Quick Look

NSB new GM/CEO

Senior Chartered Accountant Hennayake Bandara will assume duties today as General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of the National Savings Bank.

Guest lecture

Prof. Vernon Cooray will conduct a lecture on Lightning and Lightning Protection - Facts and Myths on May 05 at 4.00 p.m. at the Colombo University's Physics Department conference room.

Budawatte birth anniversary

A Kohombayak Kankari performance will take place on May 8 at 7 p.m. at the Budawatte Rangayatana premises on the occasion of the 60th birth anniversary of Maestro Kulasiri Budawatte.

Performance awards

The Good performance awards of the People's Bank regional branch staff of the Colombo South and North will be held on May 8 and May 9. The awards will be made at functions chaired by People's Bank Chairman W. Karunajeewa. The Colombo South performance awards ceremony will be held at the Galadari Hotel while the Colombo North performance awards will be made at the Guruge Nature Park, Ja Ela.

Prevailing humid weather condition till mid-May

Lakshmi DE SILVA

The prevailing humid weather condition would continue till mid-May until the South Western Monsoon starts. This is a normal weather pattern during inter monsoonal period and before the monsoon activates, Meteorologist Preethika Jayakody told the Daily News yesterday.

Dry South Westerly calm winds from the sea at night results in high temperature making it very uncomfortable during the nights.

The high humidity in the atmosphere causes perspiration. The Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces would experience rains in the mornings.

Scattered thundershowers could occur in any part of the country and the weather could change suddenly.

Public are warned to be cautious about thunder that could occur with sudden gusty winds and rains, she explained.

The highest rainfall of 178.5 millimetres was recorded from Kavudulla while Polonnaruwa had a rain fall of 84 millimetres Monday, Preethika said.

Gambler hunting porcupines nabbed in reserve

Siri WAWWAGE- Matara Roving Correspondent

Kamburupitiya police arrested a person hunting porcupines in the Government owned Rankakulawa Forest Reserve to earn money for gambling.

The man had five porcupines out of which three had been killed at the time he was arrested.

The 55-year-old suspect residing in Ransagoda had used a dog to hunt the porcupines.

The suspect had attempted to flee when officers rounded the forest reserve to arrest him.

The suspect was to be produced before court today.

Investigations are continuing.

Police investigate abduction

Richmond WIJESEKERA -Bentota Group Correspondent

Ambalangoda Police are investigating the abduction of a 16 year old student of Sri Devananda Maha Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda.

The girl’s parents say their daughter Nadeesha Kumuduni was abducted near the main bus stand in Ambalangoda.

According to them, an unidentified person dragged her into a three wheeler last Monday afternoon while she was returning home from school.

How to collect Daily News weekly tabloid supplement

From May 4, 2010 the Daily News provides a weekly 16 page tabloid on quality 70 GSM paper free. However, the supplement will come to you in four installments, each on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. So, with Friday’s installment you would have got the entire supplement.

Raids nab errant traders

Richmond WIJESEKERA-Bentota Group Correspondent

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) earned over five million rupees in fines between January 1 and April 15.

A CAA official told the Daily News that the officers had conducted over 1,000 raids on traders selling essential food items above the controlled prices.

Nearly 1,500 traders were nabbed selling rice, sugar, dhal, flour, chicken etc. at higher rates due to the demand during the Sinhala and Hindu New Year, he said.

That errant businessmen had been fined in courts while more cases were pending. The CAA acted on public complaints.

Kidney patient

Aruni Shanika, 20, is in need of a kidney transplant due to a chronic disease. She seeks a suitable donor of O positive blood group and also needs financial help. Contributions can be credited to A/C 273-2-001-0-0004798 of the Kadawatha branch, People’s Bank.

Cancer patient

B. W. Thilini, 22, of Batuwita, Thihagoda is suffering from a cancer and seeks public contribution for treatment. Donations can be credited to A/C 032-2-001-6-0014559 of the Uyanwatta Branch, People’s Bank.

Robbers flee with money

Siri WAWAGE

Four unidentified robbers who entered the Gurubavila Hotel, in the Weligama police area had assaulted a foreign national, the owner of the hotel and an employee.

The owner and the employee had sustained injuries. Later, the robbers had threatened them, fled away with money and assets worth Rs. 141,000.

In the complaint made to the police, the foreign national has stated that while he was sleeping in his room, he was forced to open the door. Later the robbers had frightened him and fled away with Rs. 18,000 and some foreign cash.

Man fined

Bandula Gunasekara and T. K. Ariyadasa-Malimbada group corr.

A man who pleaded guilty of having 325 bottles of kasippu and distilling equipment in his possession was fined Rs. 65,000 by Matara District Additional Magistrate, Lasith Chamath Madanayaka.

Clinton fetes Prof Peiris

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has congratulated Prof. G.L. Peiris on his appointment as Sri Lanka's new External Affairs Minister.

Clinton in her message said: " You have had a distinguished public service career working for peace and prosperity in Sri Lanka, and I look forward to working with you to develop further U.S.- Sri Lankan Cooperation and strengthen our partnership."