Quick Look

Mass Media Minister visits Information Department

Mass Media and Communication Minister Keheliya Rambukwella paid a visit to the Government Information Department yesterday. Media Ministry Secretary W.B. Ganegala and Government Information Director Prof Ariyaratne Athugala were also present.

‘Solution to drug shortage in one month’

Sandasen Marasinghe

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena stated that the Government would take measures to address the shortage of drugs within one month.

He made this observation addressing the media at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party press briefing at the Mahaweli Centre yesterday. He said that the Health Ministry has taken measures to provide 44 most essential medicines to hospitals within two weeks and another 97 varieties within a month.

He also said that the Health Ministry instructed the Osu Sala to obtain the products of the SPC first and the rest from outside to overcome the shortage.

Clashing gangs set ablaze two vehicles

Matara Roving Corr

A luxury bus and a motor car were set ablaze during a clash between two rival factions at Thalpawila, Kekanadura Sunday.

The damage to the vehicles is estimated at Rs 2.2 million.

Moped rider killed in accident

Sunil Suranga (30) of Mudukatuwa Marawila died on admission to the arawila hospital when the Moped he was riding collided with a car at Godawela junction Negombo on Saturday. Marawila police investigating the incident is trying to trace the car driver who had fled the scene after the accident.

Train mishap kills two

Two persons were killed after being knocked down by the Colombo Fort-Aluthgama train near the Bambalapitiya station Sunday.

They were identified as Prasanna Amarasekara (46) of Galwala Road, Mirihana and Subramaniam Premakumar of Kadiladan Road, Nawalapitiya.

Vesak in US

Upali Rupasinghe

The United Nations Day of Vesak - 2010 will be observed for the third consecutive year on May 22 at the Melbourne Town Hall in the United States of America.

This year’s celebration is designed to have a vibrant performance bringing Buddhists from different traditions together to celebrate their diverse cultures.

The event will be presented with a balance of commemoration and celebration.

The program highlights will be a recital of Buddhist devotional songs and a significant dedication of over 2,000 Buddhists from different parts of the States meditating together.

According to a press release by the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the sponsoring body of the event, Buddhism has a strong history in Victoria since the gold rush days in 1848 and continues today with a unique representation of many cultural groups and traditions and forms practised in Melbourne and around the States.

SLAF to bring down essential drugs from India

Chaminda Perera

The Sri Lanka Air Force will assist the Health Ministry soon in quelling the shortage of a number of essential drugs in Government hospitals on a request by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena. According to Health Ministry sources, the SLAF’s cargo flights will bring down essential drugs from India as an urgent measure to squash the drug shortage.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at a meeting with Minister Sirisena over the drug shortage have decided to deploy SLAF cargo flights to bring down essential drugs to quell the drug shortage in Government hospitals.

The Ministry expressed hope that the existing drug shortage in Government hospitals will be overcome with the arrival of this essential drug consignment from India. This is the first time that Health Ministry sought the SLAF’s help in curbing a drug shortage.

INGOs in North under scrutiny

Rafik Jalaldeen

The President’s Task Force has instructed the Northern Provincial Council to monitor the work of all (INGOs) involved in the Northern Development activities.

Northern Province Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri said several INGOs have been permitted by the Presidential Task Force to carry out their aid work in the Northern Province. But it is found that their work is ineffective.

“When we went through the operations of INGOs in the Northern Province we found that they were not working with commitment. The funds were not utilized properly”, Chandrasiri told the Daily News.

The INGOs mainly engage in reconstruction of houses and development of livelihood in the Northern Province.

Major General Chandrasiri reiterated that the INGOs will function coordinating with the Northern Provincial Council and the Northern Province Governor.

Fund raiser

The Young Muslim Women’s League has organized a sale of items from Middle Eastern countries as a fund raiser at the Galadari Hotel from 10.30 a.m. onwards on Sunday, May 23.

Proceeds from this fund raiser will go to fund a creche for 30 children of underprivileged working mothers at Kirulapone and to provide scholarships for needy University students. Contact Nilusha on 0777360755 for more details.

Microsoft school program launch

A microsoft school program which uses novel findings in Information and Communication Technology for teaching and learning will be launched at Royal College Colombo on May 11 at 11.45 a.m.

Blood Donation

A blood donation camp organised by the staff of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Manager’s Office Makumbura, Pannipitiya will be held today from 9 am to 2 pm.

Free clinic

The KDFC (Kidney, Diabetic Hypertension and Cardio Vascular Centre will conduct a free Hypertension clinic on May 16 at the Western Infirmary Hospital No. 218 Cotta Road, Colombo 8 to mark World Hypertension Day which falls on May 17.

Buddhist talk

Prof. Raja de Alwis will deliver a Buddhist talk in English on “The controversial areas in meditation” at a meeting of the Servants of the Buddha Society, Maitri Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya, on Saturday, May 15 at 4.30 p.m. All are welcome.

Buddhist panel discussion

“The next Buddhist public Panel Discussion of the Colombo YMBA will be on Sunday 16th May at 10.00 a.m. at its Borella building on “Living with Metta”. The Panelists are U. Mapa and Mrs. Mallika Karunaratne with Rajah Kuruppu as Moderator. All are welcome”.

Girl missing at Kelaniya Temple:

Public help sought

Police have sought public information to trace Senuri Nimansa Mapalagama, a two and a half year old girl of 33, Pahala Imbulgoda who is reported missing while she was attending the Kelaniya Temple with her parents Sunday afternoon.

Police headquarters said, she is lean, fair in complexion and two and a half feet tall with hair cut short. Any information regarding her should be given to mobile 0777-689032, 0727639672 or 0718676289 or to the Kelaniya Police Station.

Annual Assessment camp final parade in Rantembe

The Final Parade of the Annual Assessment Camp of 12 Battalion National Cadet Corps, Kalutara was held at the National Cadet Corps Training Centre, Rantembe recently. Director, National Cadet Corps Major General Gamini Jayasundara RWP RSP was the Chief Guest.

Piliyandala Central College, Piliyandala won the Battalion Championship, while the second and third places were won by Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya, Panadura and Vidyarathna Wishwa Widya Peetaya, Horana respectively. Corporal Lakmal PWT of Royal College, Horana (Performance six minutes and 10 seconds) has won the Trophy for Best Runner of the Confidence Building Course and Lt. RSJAK Rupasinghe of Vidyarathna Wishwa Widya Peetaya, Horana was selected as the Best Commander (Drill).

Among the large gathering to witness this event were senior officers of the Corps, principals of schools, parents and well-wishers. Several eye-catching pageants were performed by the cadets of 12 Battalion NCC at the end of the parade.

Magistrate orders CPC member to be produced in Court

A. G. Perera Anuradhapura central special corr.

Kekirawa Magistrate, Additional District Judge Srinith Wijesekera ordered Kekirawa police to arrest Central Province Councillor S. M. Ranjith, a police officer and five other suspects and produce them before Court for assaulting the supporters of Minister Duminda Dissanayake.

The victims, while coming to participate in an election rally held at Kekirawa with the participation of the President during the last election period had been assaulted with sticks and firearms at Ganthiriyagama.

How to collect

Daily News weekly tabloid supplement

The second of the invaluable weekly supplement series brought to you by the Daily News in association with Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel will be out Tuesday, May 11. Man-made wonders is a peek at the monumental efforts and creations by humans that have made everyone gasp in awe.

The 16 page tabloid on quality 70 GSM paper will come to you in four instalments, each on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. So, with Friday's instalment, you would have got the entire supplement.