Quick Look

Liberal Party to Chair CALD

Liberal Party of Sri Lanka was elected as the new Chair Party for next two years by the General Assembly of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) held in Manila, Philippines recently.

It is a regional grouping comprised of ten political parties from South East Asia and Liberal Party of Sri Lanka from South Asia.

Liberal Party Leader Kamal Nissanka and Head, International Department of the Liberal Party Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha will act as joint chairpersons of the CALD for the next two years.

Impostor SI caught

Rafik Jalaldeen

A man posing as a Sub Inspector of police was arrested by a special Police team in the Deyianwela area, Medirigiriya on Sunday night.

Police spokesman SSP I.M. Karunaratne said a man who was cheating his family members, relatives and neighbours as a SI was nabbed by the Police in Viharagama.

“The suspect’s wedding photo in Police uniform and part of the Police uniform was seized,” he added.

Teacher’s murder plan backfires

Samanthi Weerasekera

A school teacher who attempted to cause harm to his wife, child and mother-in-law by exploding a gas cylinder was admitted to the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital with severe burns when his plan backfired.

The incident took place in Pitawalawatta in Devulagala on Sunday. The wife who is a family health nurse 10 year old daughter and mother-in-law also suffered burn injuries.

The suspect had initially locked up the family in their house and attempted to set the house aflame through the window from outside. While in the act his body suddenly, caught fire and spread inside the house also injuring the rest. According to Hospital sources the child’s condition is critical.

UN summit on climate change in Copenhagen

The UNFCCC will conduct its 15th Conference of Parties from December 7 to 18 in Copenhagen.

This summit will be the most important gathering of world leaders in the history to discuss ways and means of combating climate challenge. It is reported that 192 country representatives including over 60 world leaders will gather at Copenhagen to engage in climate negotiations to explore the possibilities of sealing a deal.

The negotiations at Copenhagen is on reaching the global carbon emissions peak by 2015 and reducing the global average to 50 percent by 2050. This target can only be achieved with avoiding burning fossil oil and coal by all countries; developed world with a target of 80 percent and the developing world with a target of 30 percent against 1990 level 2050.

Plea to rectify COL anomalies

The All Ceylon Union of English Teachers, in a memorandum to President Mahinda Rajapaksa has categorically pointed out that several thousands of pensioners and their family members are perturbed over the discrimination of the Cost of Living Allowance.

The Union also pointed out the recent assurance given by Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama in Parliament that the Government will increase pension payments simultaneously as they increase public servants’ salaries.

School term ends Dec 9

All schools will close for the third term on December 9. Accordingly, the third term vacation will be from December 10 to January 3, 2010. The new school term begins on January 4, 2010.

The GCE (O/L) will commence on December 11.

Hoteliers fined

S. Duraisamy, Maskeliya group corr.

Owners of two Hotels in Maskeliya were fined Rs. 10,000 by Hatton Magistrate and District Judge Sandun Vithane for default of keeping up the orders given by Food and Drugs Controller for the Nuwara-Eliya district R.P.W. Rajapakse.

Several hotels in the Maskeliya town were raided and a few hotels were warned by the controller not to open again until he re-inspected them.

Awareness Program for Quazis

The Centre for the Study of Human Rights (CSHR), University of Colombo is conducting an Orientation Program and Three Day Residential Training Workshop for Quazis on Human Rights from December 1 to 4 at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian and Research and Training Institute (HARTI). Sixty one Quazis will participate in the Orientation program and 30 Quazis in the Training Workshop.

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

Musical show

The Dhamso musical show organised by the prefects of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda in association with the schools Aesthetic Circle will be held on December 04 at the school hall. The school show will be at 12.00 noon while the public show is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Seminar

A public seminar on medicinal drug policy organized by Health Action International Asia Pacific in Collaboration with the Kelaniya University Medical Faculty and the People’s Movement for the Rights of Patients will be held on December 5 from 9 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, 100, Independence Square, Colombo 7.

Speakers include Prof. Carlo Fonseka, Chrishmal Warnasuriya - Attorney-at-law, Prof. Colvin Gunaratne, Prof. Geetha Fernando, Prof. Krishanta Weerasuriya, Dr. Ananda Wijeywickrema, Dr. Palitha Abeyakoon, Ms. Chinta Abeywardena, Dr. K. Balasubramaniam and Louis Benedict. Admission by invitation which can be obtained from the office of Health Action International Asia - Pacific, Telephone: 2554353.

Book launch

The first ever book launch of Dr. Hasitha Attanayake titled Apey Palamu Rathriya (First hight together) will take place on Wednesday December 2 at 5 p.m. at the National Youth Centre Auditorium, Maharagama.

Int’l Disabled Day

The International Disabled Day organized by the Social Services Department of the Western Province will be held on December 3, at the Jana Kala Centre, Battaramulla.

It will be graced by Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana and Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranathunga at the invitation of the Western Province Minister Jagath Angage.

This program will be attended by 600 disabled children.

Buddhist talk

Dr. Kanishka Karunaratne will deliver a Public Buddhist talk in English on “Awareness of Mind and Body” at a meeting of the Servants of the Buddha Society on December 5, Saturday at 4.30 p.m. at Maitri Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya.