultural traditions of great antiquity. I feel it is an honour for me to contribute for the preservation of this refined cultural heritage of Sri Lanka for the posterity.

Multi Culturalism is accepted globally as an effective tool in promoting recognition, understanding and tolerance of diversity of creed, culture and ethnicity," said Tore Hattrem, the Ambassador of Royal Norwegian Government in Sri Lanka, addressing the audience gathered at the auditorium of Galle Town Hall.

Multi Cultural Concert known as "Piyaranga - Friends in Harmony" could be rated as a creation of artistic excellence conveying the noble humanitarian message of unity in diversity, he said.

Since the origin of human civilizations, music and dance had been conveying this universal message of the importance of living in harmony and create mutual recognition, respect and understanding, he said.

"Norway constantly appreciates the good cooperation with Sri Lanka on culture. Sri Lanka's culture, traditions and folklore are truly remarkable. We are honoured to be able to contribute to the conservation of some of the cultural heritage sites in Sri Lanka," he said.

The upgrading of the Information System for visitors at the World Cultural Heritage Sites of Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Kandy and the establishment of the Plantation Museum in Gampola could be mentioned as some of the work we have supported in recent years, he further said.

Multi Cultural Concert of this nature, inspired a large understanding in the minds of the audience on the importance of the harmony and the tolerance of diversity of differences found among communities. In addition, it provided opportunities for artistes who did their performances on a common stage to seek new inspirations from each other, while sharing experiences and innovative ideas, Tore Hattrem further said.

"Norway's overall goal in cultural cooperation with Sri Lanka is to support institutional capacity building in the cultural sector as well as to promote exchange of ideas and expressions between artistes from Sri Lanka and Norway," he said.

He said, in addition to extending cooperation in the revival of artistic traditions and cultural items of Sri Lanka, royal Norwegian Government for well over 20 years had also been deeply involved in numerous development projects in the South.

He said that he would explore avenues to get down artistes from Norway to Sri Lanka and to create a link for the exchange of artistic traditions.

Minister of Vocational and Technical Training, Piyasena Gamage said Singing, Music, Dancing and Drama were strong media that could be fruitfully utilized for the benefit of spiritual development of mankind.

"I believe we should devote our attention for the use of art as a media to quiver the damages experienced by the Sri Lankan Society due to terrorism, tsunami and various other social reasons which caused traumatic effect on the communities," Minister Gamage said.

He thanked the Royal Norwegian Government, the Norwegian Ambassador Tore Hattrem and the Embassy Staff for funding the whole cultural project. He requested the Royal Norwegian Ambassador to extend the cooperation to continue the performances of the Multi Cultural Concert even to the rural sector of the south. He thanked the Ambassador Tore Hattrem, the Second Secretary Rannveig Skofteland and the staff of the Royal Norwegian, Embassy, for making Friends in Harmony a reality.

The Art Director of Aru Sri Art Theatre, Deshanethru, Kalasuri Arunathathy Sri Ranganathan Who was also the Producer and director of Multi Cultural Concert held at Galle said that she was delighted to be associated with "Piyaranga".

Cultural activities play a vital role in promoting identification, recognition and understanding among different communities in a multi cultural society, she said.

Multi Cultural Concert no doubt would create cultural bridges and creating something together would give the feeling of oneness, she said. She said it was a pleasure in working with maestros, leading artistes and the officials of the Skills Development Fund.

Friends in Harmony - Multi Cultural Concert became a reality as it was funded by the Royal Norwegian Government. She thanked Tore Hattrem, the Ambassador, and the staff of Royal Norwegian Embassy.

Excise flying squad raid Illicit liquor breweries

By Milton DHARMASINGHE - our Bulathsinhala Spl.

Following the instructions of Excise Commissioner General Wasantha Hapuarachchi, Horana and Kalutara. Excise flying squads raided five illicit liquor brewing centres which were in use for a long period in the heart of Kurana jungles, Handapangoda in Horana area.

More than thirty officers took part in the raid which occurred in the dead of night recently.

At five, illegal Kassippu brewing dens they were able to capture 90 bottles of Kassippu, 43,000 drams of Goda, 26 barrels including equipment used to brew Kassippu, seven suspects were arrested and they were produced before Horana Magistrate Court and were released on excise bail.

