[Quick Look]

Rare honour for Lankan in London

Jaffna special corr

A Sri Lankan Tamil student in London received the unique honour to be an Olympic torch bearer at the International Olympic contest in London. Murugesapillai Gopynath, 21, of Mallavi Poonagari is a medical student at Newcastle University.

Dumbara gateway to be vested in the people

Palitha Alakeshwara-Central Province Special Corr.

The renovated section of the Kandy-Mahiyangana road consisting of the 18 hair-pin bends known as the Dumbara gateway will be opened and vested in the people by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a ceremony at Thispahe junction, Oyatenna in Udu Dumbara on May 6. A public meeting presided by President Rajapaksa will follow at the Udu Dumbara Secondary School premises. Prime Minister D.M Jayaratne, Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake and several other ministers will also participate.

Former ANCL staffer dies

The death occurred on Tuesday of H B Weligodapola, a former SP and Chief Security Consultant of ANCL from 1982 to 1985. He was 87. Weligodapola who joined the Police service in 1945 was SP Galle when he retired from service in 1982.

After his retirement from Police service he joined ANCL as Security Consultant and thereafter served as Director Special Investigations at the Agriculture Ministry.

During his days in the Police he came to the limelight and won special accolades during the famous Nawalapitiya Monte Christo incident.

He leaves his wife Amala Ratnayake Weligodapola and six children.

His remains are lying at his residence at No 14, Borupana Road, Ratmalana. His eyes were donated to the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society.

His body will be handed over to the Medical Faculty of the Sri Jayewardenepura University on May 3 at 2 pm according to his last wishes.

Environmental photographic competition

Disna MUDALIGE

An environmental photographic competition has been organised by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to mark the World Environment Day which falls on June 5.

The competition will be held under school and open categories. Schoolchildren, photographers and environmental enthusiasts are invited to take part in this competition.

Printed photographs sent in colour or black and white, under the topics Green Economy; You are also a partner of it? and Green Economy and Natural Beauty are considered for the competition. One contestant can forward a maximum of four photographs under each topic. Winners will be selected from provincial and national levels. Their photographs will be exhibited at the national ceremony of the World Environment Day to be held in Colombo. Photographs must be sent on or before May 22. Call 2872278, 7878293 or email www.cea.lk for details.

Help needed

The son of Chilaw Ananda College former Vice Principal, Dr. Suminda Rathnayake, 38, is suffering from Cirrhosis of liver (Non Alcoholic Cirrhosis) and is in a critical condition. A part of a B Positive/Negative or O Positive/Negative liver of a donor between 18 - 50 years is urgently needed.

The liver transplant is to be done in a reputed hospital in India. The donor's liver will regenerate (will be back to normal) within four weeks.

Donors can contact T. Gunasekara on 071-6369415 or R. Gunasekara on 071-8431574 for details.

Civilian Bravery 2012: Applications called

The Foundation for Civilian Bravery is accepting applications from Sri Lankan citizens for the Awards for Civilian Bravery 2012 conferred by the Foundation.

Those eligible for awards are those who courageously volunteered to save lives. The award categories are Budal Na Gold Medal and Silver Medals for Civilian Bravery.

A panel of judges will select those suitable for awards on the basis of interviews and other supporting documents.

The closing date for applications is May 15. The applicable period is January 1 to December 31, 2011.

Applications may be submitted personally by the candidate or anyone who is acquainted with the incident. The responsibility for providing evidence lies with the applicant and the candidate. Previous awardees are not eligible.

Call 0382241777 or email info@civilianbravery.org for details.