Quick Look
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President at Defence Ministry dansela
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa,
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Service Commanders
at the rice dansela organized by the Defence Ministry at
Bauddhaloka Mawatha yesterday. Picture by Ranjith Asanka |
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First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, on the occasion of Vesak Day
that also heralded the Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi, yesterday
visited the De Zoysa Maternity Home and enquired after the
welfare of the inmates and chatted with them. The First Lady
who was particularly keen about the new born infants,
enquired about their treatment. She also served sweetmeats
to the mothers, also witnessed pregnant mothers being
scanned. MPs Kamala Ranatunga and Obstetrician and
Gynecologist Dr. Hemantha Dodampahala were also present.
Picture by: Lalith Welivitigoda |
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Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka who was
on a 10 day meditational retreat, ended his Sil campaign
yesterday. Here the minister and others arriving on the
occasion. Picture by Nissanka Wijeratne |
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Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common
Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa addressing the Vesak
festival organized by the United Nations Organization in New
York yesterday. |
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The World Trade Centre in Colombo Fort last night relaunched
its giant Vesak lantern at the ground floor lobby for the
fourth time after a lapse of six years. The main lantern
which is 35 feet in height, is flanked by 100 baby lanterns,
constructed by the Engineering Division of the owning
company – Overseas Realty Ceylon Ltd, using VSD technology,
saving 50 percent of the electricity. The theme is
Sangamitta Therani bringing the Jayasri Maha Bodhi sapling
and gifting it to King Devanampiyatissa. The lantern will be
displayed until May 31.
Picture by Lalith C Gamage
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Buddhist exhibition
Meritorious Lanka National Heritages Buddhist exhibition has been
organized jointly by the National Heritages Ministry, Archeology
Department and National Museums Department.
Minister Jagath Balasooriya said this exhibition will be held at the
National Museum premises from today to May 31 from 9 am to 7 pm.
The inaugural ceremony will be presided over by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa.
Pandals in Dehiowita
Dehiowita Spl. Corr
The Dehiowita Pradeshiya Sabha is erecting two pandals, near the
Avissawella Karawanella bridges to mark the 2600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthi.
They will be kept for six months for public viewing.
A van will go around the area chanting pirith.
Noodle dansala
Dehiowita Spl. Corr
Dehiowita Mihisara youth society organized a noodle Dansala for the
eighth consecutive year, opposite Dehiowita Post office yesterday to
commemorate Vesak Poya day.
Bhikkhus visit homes
The Sri Lanka Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in
collaboration with the Sri Gnanaseeha Vihara conducted a series of
Buddhist events on May 13, 14 and 16 to mark the 2600th Sambuddhatva
Jayanthi with the participation of about 350 families in Dematagoda,
Borella and Wanathamulla.
A Buddhist Bhikkhu visited every home and conducted religious
ceremonies. Sambudda statues were also presented to those houses.
Perahera in Matara
A W Gunawardhana - Matara Central correspondent
'Matara 2600 Buddha Jayanthi Maha Perahera' is scheduled to leave
Matara Beach Road (opposite Golden Island, Fort) at 7.30 pm on May 21.
Perahera will roam the streets with about 35 tuskers.
About 250 Vesak lanterns will be exhibited at Sanath Jayasuriya
stadium. The youth societies made arrangements to put up Vesak pandals
in several places.
English programme for Bhikkhus
B A Podimahathmaya - Udawalawa correspondent
International Buddhist Organization in Singapore and Sri Bodhiraja
Foundation Embilipitiya is jointly organizing a special English training
course for Bhikkus to mark the 2600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthi. Interviews
and examination will be held at 1 pm on May 23 at Cambodian Bhikkhu
Hostel (Bodhiraja Centre) at No 112, Ihala Bomiriya, Kaduwela for entry
to the course.
Candidates need to have passed O-L or Piriven Awasana Examination.
This programme is guided by Ven Galle Uditha Nayake Thera and Dr Omalpe
Sobitha Thera.
Sil campaign in Tangalle
Raja Waidyasekera - Tissamaharama special corr
Two thousand six hundred youth will participate at a Sil campaign at
Mahinda Rajapaksa playground, Tangalle to mark the 2600th Sambuddhatva
Jayanthi on May 22 on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa
and MP Namal Rajapaksa.
Tangalle Urban Council Chairman Anil Sellahennedi, his staff and the
business community sponsors the event.
Road in disrepair
M I M Azhar - Maligaikadu Group Corr
The Kalmunai Zahira College road in the Kalmunai Municipal Council
area in the Ampara district is in a state of disrepair. The affected
villagers appeal to the Kalmunai Municipal Council Mayor to take
immediate steps to repair this road.
Workshop on pre-school education
M I M Azhar - Maligaikadu group correspondent
A workshop was organized by Al-Ameen Sri Lanka at the Sainthamaruthu
Divisional Secretariat in Kalmunai on pre-school education.
The workshop was held at Sainthamaruthu Paradise Reception Hall. A
group of 30 women participated.
Gold chain snatched
Puttalam Group Corr
Two persons on a motorcycle had snatched a gold chain from a lady
teacher at Ambakandawila on Friday while she was proceeding towards a
temple in the area with a group of school girls to perform a shramadana
campaign.
Chilaw Police is investigating.
Tamil Tiger propaganda seized
Sri Lankan authorities on Tuesday detained a Canada-bound container
with a cargo of propaganda material for the island’s Tamil Tiger rebels,
a police official said. Police were asked to investigate the consignment
of promotional material for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),
on its way to Canada from the south Indian port of Chennai via Sri
Lankan capital Colombo.
“There were 45 cartons of LTTE books to an address in Canada,” said
the police official, who asked not to be named.
COLOMBO, Tuesday AFP
Home garden competition
To stabilise the price of vegetables and encourage the people to make
use of their lands in their homes for gardening a home garden
competition is to be held in August.
Schools and government departments have been asked by the Jaffna
Government Agent to organise competitions in schools and government
departments to create a competitive spirit among the students and the
government officers to fulfil the motto - ‘Grow more crops to enrich our
land.’ |