G. Nimal Silva, Commissioner of Excise Kalutara District, Rohan Wijeratana, Supt. of Excise Padma Kumara, OIC, Excise unit, Kalutara Premash Fernando OIC, Horana Excise Unit. Pradeep Jayawardhana, Dias Kulatunga, Ishara Buddhika, Jagath Gunathilaka and Mrs. Suvineetha. N. Hettiarachchi. Excise inspectors participated the raid.

Widening of 'hair pin bends' launched

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy South Group

The famous 18 hair pin bends along the Kandy-Mahiyangana Road through Ududumbara will be widened by the Ministry of Highways and Road Development at a cost of Rs. 4,705 million to improve roads in the country.

The work on widening of the 18 hair pin bends and the rehabilitation of 41 kilometre of this important road commence after an official function held on October 12 at 10 a.m. at the Ududumbara Pradeshiya Sabha Grounds in Ududumbara.

This road from Kandy to Mahiyangana was constructed during the Colonial period and famous for its 18 hair pin bends which has a very steep climb and runs through a virgin forest which serves as a watershed for Mahiyangana. It is rich in fauna and flora and animals such as samburs, spotted deer, wild buffaloes and even leopards are said to roam the area.

Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayaka said that an important aspect would be that the 18 hair pin bends would be widened for easy traversing.

At these hair pin bends larger vehicles are often compelled to reverse several times before negotiating the bends. This is done at a high risk. Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake also said in the past several accidents have taken place on this road due to the poor condition and this could be prevented and driving on this made easier and conformable. This road also leads to Uva, Batticaloa, Ampara and Padiyatalawa and also to Moneragala and Kataragama.

Sports stadiums get facelift

B.W. Eheliyagoda - Kegalle Special

Arrangements are in the offing to give a modern look with plenty of accommodation to four prominent sports stadiums in both Kegalle and Ratnapura districts (Sabaragamuwa) with the aim of holding National Sports Festivals in Sabaragamuwa in 2009.

The Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Maheepala Herath who is a lover of sports encourages all public, and particulary the school goers and the youth to participate in all sports activities in which in the opinion of Chief Minister Herath,' sports a character moulder in all men, women and children throughout the ages. Therefore, he emphasised to give the foremost priority in the improvement of sports activities in all sections of the communities.

Therefore four prominent playgrounds in both Ratnapura and Kegalle districts are being developed to stage the National Sports event in 2009, with immediate effect four esplanades in Sabaragamuwa will be developed, as disclosed by the Chief Minister Maheepala Herath.

Those selected playgrounds to launch further development work are Kegalle Public Esplanade and Ruwanwella Playgrounds in Kegalle district, and Embilipitiya peoples esplanade and Ratnapura public playground in the heart of Ratnapura city.

The consequent reports pertaining to the development of the four playgrounds will be initially submitted to President Mahinda Rajapaksa shortly, Chief Minister Maheepala Herath disclosed.

Indigenous medicine flourished for thousands of years - CM Southern Province

by Richmond WIJESEKERA, Bentota Group

"Indigenous medicine flourished throughout the country for thousands of years. Western medicine was then unknown. Ayurvedic medicine was very close to the life of the people because it was part and parcel of the environment. Ayurvedic drugs such as decoctions, pastes, spirits etc. are made from leaves, peels, flowers and roots of trees found in the environment. Drugs made of these herbs do not affect the human body," said the Chief Minister Southern Province Shan Wijayalal de Silva.

He was addressing a ceremony held at Town Hall, Galle organised by the Southern Provincial Health Ministry, to felicitate the Ayurvedic Physicians in the Southern Province, recently.

He said; "Ayurvedic physicians of those days were men of integrity. As such they considered the treatment of a patient as a spiritual act. They did not take anything from the patients in cash or kind. There are many elders today who prefer Ayurvedic treatment. The present generation of indigenous practitioners should guide the future generation of Ayurvedic physicians. Otherwise this system of treatment cannot be carried forward. It is because of this reason that Ayurvedic Physicians were also made an integral part of the 'Pancha Maha Balavegaya' created by the late Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike.

