Blossoming artists rewarded

Three members of the First Art Foundation, Kegalle have won awards at the 'Inikki' Festa Art Competition organised by the Sri Lanka UNESCO National Council and the Mitsubishi Common Committee.

Odara Iroshini Jayawardana has won the grandprix award and a cash award of US$ 2,000. Samadhi Weerasekara has been given the Mitsubishi Pac award while Anisha Hasini Goonetilleke has won an award of excellence.

Meanwhile, Shyamika Dilsara Abeyratne has won the first place in the State Children's Art festival (primary section) and Chathuski Dilshara Jayaratne has won the first place in the senior section.

* Teacher: What can you tell me about the Dead Sea?

Pupil: Dead?, I didn't even know he was sick!

* What are the small rivers that run into the Nile?

The juve-niles!

* Teacher: Why is the Mississippi such an unusual river?

Pupil: Because it has four eyes and can't see!

*********

A passenger train is creeping along, slowly. Finally it creaks to a halt. A passenger sees a conductor stepping out of the carriage.

"What's going on?" she yells out the window.

"Cow on the track!" replies the conductor.

Ten minutes later, the train resumes its slow pace.

Within five minutes, however, it stops again.

The woman sees the same conductor again.

She leans out the window and yells, "What happened? Did we catch up with the cow again?"

*********

November 1

*Prof K.N.Jayathilake,Buddhist scholar was born in 1920.

*Dale Carnegie,American writer died in 1955.

*L.H.Metthananda, a former principal of Ananda College and President of "Bauddha Jathika Balavegaya" died in 1967.

November 2

* George Bernard Shaw,English dramatist died in 1950.

*Rev. J.J.Gnanapragasam,12th Bishop of Colombo passed away in 1987.

* Burt Lancaster,American actor was born in 1913.

* Isaac Asimov,scientist,writer was born in 1920.

November 3

* Charles Bronson,American actor was born in 1921.

* H.W.Jayewardene,Q.C .was born in 1916.

* Shelton Ranaraja, a former Deputy Minister of Justice (1980-1988 )was born in 1926.

November 4

* Alhaj Mohideen Baig, singer died in 1991.

* R.G.Senanayake, a former politician was born in 1911.

*Eden Phillpollts,English novelist,poet, playwright was born in 1862.

November 5

* A.T.Ariyaratne, founder of Sarvodaya Movement was born in 1931.

* Felix R.Dias Bandaranaike, a former Minister of Justice from 1971 - 1977 was born in 1930.

* Vivian Leigh,English actress ( of Gone with the Wind fame) was born in 1913.

* Lester Pigot,English jockey was born in 1935.

November 6

* S.P.Vythialingam, a former member of the State Council for Thalawakele (1931-1947) died in 1984.

* Adolph Sax,Belgium inventor of the saxophone was born in 1814.

* Cissy Cooray, a former president of Lanka Mahila Samithiya died in1965.

* Thor Heyerdahl,Norwegian anthropologist and explorer was born in 1914.

November 7

* Puran Appu (a national hero)leader of the 1848 rebellion was born in 1862.

* Marie Curie,Polish physicist ,co -discoverer of radium was born in 1867.

* Albear Camu,French writer was born in 1913.

* Steve McQueen,Americn actor died in 1980.

November 1

*All Saints' Day.

*National day of Algeria.

*Ceylon Electricity Board was established in 1969.

* State Gem Corporation was established in 1971.

*Lanka Cement Corporation was established in 1956.

November 2

* All Souls' Day.

November 3

*National day of Panama.

*National day of Dominican Republic .

*First spacecraft carrying an animal (Russian dog Laika), Sputnik 11, was launched by Russia in 1957.

November 4

*UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) was established in 1946.

*The World Amateur Billiard championship was held in Colombo in 1979.

*Howard Carter discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922.

November 5

*Christopher Columbus came to know about maize (corn) from the Indians of Cuba.

November 6

*International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.

*Elizabeth Taylor weds Larry Fotensky in 1991.

*Thomas Alva Edison screens his first motion picture in 1889.

November 7

*Methodist College, Colombo was established in 1866.

Compiled by W.A. Rusiru JAYASURIYA

Kinniya Bridge:

Sri Lanka's longest bridge opened

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Over 18,000 families at Kinniya in the Trincomalee District last week heaved a sigh of relief, when the opening of Sri Lanka's longest bridge to be built across a lagoon, the 'Kinniya Bridge' took place under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 20.The construction work of the 396 metres long and 10 metres wide bridge which connects Horol-Adi in Irakkandy and Kinniya in Trincomalee was carried out by a world renowned Chinese firm with financial assistance from the Saudi Development Fund.The Sri Lankan Government spent Rs. 789 million to construct the bridge and the construction work began in 2004.

