Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne yesterday looked into the welfare of people in the Wattala electorate who were affected by the floods. He met the flood affected families living close to the Colombo – Katunayake express way which is being constructed. The Prime Minister instructed the officials to take immediate measures to provide relief services to the affected families. He added that cooked meals would also be provided to the affected people. Prime Minister Jayaratne directed the officials to evacuate the affected people to safer areas without delay. Here, Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne during his inspection tour.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa inspected flood affected areas in Ja-ela yesterday. Here, Minister Rajapaksa inspecting a road that has come under water due to incessant rain experienced by the country. Social Services Minister Felix Perera, Irrigation Deputy Minister S.M. Chandrasena, Provincial Minister Nimal Lanza and Provincial Councillor Meril Perera also participated. Picture by Chaminda Hittatiya

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena at the new IT Laboratory he opened at the Royal College, Colombo recently. Principal Upali Gunasekera is also in the picture. Picture by Ashraff A Samad, Dehiwala-Mt Lavinia Special Corr

Heavy rains during the last few days played havoc in the city and immediate suburbs displacing thousands of people, damaging houses and property and electricity supply and disrupting traffic and people’s livelihoods. Pictured here is Ambagaha Junction on IDH road submerged in flood waters and a distraught resident in a nearby house walking to safety with his pet dogs. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage

Performing Arts Centre near completion

The construction of the National Performing Arts Centre will be completed soon, sources said. The project will cost Rs 2,500 million.

The National Performing Arts Centre will be a centre for all performing arts. It will consist theatres, dressing rooms, restaurants and conference halls with a seating capacity for 1,260. The building is designed taking the model of the Lotus Pond in Polonnaruwa.

The National Performing Arts Centre is provided as a token of the friendship of Republic of China. The National Performing Arts Centre building is coming up at the Nomads Stadium in Colombo.

Workshop for Quazis

The Centre for the Study of Human Rights (CSHR), University of Colombo is conducting a Three Day Residential Training Workshop for Quazis on Human Rights from May 19 to 21, 2010 at Polonnaruwa.

Thirty eight Quazis will participate in the Training Workshop. The objective of this program is to provide enhanced knowledge and skills in Human Rights and a heightened awareness of rights and responsibilities to Quazis.

Resource persons consist of lecturers from the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo and Attorneys-at-Law.

New AIB chairperson

Mrs. Sumana Ariyadasa assumed duties as the new chairperson of the Agricultural Insurance Board (AIB) recently. An Attorney at Law Mrs. Ariyadasa earlier functioned as the President of the freedom from Hunger Campaign and Deputy Chairperson of the Child Protection Authority.

He needs help

W.K. Isuru Sampath Kumara (13) of Melpura, Walasgala is suffering from deformity in his spine scotiosis. He seeks public contribution for treatment. Donations should be credited to A/C 135-2-002-80004967 of the Dickwella People’s Bank.

Farewell ceremony

A farewell ceremony will be accorded on May 21 to Upali Liyanage who served C/Mahabodhi College, Colombo 10 as a teacher and principal for more than 30 years. The farewell ceremony will be held at the school premises.

Fire at Colombo Port

A container with chemicals at the dangerous cargo section of the Colombo harbour caught fire yesterday and the Fire Brigade was rushed to the scene to control the blaze.

According to police spokesman SP Priyasath Jayakody, the Fire Brigade used another chemical to control the blaze.

House adjourns early due to flood fears

Parliamentary sittings were adjourned at 1.55 p.m. yesterday owing to the bad weather and heavy rains. The Diyawanna Oya had reached its spill level and the entrance to the Parliamentary Complex was inundated.

Deputy Speaker Priyankara Jayaratne adjourned the Parliament till 9.30 a.m. Wednesday.

The debate on the orders under the Special Commodities Levy Act no.48 of 2007 was also adjourned.

AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Scout Association will be held on Saturday, May 22 at 10 a.m. at the Auditorium of Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka, 275/75, Prof. Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, Colombo 7.

Exhibition

An exhibition titled ‘Rock Art’ will take place at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo 7 on May 21 and 22. The exhibition includes rock carvings by Ruwan Prasanga.

Pre-Congress seminar

The SLMA will also hold a pre-congress seminar on May 31 morning at the hotel on the theme - Sri Lankan Experience in Achieving Equity in Health.

Photo exhibition on Palestine

The Embassy of the State of Palestine and the Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine will hold a photo exhibition on Al Nakba (The Palestinian refugees catastrophe) on Friday May 21 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The opening ceremony will be at 4 p.m. at the “Salon Lilac”, Galadari Hotel, Colombo.

House to sit from 1 p.m to 7.30 p.m

Following a Party Leaders meeting held in the Parliamentary complex yesterday decided to conduct the Parliamentary sittings from 1.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. with effect from June 22.

Accordingly, Parliament will meet in the evening from the third week of June and not in the mornings.

This decision was taken with the agreement of all party leaders who attended the Party Leaders’ meeting held in Parliament yesterday evening.

Floods kill Mother and daughter

A nine year girl and her mother had died after being washed away by floods in Mallawa Lihiriyagama of the Koswatta Police Division, Chillaw yesterday. Thushari Kumari, a student of the Buthgampola Primary School was returning home after school with her mother.