Sri Lanka News | Online edition of Daily News

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

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

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

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa addressing the Vesak festival organized by the United Nations Organization in New York yesterday.

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

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.

Pandals in Dehiowita

The Dehiowita Pradeshiya Sabha is erecting two pandals, near the Avissawella Karawanella bridges to mark the 2600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthi.

Noodle dansala

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

'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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.’

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