At the glittering opening ceremony in Kinniya, it was revealed that the former Irakkandy Bridge was destroyed by the tsunami catastrophe in 2004, and the foundation stone for the new `Kinniya Bridge' was laid by the then Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa. The newly built Irankkandi Bridge which was also opened by the President on the same day will link Trincomalee with Pulmodai. It was constructed to replace the old bridge across the Irrankkandi Lagoon. It is 300 meters in length and seven metres wide with two lanes of 1.0 metres. The Spanish Government has donated funds for this effort. Speaking in Tamil at the opening ceremony, President Rajapaksa highlighted the importance of constructing the bridge at this juncture when the Government has already started a number of economic development programmes in the Eastern Province under the 'Eastern Province Re-awakening Programme' (Nagenahira Navodaya).Highways and Road Development Minister, T.B. Ekanayake reminded the gathering that after the former bridge was destroyed, people used a ferry service to travel across the Kinniya Lagoon with great difficulties and the new bridge will immensely help them in their day-to-day activities.

The nation fetes young inventors

by Rohan MATHES

Sri Lanka's outstanding achievers at the 'Young Inventor of the Year' (JIY) competition/2009, organised by the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL), were warmly felicitated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at the colourful 103rd Annual Sessions of the IESL, held at the BMICH recently.

From over 600 school children who had participated at Provincial level competitions held islandwide, 60 successful participants were invited to the final competition held in Colombo. In this competition at the IESL's Wimalasurendra Auditorium in Colombo, 20 outstanding Achievers were selected as the winners of the JIY competition/2009, in their order of merit.G. Nanayakkara of Ananda College, Colombo was adjudged the "Junior Inventor of the Year - 2009", for his invention, of the "Wireless Access Technology for Horology". A gold medal, a certificate and a cash award of Rs. 15,000, was presented to him by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the IESL's Inaugural Annual sessions at the BMICH.The President presented a silver medal, a certificate and a cash award of Rs. 12,500 to R. M. A. P. Keerthiratna of Vidyartha College Kandy, who secured the second place for his invention of "Instrument to Measure Focal Length" and also presented a bronze medal, a certificate and Rs. 10,000 cash award to A. M. K. J. Layanal of Sumana Balika Vidyalaya Ratnapura for her invention of "Modified Three Pin Socket Outlet".

Other Merit and Category-Specific Special Awards were also presented to the respective winners of the competition, at the TECHNO 2009 exhibition held at the BMICH.

The Chirman of the IESL JIY committee, Eng. Jayavilal Meegoda was of the view that overall, the competition was of a very high standard and was very close and competitive. There had been a high turnout and much enthusiasm among the competitors of the rural areas of the country.

Some of the other inventions in different categories that won awards

Automatic street lamp (Gold medal) by G. C. M. S. Kumara of Pinnawala Central College, Rambukkana.

Improved Pittu Cooker (Silver) by R. J.W.S. Ashan of Rahula Vidyalaya Matara.

Vehicle which cannot be driven by a person under the influence of liquor (Gold) invented by J. K. D. S. Jayanetti of Musaeus College Colombo.

Advanced stand for bicycle (Silver) by R. A. D. M. Karunajewa of Ruwanwella Rajasinghe M. V. Ruwanwella.

Modified funnel (Gold) by P. S. J. Rathnayake of Bandaranayake Vidyalaya Gampaha, Machine to fix nails at high places (Gold) by S. M. M. Chandrasiri of Andaulpatha National School, Uraniya, Mahiyanganaya.

'Lowa Dinana Singiththo 2009':

Preparing children to face the challenges of tomorrow

"Lowa Dinana Singiththo 2009", the grand finale which included the prize presentation, art exhibition and the evening of entertainment was held recently at the BMICH Main Hall.

The chief guest for this occasion was Rajendra Theagarajah, Managing Director/CEO of Hatton National Bank and the guest of honour was Premasara Epasinghe, Private Secretary to the Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha.

Held for the second consecutive year with the participation of more than 150,000 children from more than 9,800 schools islandwide, to display their talents and creativity in singing, speech, drama, short story writing, art, essay writing. The competition was held over a period of three months at district and national level in Sinhala, Tamil and English mediums.Delivering the welcome speech, Chandula Abeywickrema, Deputy General Manager (Marketing and Retail Banking), Hatton National Bank said that HNB is happy to be associated with the Ministry of Education to conduct an islandwide all island school competition of this magnitude.

He also said that the HNB's substantial investment in such programmes is purely to empower and provide young children the opportunity to display their talents so that they will be more equipped to face tomorrow's challenges.Rajendra Theagarajah, Managing Director/CEO, HNB speaking on this occasion stated that HNB as a premier private sector Commercial Bank has a special commitment towards children.A special feature of the evening was the drama presented by children from the Blind School, Ratmalana.Premasara Epasinghe, Private Secretary to the Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha delivered the special message sent by the Minister.