News in brief

President appoints Bribery Commission

The three-member Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) is now functional, states a Presidential Secretariat press release.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga has appointed former Supreme Court Judge Amir Ismail to head the Commission. The other two members of the CIABOC are former Supreme Court Judge P. Edussuriya and Mr. T.I. de Silva a retired Inspector General of Police.

Help save this toddler

Four month old H. M. Kesaka Kavinda of No. 53, Ethrajagama, Kamburugamuwa is suffering from an acute congenital heart disease. Doctors at the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital have recommended an urgent heart surgery to save his life.

The surgery to be performed at a private hospital in Colombo is estimated to cost Rs. 350,000. The child's father Heva Madittage Piyal says, being a casual labourer, he is unable to foot this bill.

He requests philanthropists and the general public to assist his infant son's cause by sending whatever financial contributions possible to help expedite the surgery. All contributions should be remitted to account number 207-083784-8 at the People's Bank branch at Dharmapala Mawatha, Matara.