[In brief]

School entrepreneur exhibition

by Mohammed NAALIR

The Colombo Regional school level entrepreneur exhibition under the theme “Build-up our children; Build up our nation and the awards ceremony 2008” organised by Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka under the restructuring and expansion of young entrepreneurs program Sri Lanka was held at St. Joseph’s College Bonjean Memorial Hall recently.

Mlesna Tea Company Chairman Anslam Perera was the Chief Guest.Thirty awards were presented to the young entrepreneurs under the categories of human resource production, marketing and finance, best businessman, best production, best company and best annual report during this event.The entrepreneurs from St. Joseph’s College, Thurstan College, Musaeus College and Ananda College participated and displayed their products.

Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka (YESL) launched its program in Batticaloa in the Eastern Province with a view to creating trust and unity for progress, through entrepreneur education and socio-economic development in the country.

As a result of this program forty students and their teachers participated in the exhibition and awards ceremony from St. Vincent Girls’ High School, St. Michael’s College and Vivekananda College Batticaloa.

Rail track to Mannar

The Ceylon Government Railway has embarked on a project to relay the Railway track between Talaimannar and Medawachchiya, which ceased in 1990, railway sources said.

A top-level technical team comprising senior CGR engineers visited the Mannar region and explored the possibility of reconstructing the railway track between the Talaimannar pier and the Medawachchiya station, sources said. The railway service between the Talaimannar pier and Medawachchiya commenced during British rule in 1914. The total distance between Talaimannar and Medawachchiya is 106 kilometres. In June 1990 the railway service between Talaimannar and Medawachchiya came to standstill following damage to railway property by the LTTE.

According to sources six main stations, five substations and four bridges have to be rebuilt on the Mannar, Medawachchiya stretch. Railway operations from Talaimannar to the South via Medawachchiya were launched by the British to transport the South Indian labour force to the hill country to expand the tea industry. Later the clay was transported from Murungan on the Mannar line to the Kankesanthurai Cement factory, the sources said. AP

SLMA seminar for young doctors

by Edward ARAMBEWELA

The Sri Lanka Medical Association will conduct a one-day seminar for junior doctors on July 19 at the Lionel Memorial Auditorium at Wijerama Mawatha.

At this seminar Dr. Abaya Nanayakkara of the Air Force will give an encouraging talk to the young doctors in joining the Medical Corp in the armed services in the country.

Dr. Ruvaiz Haniffa, Secretary of the SLMA told the Sunday Observer that the SLMA has been holding this seminar for junior doctors for the last 10 years, and at every seminar under this group doctors have been encouraged to join the medical corps in the country’s armed services and help the country in maintaining a healthy armed services.

The seminar will be inaugurated by the SLMA president Prof. Rezvi Sheriff, and the five group sessions for the day will be chaired respectively by Dr. Lucian Jayasuriya, Dr. Vijira Dissanayake, Dr. Indika Karunatilleke and Dr. Ruvaiz Hannifa and among those who will be lecturing will be Prof. Ranil Fernando, Prof. Colvin Goonaratna and Dr. Abaya Nanayakkara.

The seminar which will start at 8.30 am will end by 1.40 p.m.

The topics covered will include Management, Surgery and Finer Specialities Universities, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Forensic Medicine, Venereology, Community Medicine, Microbiology, Dermatology and Pathology.

India assured of 13th Amendment

India and Sri Lanka assured to them that it would soon start an inclusive political process of dialogue and devolution with the Tamils in the island nation. Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna said, “We have been assured by the Sri Lankan Government of its intention to pursue a political process that envisages a broader dialogue with all parties including the Tamil parties, the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution and to go beyond so as to achieve meaningful devolution of powers.” “We are convinced that a closure to the cycle of violence and terrorism that has plagued Sri Lanka required an inclusive political process of dialogue and devolution. Such a process must address the legitimate aspirations of the minorities, including the Tamil community, within the democratic framework of a united Sri Lanka,” he said.

Mahanayake visits Settikulam camp

The Most Venerable Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera, Mahanayaka of the Malwatte Chapter of the Siamese sect visited the IDP Welfare Centre in Settikulam in Northern Sri Lanka today (July 10) and assured the inmates that they will be resettled in their original villages as soon as possible. The Mahanayaka of Malwatte, is the chief monk of the largest Buddhist denomination in Sri Lanka and his visit, a first for someone who has held this office, is considered to be a historical one. He intimated to the Tamil civilians, who were displaced by the recent war by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) the determination of the country’s President to resettle them, in their original villages as soon as they have been made safe for the civilians. It is believed thousands of land mines have been buried in their settlements as well as in their rice fields.

The Mahanayaka of Malwatte said much work is left to be carried out by the security forces to make the village suitable for normal life and praised the tremendous work carried out by the Defence Secretary and the armed forces to save the lives of the civilians.

Relief measures for Jaffna fishermen

Fisheries Minister,Felix Perera today met the fishing community in Jaffna at the Weerasingham Hall and offered relief measures to their problems connected with the fishing industry.

The fisherman present at this meeting sought freezing facilities for their catch and the minister promptly agreed to provide freezing facilities for storage of their production. With regard to the production of fish from Jaffna being sold in Colombo,Minister Perera told the fishermen that he would set up sales points in Colombo to expedite such a process to prevent waste.

Answering another problem with regard to transportation of the Jaffna catch to Colombo, the minister said the Special Committee headed by Senior Presidential Advisor, Basil Rajapaksa, MP, has already formulated a scheme to provide insulated trucks to bring the Jaffna fish production to Colombo.

The Fisheries minister assured the Jaffna fishing community that he would personally be monitoring the progress and would meet them regularly.

The fishing community in Jaffna appreciated the goodwill visit of the minister that solved many of their problems when life had returned to normal in the North. (news.lk)

Promotions and appointments in SLA.

On the recommendation of the Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka five Brigadiers were promoted to the rank of Major with effect from last Wednesday. Accordingly Brigadier, Jagath Alwis from the Presidential Security Division, Brigadier Mahesh Senanayaka, Director Plans, Brigadier Janaka Walgama, GOC 22 Division, Brigadier Harsha Weeratunga Director Budget and Brigadier A. L. R. Wijetunga have been promoted to the rank of Major General

Meanwhile, Lt. Colonel Kithsiri Liyanage the Commanding Officer of the 7 Sinha Regiment has been appointed as the Brigade Commander of 672 Brigade .

Pradeepa Halls in Colombo to be redeveloped

The Pradeepa Halls in Colombo where cultural and social ceremonies are held will be redeveloped

Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff who made an inspection tour of the Pradeepa Halls in the Colombo City recently directed the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) officers to complete the refurbishment work within two months and make them ready for the public use from September.

The Pradeepa Halls were built by the NHDA in Colombo nearly 25 years ago.

During the tour Minister Ashraff inspected the Pradeepa Halls located in Maligawatta, Gunasinhapura and Mutwal.

The Minister also directed the affiliated Institutions of Housing and Common Amenities Ministry to make the best use of these Pradeepa Halls after their renovation.

Plans are afoot to renovate the remaining 25 Community Centres under the management of the NHDA.

NHDA General Manager L.S. Palansooriya, Deputy General Manager Sarath Kumara, Working Director M.T.M. Sadik, Colombo Central Manager Shantha Fernando and several other officers attached to the NHDA also accompanied the Minister. MN

SriLankan Airlines beats tourism drum

The end of a 30-year-old civil war will help in attracting foreign tourists to Sri Lanka, the visiting Chairman of the Island Nation’s Flagship Airline said in Tokyo last week.

“Under the impact of the global economic setback, the downtrend in foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka will prevail till the end of the year”, said SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe. “But we are witnessing signs of an upturn for the next year.”

Wickramasinghe and some of his fellow directors are in Tokyo to attend events marking the 25th anniversary of the beginning of direct flights to Tokyo from the Indian Ocean nation.

The company now flies nonstop to Tokyo three times a week. Wickramasinghe said he hopes to increase that to daily flights in the near future.

Colombo YMCA speech contest

The Colombo Y.M.C.A. Speech contest based on Sir Edwin Arnolds "The Light of the World" will be held on Aug. 5 and 12 and is open to students below the age of 18 years.

Entries will close on Thursday, July 30. Entry forms can be obtained from the Colombo Y.M.C.A. Youth Department.

Winnie Hettigoda's solo cartoon exhibition 'Isthawaraya'

Winnie Hettigoda's solo cartoon exhibition 'Isthawaraya' will be held on July 17 and 18 from 9.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. at Colombo Art Gallery.

The theme of the expo will be crushing of Tiger terrorism, international conspiracies, NGOs' conduct, stupidity of certain politicians, magnificent role played by the Armed Forces etc.

The event is organised by the Patriotic National Centre.

Dental AGM

The General Dental Practitioners' Association will hold its Annual General Meeting on July 19 at 9 a.m. at the SLDA Auditorium.

Dr. Sarath Wijemanne, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist will deliver a lecture on the Role of Dental Surgeon Antinatal Care Dr. (Mrs.) Sunethra Rajapaksa, Professor of Periodontology University of Peradeniya will speak on 'Clinical Periodontology'.

Public lecture

The third in the series of lectures on the Gospel of St. Mark will be delivered by Very Rev. Father Nilendra Gunasekera, Professor in Sacred Scripture at the National Seminary, Ampitiya, on Monday, July 13, at 5.30 p.m. in the Colombo YMCA forum hall.The lectures are held on every second Monday of the month at the above venue and are conducted at the invitation of the Colombo YMCA Bible Study Institute.

The lectures are open to the public.