Quick Look

He seeks your help

Dinol Bhagyaji, a one year and nine months old boy of No. 13, Kameel Place, Nupe, Matara is having a congenital deformity in his right leg. Since two earlier operations have not helped to correct the deformity, doctors have recommended a third operation for total correction of the leg.

The operation to be performed at a private hospital is estimated to cost Rs. 200,000. Dinol’s father E. P. Chaminda says he is unable to find this money due to his present financial plight.

He requests philanthropists and the public to assist his child’s cause by sending whatever financial contributions possible to help expedite the surgery. All contributions should be remitted to account number 1010 5036 0696 at the Sampath Bank, Matara Branch.

P. M. Leelaratne dies

Tourism Ministry Secretary P. M. Leelaratne passed away last night after a brief illness. He was a senior officer in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service and has served as secretary to several other Ministries including Railways and Transport, Environment and Natural Resources and Home Affairs.

Leelaratne having graduated in 1973 from the then University of Peradeniya and joined to the Government Service as an Assistant Lecturer, University of Colombo. He was also an Attorney-at-Law and has obtained the Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB from University of Colombo) and also was a holder Fellowship in Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship offered by William Fulbright Foreign Scholarships board of the Government of USA in 1992.

His remains lie at his residence No. 53A, Epitamulla Road, Pitakotte. The funeral will takes place on December 22 at 4.00 p.m. at General Cemetery, Borella.

Felicitation ceremony

The Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka felicitation ceremony and the Siwhela Rangadhara 2007 dance festival organised by the Horana Siwhela Rangayathnaya will be held at the Horana Sri Palee Madya Maha Vidyalaya hall on December 29 at 2 p.m.

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka will be the Chief Guest.

Sixty selected veteran dancers representing all parts of the country will be honoured with the Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka award at this ceremony in recognition of their service towards cultural development, Rangayathanaya's director Jayalath Seneviratne said.

Ray of hope tomorrow

A Ray of Hope featuring a combination of world famous artistes will be presented tomorrow at 7 pm. at the Bishop's College Auditorium.

Soul Sounds the all female choir with two silver medals at the World Choir Games in the categories of Gospel and Spiritual and Scenic Folklore and Revelations, the all Thomian ensemble with the Gold Medal for Gospel and Spiritual category, Silver in the Sacred Music category and a Gold Diploma for emerging champions in the open male vocal ensemble category at the Asian Choir Games will be among others who will participate.

Warakapola gets modern bus stand

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

The Government has released Rs. 230 million for the construction of a modern bus terminal in Warakapola, fulfilling a long-felt need.

Earlier commuters were seen gathered in their hundreds at a single location to board their buses on the Kandy-Colombo highway.

Funds for the new bus stand were released through the intervention of Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Athauda Seneviratna.

The two-storeyed structure housing the bus stand also has a supermarket with 170 stalls.

The construction of the bus stand will mark the launch of the Warakapola Urban Development project.

Thiruvempavai procession

V. T. SAHADEVARAJAH, Karativu group correspondent

The Hindu religious Thiruvempavai procession is being conducted in the Hindu villages in Batticaloa and Amparai districts.

It was started on December 15 and will end on December 24.

The morning procession is conducted daily from 4 am to 6 am.

"Thiruvaathirai Theertham" will be observed on December 24.

This procession is conducted amidst showers these day.

Hajj festival will be celebrated here today and Christmas on December 25.