Quick Look

Man dies of elephant attack

Rafik JALALDEEN

A man died following an elephant attack in the Wilgamuwa area Tuesday night, Police spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody said .

He said the 32-year-old man was attacked by an elephant while returning home after visiting his father.

The incident occurred at around 9.00 p.m. in the Amuneyaya area, Wilgamuwa.

The victim was identified as U. Amarasinghe Banda, a resident of Hettipola, Wilgamuwa. Wilgamuwa police are investigating.

Six dengue deaths in Kurunegala

Ariyapala WANSATHILAKE-Kurunegala Central special corr

Six persons have died of dengue in the Kurunegala district, Provincial Health and Sports Minister Asoka Wadigamangawa said.

He was speaking at a dengue eradicating campaign held in Kurunegala yesterday at which over 500 schoolchildren participated. Wadigamangawa said a number of Dengue eradicating campaigns were carried out in the North Western Province.

Gampaha aerial photos for digital mapping project

Dinesh De Alwis

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) will be used to take aerial photos of Gampaha District for the Digital Mapping pilot project launched yesterday by the Economic Development Ministry and Defence Ministry, a Ministry Research and Development Unit official said.

The Survey Department, Urban Development Authority and Defence Ministry have satellite maps which can be used for mapping the land and buildings.

But some satellite maps might be unclear due to the clouds layer in the sky. As such the Defence Ministry willemploy UAVs for clear aerial photo shooting, the official said.

General amnesty for Lankan migrant workers

Sri Lankan migrants working without visas received a general amnesty recently and a batch of 100 of them would return to Sri Lanka on August 20, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka said.

This was a result of the discussions the SLBFE and the Sri Lankan Mission in Lebanon had with the Lebanese Government. There were many others who had registered themselves at the Embassy in Lebanon waiting to return to the country, he said.

This special amnesty was awarded for three months starting from July and the workers were relieved of the fines they had to pay to the Immigration and Emigration office for their stay.

The Lebanon Government had given general amnesties to Sri Lankan migrant workers twice before in 2006 and in 2004 (after the tsunami).

Dear fine

A Prabath WANASINGHE

A suspect produced before Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Darshika Wimalasiri by wildlife authorities for possessing a head and the hide of a slaughtered deer and a fire arm was fined Rs 30,000.

Reference for late Judges, PCs

A reference will be held for the eight late Judges and seven late President's Counsel on August 26, at 9.30 a.m. at the Ceremonial Court of the Supreme Court.

The eight late Judges - E.A.D. Atukorale, K.M.M.B. Kulatunga, M. Jameel, Mark Fernando, P. Ramanathan, T.D.S.A. Wijesundera, Raja Fernando and W.D. Gunasekera.

The seven late President's Counsel - A.K. Premadasa, A.L.M. Hashim, A.M. Marleen, Desmond Fernando, H.L. de Silva, M. Kanagasunderam and Tyronne Fernando.

Wildlife meeting

The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society's Monthly Meeting will discuss Elephant Conservation and Human - Elephant Conflict in Sri Lanka on August 19 at 6.00 p.m. at the Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science Auditorium 120/10, Vidya Mawatha, Off Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07.

Final Kumbal Perahera tonight

The fifth and final Kumbal perahera of the Kandy Esala Pageant will parade the streets of Kandy today.

The first Randoli Perahera will begin tomorrow.

Certificate awards - 2010

Certificate awards ceremony of the Diploma in Counselling 2009 batch conducted by Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, will be held today at 04.00 p.m. at the SLFI Auditorium.

Chief guest Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake, Open University of Sri Lanka Vice Chancellor Prof. U Vidanapathirana Sri Lanka Foundation Chairman Dr Ranjith Bandara will also be present.

Free Medical camp

Colombo Victoria City Lions Club will hold a free medical camp and community service on August 21 from 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kathireshan Hall, Colombo 4.

GPB shifts to new location

The Government Publications Bureau (GPB) which was at 132, Maya Mawatha Colombo 06 has been shifted to 102, Pamankada Road, Wellawatta, Colombo 6 with effect from today, Government Information Department sources said.

Rotary promotes literacy, peace

Rotarians from Colombo West and Malaysia belonging to the Federation of Malaysians of Sri Lankan Origin (FOMSO) visited Jaffna recently and provided software, computers and TV’s to a few schools.

FOMSO President Rotarian Dato Kulasegaran presented the computers and TV’s and pledged their joint support to improve the educational standards of the children.

Lanka-Japan Friendship Society photo

M. Thiyagarajah in a letter to the Daily News states that he was a former ex-co member and is not an ex-co member of the Lanka-Japan Friendship Society at present as stated in a caption which appeared on July 26 edition. The picture was sent to the Daily News by the Lanka-Japan Friendship Society.

Yoga workshop

The Annual Yoga meditation workshop organized by the Maharagama Sethsada Yoga Nikethanaya will be held at the Maharagama Youth Centre on September 5 at 9 am. The workshop is conducted by yoga consultant and Psychiatrist Chamin Warnakula.

Those wishing to participate in practical yoga exercises on this day are requested to contact telephone 011-2842726 or mobile 0777 265240 to obtain membership.

People flock for Korea jobs

Lakshmi DE SILVA

A large number of job seekers flocked to the 13 Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment branches countrywide to look for employment prospects in Korea, during the past three days, SLBFE General Manager H. Batagoda told the Daily News yesterday.

Only the special counter put up by the SLBFE at the Bambalapitiya Police Park would issue application forms today. More than 35 members of the SLBFE were present at the Bambalapitiya Police Park centre to issue application forms.

The exact figure seeking employment opportunities in Korea could not be given until the last application is issued today. However, only 5,000 applicants would be lucky enough to get jobs, Batagoda noted.

Heavy fines on law breakers

Ariyapala WANSATHILAKE -Kurunegala central special corr

Two men possessing 26 grams of heroin were nabbed by Gokarella police following a sudden raid.

H. M. Jayantha and H. P. Ukkun were fined Rs.10,000 each. Meanwhile, W. A. Chamara and W. A. Ariyaratne of Wataraka who pleaded guilty to riding a motorcycle under the influence of liquor and without a licence were fined Rs 4,000 each. Meanwhile, a bakery owner of Malsiripura was find Rs 5,000 for producing bread under unhygienic conditions.

Raids nab errant traders

Matara Roving corr.

Matara Consumer Affairs Authority office Investigation officers rounded up 53 traders who flouted the Consumer Protection Act during raids conducted in July this year.

Some were produced in Court and fined a total of Rs 240,000. Meanwhile, 38 traders produced in Court by Public Health Inspectors in the Matara District for flouting the Food Act and selling unhygienic food items to consumers were fined Rs 257,500 recently.Cases against another 66 traders are pending in Court.

New Commissioner appointed

Jagath P Jayaweera assumed duties as the New Commissioner for the Registration of Persons at a brief ceremony at the Department for the Registration of Persons, Keppetipola Mawatha, Colombo 5 yesterday morning. Former Commissioner A G Dharmadasa, Defence Ministry Additional Secretary (Administration) Indu Ratnayake and other officials were also present on the occasion.

Ceremony

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama will inaugurate rehabilitation work on the coastal railway line at a ceremony at Pelena, Weligama at 10.30 a.m. today. Indian High Commissioner Ashok K Kantha will also participate.

Heavy fines on errant traders

A A L Diaz- Matale district group corr.

Three traders convicted of selling unhygienic food items were fined Rs 10,000 each by the Dambulla Acting Magistrate.

The accused are A S Salahudeen, Y M Sadath and A S Anif. Public Health inspector C B Senanayake prosecuted.

Express bus from Ambalangoda to Galle

D C de Silva- Kahawa special corr

The Ambalangoda CTB depot will deploy an express bus from Ambalangoda to Galle daily on weekdays at 7.30 a.m. to reach Galle before 8.15 am.