The Chief Minister added that the ceremony conducted by the Health Ministry of the Southern Provincial Council to felicitate the Ayurvedic Physicians of the Southern Province should be seen with appreciation. These physicians have sent a major part of their lives in treating patients. It is great to appreciate the services rendered by them.

Minister of Health of the Southern Province Council A. G. C. Piyasiri said, the ayurvedic medical system was carried forward by the present Ayurvedic Physicians under very difficult conditions. One major problem faced by them is the extinction of medicinal plants required in producing Ayurvedic drugs. As a measure of meeting this challenge the Health Ministry of Southern Province has inaugurated a programme of setting up herbariums in the Southern Province. It is a pleasure to observe that the Ayurvedic Physicians who have been neglected earlier are being felicitated under Mahinda Chintana Programme," he said.

Rs. 215,400 collected as fines on a single day

by S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy

The Central Province Passenger Transport Authority monitoring the operation of the private coach operators in the Central Province on a sudden checking conducted one day recently nabbed the private operators for violation of rules and regulations and collected fines amounting to Rs. 215,400 in a single day.

This sudden action was conducted on the instructions of the Chairman and under the guidance of Provincial Manager Lakshmi Ratnayake along with the Directors and the Flying Squad officers. They took the Private operators by surprise by being on the road for their action by 4 a.m. - a time the private coach operators hardly expect the flying squad men to be on the roads.

Provincial Manager Lakshmi Ratnayake said that they had to conduct these checks in the wake of complaints by the public.

She requested the public if the private coach operators violate any of the regulations, that should be brought to her notice at the Provincial Office at 105, Yatinuwara Veediya, Kandy, immediately for due action.

The highest fine collected for the day was Rs. 45,000 for employing conductors without permits followed by Rs. 42,000 for not issuing tickets to passengers. Third was Rs. 33,000 for operating in routes without proper route permits. A further sum of Rs. 27,750 was collected from luxury and semi luxury bases for overloading passengers.

The fines imposed for other offences were for not having a valid route permit, for not stopping the bus for checking by an Authorised Official (Rs. 2,000), not displaying the destination board in three languages. substituting window glass with polythene, allowing passengers to travel on foot-boards, removing of seats to accommodate more standing passengers, rough behaviours of the bus crew, not displaying the bus fare table, no displaying no smoking board, long delays at bus halts (Rs. 7,000), driving loaded buses into fuel stations for re-fuelling, over loading (Rs. 5,000).

Taiwan doctors treat patients in E'goda

by Nimal WIJAYATUNGA - Eheliyagoda special

Nearly 2,000 patients of different age groups benefitted in and around Eheliyagoda, Bodhimaluwa and surrounding villages a mass medical clinic was held recently at Bodhimaluwa, Sri Nagabodhi Viharaya premises, where a total number of 42 medical specialists belonging to Taiwan medical peace corps participated.

Viharadhipathi Ven. Kadurupokune Dhamminda Thera and Eheliyagoda Lions President Tilak Rajapaksa told the 'Sunday Observer' that due to flow of an unexpected number of patients to the medical clinic.

On-the-spot service in Wanni

The Equal Access to Justice Project of the United Nations Developments programme, will hold an 'on the spot services' (Mobile Clinics) in order to issue legal documents to the general public in the Vengalacheddikulam and Vavuniya South Divisional Secretaries for three days from November 1 to November 3.

The 'on the spot' mobile service will assist the public in applying for national identity cards, late birth registration, issuing temporary driving licence, applying for citizenship certificates, distributing spectacles and Legal Aid.

The schedule for the programme is set forth below:

Saturday 01st November 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Parakum Maha Vidyalaya, Irattaperiyakulam.

Sunday 02nd November 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Multi Purpose Hall, Cheddikulam.

Monday 03rd November 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Multi Purpose Hall, Cheddikulam.

Begger menace in trains

by K. A. Perera - Wadduwa Special

The menace of beggars has worsened in the coast line railways.

This has become a nuisance to railway travellers on peak hours office trains.

When the commuters do not readily oblige giving them coins they have to face the humiliation of hearing songs sung ridiculing them.

It has been reported that security officers of the power-sets turn a blind eye on these activities.

Office workers have brought this to the notice of railway authorities.

Further, there is no regular inspection of tickets done by the Railway Authorities in the coast line to minimise the ticketless travellers.