[Quick Look]

Two new MPs

Chandima Weerakkody (PA) and Nandimithra Ekanayake (UNP) were sworn in as new MPs before Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara yesterday.

Chandima Weerakkody was sworn in as a new MP to fill the vacancy created with the demise of Justice and Law Reforms Minister Amarasiri Dodangoda while Nandimithra Ekanayake was sworn in as a new MP to fill the vacancy of late Matale district UNP MP Alic Aluvihare.

UK and IR

More buses for North

Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma has directed officials to increase the fleet of buses at the Jaffna, Navatkuli, Kankesanturai, Vavuniya and Mannar depots with immediate effect to cater to the transport needs of the people in the North.

A press release by the Government Information Department said a fleet of 2,500 buses were imported from India and distributed among CTB depots countrywide after President Rajapaksa assumed office.

Under the program initiated by the Minister 125 new buses will be deployed in the Northern Province in addition to the existing fleet. The co-operation of the private sector would be sought to enhance the bus services on A9 and A32 roads.

Estate housing on schedule

WALTER LIYANARACHCHI

The targetted number of total estate houses to be built during this year could be met, a National Housing Development Authority official said.

The total number of estate houses projected for line dwellers this year is 2463 costing Rs. 257 million.

The Nation Building Ministry will provide the funds and the Authority will deal with construction work under the guidance of Housing and Common Amenities Ministry, he said.

Million drinking water bottles for IDPs

The Tharunyata Hetak Organisation has arranged to hand over one million bottles of safe drinking water for distribution among IDPs in welfare villages at a ceremony held at Vavuniya on June 26.

The collection of bottled water through a public appeal made on April 27 would conclude on June 15 as the organization had almost neared its target of one million bottles, said Organization’s Media Officer Thusitha Jayawardena in a press release issued yesterday.

SASL Conference

The Annual Conference of the Sociological Association of Sri Lanka (SASL) will be held on June 12 from 8 a.m. to 4.45 p.m. at the Senate Room of the University of Colombo.

Get-together

The Old Trinitians will hold the Bradby Night get-together 2009 organized by the Colombo Branch of the Trinity College Kandy, Old Boys’ Association at the CR&FC, Longden Place on June 13 (this Saturday) following the 2nd Leg of the Bradby Shield encounter.

AGM

The 15th Annual General Meeting of the Coconut Growers’ Association of Sri Lanka will be held on June 27 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Committee Room ‘B’ at 9 a.m.

Krishnamurti talk

A recorded public talk on ‘meditation and the ending of the self’ delivered by the late Indian sage J. Krishnamurti will be replayed at Anula Nursery School, 310, High Level Road, Colombo 6 on June 14 at 9.45 a.m.

The event is organized by the Krishnamurti Centre, Sri Lanka Inc.

Old Anandians to be feted

Nine Old Anandians including Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga will be feted at Ananda College, Colombo on June 11 at 7.30 a.m.

Krishantha Alwis heads the sub-committee in-charge of the reception.

Musical evening in Beijing

The Sri Lanka Embassy together with the Indian Embassy in People’s Republic of China will host a ‘South Asian Musical Evening’ in Beijing on June 27 at Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing.

Soul Sounds of Sri Lanka and the Shillong Chamber Choir of India will take part.

Scout service a relationship week

The Scout Service and Relationship Week will be held from June 13-28.

This year, The Scout Service and Relationship Week will be launched by Southern Province Governor Kumari Balasuriya on June 12, at 3 pm at the Galle Auditorium.

Examination

Catholic religious schools final certificate examination 2008/09 will be held on June 27 and 28, said a press release issued by the Information Department.

Auditorium opening

The new auditorium built at Holy Cross College, Kalutara will be opened by Bishop of Anuradhapura Rt. Rev. Dr. Norbert Andradi on June 13 at 8 am.

Wristwatch found

A wrist watch was found on a street in Colombo 10. The owner please call over to the following address. C. Maxwell Fernando, Rogers International, 83, Maligakanda Road, Maradana, Colombo 10. Contact No. 2685061/62.

Emergency extended

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Irangika Range

The motion moved by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake to extend the Emergency Regulations by another one month was passed in Parliament with a majority of 95 votes yesterday. The TNA asked for a division and voted against. The JVP, JHU, NFF and CWC voted in favour.

The UNP abstained from voting.

TNA Vanni District MP S. Kisshor abstained from voting.

Television State Awards

The Television State Awards ceremony organised by the Cultural Affairs Department under the directions of the Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Ministry will be held at the BMICH, Colombo on June 10 at 6 p.m. for the fourth consecutive year.

Fifty six awards will be made at this ceremony in respect of 21 different sectors.

Col. Chithra Punchihewa - 17th year remembrance

The 17th year death remembrance of Col. C.K.G. Punchihewa falls today. He was the Commanding Officer of the 4th Regiment of Sri Lanka Light Infantry when he sacrificed his life for his Motherland in Pooneryn. A Sangika Dana will be held at his residence in Pannipitiya today.