Quick Look

Premier acting Defence Minister

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne has been appointed Acting Defence Minister with effect from Tuesday. He will act in this new capacity until President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is the Defence Minister returns from his state visit to India.

Acting Media Minister

Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena will be Acting Media Minister until Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella returns from India. Minister Rambukwella is among the delegation of Ministers accompanying President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India.

Houses vested with IDPs

Fifty six houses constructed at a cost of Rs. 35 million in Pirappanmaduwa and Kockeliya in the Vavuniya District were vested with the internally displaced persons.

A function was held on June 6 to mark this occasion under the patronage of Resettlement Minister Milroy Fernando and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The houses have been constructed on expenses of Anura Perera, a businessman living in the United Kingdom on the instructions of Ven. Yatirawana Thera and Northern Commander Major General Kamal Gunaratne.

Shed differences to develop country

Gamini CHANDRARATNE -Katugastota group correspondent

Sarath Fonseka making unpatriotic statements against the country and the nation reflects his bankruptcy in politics and hatred, said Kandy District MP Dilum Amunugama at a meeting in Nugawela yesterday.

Our war heroes under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa eliminated the 30-year-old terrorism which dragged the country backwards. Desecrating such a noble deed is despicable, he said.

The MP said the time has come to shed all petty differences and get together to develop the country through a new political culture.

Thilanga to Chair DS Coordinating Committee

The coordinating meeting of the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat which consists of Borella, Colombo East and Colombo West will be Chaired by Colombo District MP Thilanga Sumathipala.

Divisional Secretariat Coordinating Committee overseas nine Police stations, the Municipal Commissioner (Colombo Municipal Council), Land Development and Reclamation Corporation, Samurdhi Managers, Samurdhi Development Officers, Medical Officer of Health, Divisional Electrical Engineer, Housing Development Authority, Zonal Educational Director, Water Supply and Drainage Board, Irrigation Engineers of Irrigation Department, Rural Community Committees and other voluntary Organisations.

Eighty percent attendance must for university students

Dinesh DE ALWIS

A minimum of 80 percent attendance is compulsory for University students from the new academic year, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake said. He said there are students who never go to the campus but pass the exams. There are issues with some University Courses and the quality of those courses will be increased soon. Assignments, exams and library facilities will also be improved to get a qualified graduate the minister said. The Minister made these observation at the function held to release Z scores of GCE A Level earlier on June 7.

Bodhi Pooja

A special Bodhi Pooja organized by the Highways Ministry to mark the President Mahinda Rajapaksa's 40 years since taking oaths as a Parliamentarian will be held at the Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya this evening. Highways Deputy Minister Dr. Mervyn Silva and Nirmala Kotalawala are expected to participate.

Checks on police stations to nab shirkers

Indika POLKOTUWA

A scheme to conduct surprise checks on police stations in the Central Province to ensure their smooth functioning has been introduced by Senior DIG Gamini Navaratne.

The Senior DIG said the move is aimed to ensure that police stations ensured an efficient and streamlined service to the public.

The checks will be done by a team of senior police officials detailed by him.

Islamic convention

The Islamic Convention (Ijthima) organised by Anuradhapura Branch of the Sri Lanka Jamath e-Islami will be held at Kalawewa Jummah Masjid on Friday from Ashar prayers to 9. 30 pm.

Sermons will be delivered on ‘The impact of modern technology on worships’, ‘Prayers that calm the mind’, and ‘How to pay homage to the Almighty’ by Puttalam Islahiyyah Ladies Arabic College lecturer Ash. H. M. Minhaj (Islahi), Principal of Islahiyyah Boys Arabic College Mowlavi M. U. M. Ramsi and Rasheed Hajjul Akbar, Ameer of Sri Lanka.

Badur Mowlood

The recital of Badur Mawlood, conducted by M.A.M. Naeem and Al Haj Moulavi A.B.M. Mubarak (Falahi) will be held on June 10, after Magrib Prayers and will continue until Isha Prayers at the Nawala Jummah Mosque.

A Religious lecture will also be conducted by Moulavi Al Haj N.M. Fardhy after Isha Prayers on June 13.

Lak Salusala showroom opens

A new showroom of the Lak Salusala will be opened by State Resources and Enterprise Development Minister P. Dayaratne at No. 32, Main Street, Ratnapura today at 11.02 a.m. Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, Ministry Secretary Dr. Willie Gamage and Lak Salu Sala Chairman Roshan Maddumage will also be present.

This is the fourth in a chain of Lak Salusala branches opened under the Lak Salusala reorganisation program.

IR convocation

The International Relations Division of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) will organize the IR Convocation at the BCIS Auditorium on Saturday June 12, from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Colombo University Vice Chancellor Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama will be the Chief Guest.

Seminar and workshop

A Seminar and a workshop on concepts and the qualitative improvement on the life of elders organized by the HelpAge Education Division will be held for students of Sri Jayawardenapura Education Zone at the Vidyakara Girls School, Maharagama today.

New Director of Government Information

A senior journalist and the Editor of Desathiyamagazine, Wasanthapriya Ramanayaka has been appointed as the Director of Information of the Government Information Dept.

He has been functioning as the Editor of Desathiya for the last 16 years and earlier he was the Deputy Editor of the Peramaga magazine.

He is a popular Columnist and a feature writer of politics and current affairs. He is a regular contributor to several national newspapers. In addition to his new post Ramanayaka will continue as the Chief Editor of the Desathiya magazine.

Fraudsters arrested

Two suspects believed to be members of an organized gang involved in defrauding shop keepers countrywide by presenting fake currency notes for goods purchased were arrested at Katugastota and Dunuwila by the Alawathugoda Police who also seized 12 dud Rs 1,000 notes in their possession.

Interrogations revealed that the suspects resident in Gampola and Dunuwila had amassed goods valued at several lakhs of rupees by defrauding shop keepers in this manner. The suspect from Gampola is a suspect in a crime released on bail.

Investigations are continuing directed by Senior DIG Gamini Navaratne and DIG Pujith Jayasundera.

Bikkhus to learn English/Tamil

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Ministry will implement a language study program for the Buddhist monks, to train them in preaching Dhamma in English and Tamil, Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Ministry secretary Chandra Jayatilake said to the Daily News. Interviews will be held to select monks for the programs at the Public

Trustees Department, at Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo, on June 22 and 23. The study program will commence in three months.

Get-together

The Sri Lanka Air Force 39th Course Get-together will be held on June 12 at 10.00 a.m at Kethmadura Reception Hall, Horana Road, Weligampitiya, Pokunuwita.

Contact Dias on 0718 010 498 for further details.

Thurstan Junior OBU AGM

The 17th annual general meeting of the Thurstan College Junior Old Boys’ Union will be held Saturday, June 12 at the College auditorium, Colombo at 3.00 p.m. For details contact: Secretary on 0722828980.