Quick Look

President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the Sri Lanka-Singapore Friendship College in Weeraketiya funded by the Singapore Red Cross Society and Pioneered by the Singapore Sinhala Association. Here President Mahinda Rajapaksa in conversation with Grade Six student of the Singapore-Sri Lanka Friendship College Ravisha Sewwandi who delivered her speech in three languages. First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and Singapore Red Cross Society Chairman Tee Tua Ba were also present. Picture by Sudath Silva

Knuckles Reserve: Deputy Minister denies allegations

With reference to our news item titled “Knuckles Reserve: Call to control illegal activities” which appeared in our issue of July 22,2010 Environment Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha has sent a clarification denying “allegations of illegal activities being carried out within the Knuckles Reserve”.

He says there are no lands belonging to private entities or the Land Reform Commission within the confines of the Knuckles Conservation Forest (KCF) which has been properly demarcated. Furthermore, there is absolutely no encroachment or any illegal construction activities in the KCF as alleged.

Mohamed to Mecca

Former Sri Lanka Islamic Centre Chairman and ex Minister M.H. Mohamed will attend the 50th year celebration of the ‘Rabitatul Aalamul Islami’ World Muslim League in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on the invitation of the King of Saudi Arabia on July 31, 2010. Mohamed is a founder member of this prestigious world Islamic Body. During his Saudi visit Mohamed will meet Islamic Leaders.

He will return to Sri Lanka in the first week of August.

The convention will be presided by the Saudi King.

Fire gutters centre

W.C.B. Fernando - Puttalam Group Correspondent

A fire broke out in a computer sales centre in Mahawewa, Maravila.

Equipment worth over Rs 1.8 million have been destroyed.

Marawila Police are investigating whether the fire was sabotage action or due to leakage of electricity.

The fire that started at about 1.30 am on July 24 continued for over two hours until the Marawila Police and the residents in the vicinity doused the fire after a grate effort.

Attempts made to call up fire fighting vehicles from Puttalam, Wennappuwa and Negombo had failed.

Three year knocked down

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

A three-year-old boy died at Diwurumpitiya on the Colombo–Ratnapura road after being knocked down by a CTB bus while he was crossing the road.

Avissawella Police said the boy was trying to cross the road when he was run over by the bus plying from Colombo to Kahawatte.

The victim was identified as Kavindu Sadew Jayasuriya of Gatahatte, Avissawella. The driver later surrendered to the Avissawella Police and was taken into custody. Avissawella Police are conducting inquiries.

Kandy school top in environment contest

Bandara Pilawala

Mahanuwara Amptiya Sri Siddartha Maha Vidyalaya won the Inter school Environment Competition 2010 which was participated by over 2,000 schools islandwide.

The criteria for the selection of winners included education, discipline and classroom arrangements.

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena presented the certificates to the winners at a function at the John de Silva Memorial Theatre, Colombo recently.

Heavy fine on teak tree feller

Matara roving corr.

Walasmulla District Judge Chandima Liyanage imposed a Rs, 129,000 fine on a suspect who pleaded guilty to illegally felling and transporting a teak tree from a teak plantation in Maha Karuwalagoda in the Walasmulla Forest Reserve.