Events

CCS annual re-union

The Annual Re-union Lunch of former CCS officers and their wives will be held at the SSC, No 36, Maitland Place Colombo 7 on the July 19 from 11 am onwards. Wives of deceased members are also welcome. Please contact Mr I.O.K.G Fernando on 2697 399 or R.M.B. Senanayake on 2 696 758.

****

Its all “Crab” once again at the Curry Leaf

Hilton Colombo is ready with yet another Crab Promotion from July 6 to 13, at the hotel’s Sri Lankan restaurant, Curry Leaf.

****

Hilton Colombo wins Marie Brizard cocktail contest again

The interesting cocktail competition for hoteliers concluded recently, bringing victory for Hilton Colombo once again, when they won both Classic and Flair categories. Talented barmen from all city hotels took part in the Marie Brizard cocktail competition (Colombo Region) impressing the judges with their various skills.

Winner of the Classic Cocktail Category went out to Jeewaka Buddadasa and 2nd Runner Up went to Janaka Ratnayake, while Ishfahan Dain was the Winner of the Flair Category.

This competition was organized by the Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association, together with the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management and the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, and was sponsored by Free Lanka Trading Co, Ltd.
The winners will now participate in the all-island cocktail competition

****

Japanese Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Kiyoshi Araki was the Chief Guest at the Annual General Meeting of Sasakawa Memorial Sri Lanka Japan Cultural Centre Trust held at the Sasakawa Hall on 23rd May 2008. Ambassador Araki (third from left) with the Trustees. Others from left are: Ian Dias Abeysinghe, Daya Wettasinghe, Dayasiri Warnakulasooriya, Upali S. Jayasekera and Lal de Alwis

****

Training of law enforcement officers on counter-trafficking

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) organised a series of training workshops on counter-trafficking for law enforcement officers under a project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to strengthen national efforts in addressing trafficking issues. To date, over 300 law enforcement officers have been trained in identifying, tracking and prosecuting cases of trafficking in Sri Lanka, during workshops held in Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Ampara and Kurunegala.

Following an assessment on the process of identifying and prosecuting cases of trafficking in Sri Lanka, IOM, in consultation with stakeholders -- the Sri Lanka Police Department, the Attorney General’s Department and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment -- developed a curriculum for the training.

****

Seva Vanitha, Dakha, organises cultural show

Text by M.Farook Lantra
Led by their President, Rajes Krishnamoorthy, wife of the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Vadivel Krishnamoorthy, the Seva Vanitha, Dhaka organised a cultural programme to raise funds for charity. BTK 500,000 equalling SLRs.795, 000/= was donated to the Ranaviru scholarship fund to assist in educating children of those members of the Defence Forces who laid down their lives for their motherland, on the occasion the solemn ceremony organised at the Sri Lanka High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on June 7, to honour the memory of Ranaviru.

The performance by a 15 member cultural troupe of the Sri Lanka Army depicting our rich cultural heritage, mesmerised the people of Bangladesh.

This cultural programme “Lakrangana”, also commemorate the 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence.
The programme was held on May 22, 23 at the Radisson Water Garden Hotel -- Dhaka, the International School Dhaka respectively and on the 24 at the Chittagong Club, in the Chittagong Port city.
Gracing the occasion on the inaugural day was the wife of the Adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh. Mrs. Nicole Chowdhury.

****

Provincial Councillor to start exchange programmes for Montessori schools

Central Provincial Councillor and Chairperson of Shrammashakthi Organisation, Mrs. Shanthini Kongahage, while touring the European country recently, visited Maria Montessori School in Rome. The Founder of this school, Italian - born Dr. Maria Montessori, was the who first to introduce a scientific method of education for pre- school children. Mrs.Shanthini Kongahage had discussions with the Board of Directors of Maria Montessori School, to start exchange educational programmes for upgrade and improve the Montessori education in Sri Lanka.
Mrs. Shantini Kongahage, Provincial Councillor, and the Board of Directors of Maria Montessori School, Rome, are seen in this picture..

****

Aluth Avurudda in Queensland

The Sri Lanka Society of Queensland, Australia, had their 10th Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations on April 19, 2008. The visitors were entertained to a delightful evening of Sri Lankan Culture performed by the Sri Lankan kids in Brisbane. The cultural concert, which was of high standard, was managed by the Society’s Cultural Secretary Mrs. Pushpa Jayasekara. The fellowship was followed by a dinner dance with a full house of 650 members and guests.

****

Chancellor of Sabaragamuwa University honoured

Chancellor, Sabaragamuwa University, Ven. Dr. Kumburugamuwe Vajira Thera was conferred with the Sahithya Chakrawarthi by the Sabaragamuwa University recently, President Mahinda Rajapaksa felicitated Ven. Kumburugamuwe Thera at Temple Trees on June 30. Members of the Maha Sangha, the Christian church, as well as intellectuals and artistes participated at this event.

****

France supports health research in Sri Lanka

The Ministry of Health and the Medical Research Institute (MRI), in association with French Institute of Public Health Surveillance (INVS), Pasteur Institute, World Health Organization - are holding a Training Workshop from June 30 to 4 July 4, 2008, on the “Improvement of the Biological Diagnosis and the Surveillance Tools” for the second time at the MRI, in Colombo.
The opening ceremony of the Training Workshop took place on June 30, at the MRI, with the Minister of Health Nimal Siripala De Silva, Ambassador for France in Sri Lanka, Michel Lummaux, Acting Director, MRI, Dr. Lulu Raschid, , WR-WHO, Sri Lanka, Dr. Agostino Borra and Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. H.A.P. Kahandaliyanage in attendance.

****

‘Italian’ Sri Lankans demonstrate against terrorism

Sri Lankans resident in Italy held a demonstration against terrorism on June 29 at Piazza Castello, Milan. The aim of this demonstration was to attract worldwide attention to defeat terrorism. More than 5,000 Sri Lankans including Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Italians and other nationals living in Italy participated on this occasion. “We Are” was the theme of this demonstration.

****

Comrade Wasantha Samarasinghe, National List Parliamentarian of the JVP, handed over his resignation paper to the Acting Secretary General of the Parliament to contest North Central Provincial Council election as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the JVP

****

Please help Devangi

I, S.D. Kumaradasa and my wife Gnanawathie Perera Dissanayake reside at No. 218/2, Udahamulla, Mulleriyawa, New Town. Our 7-year-old fourth daughter S.D. Devangi Manushika is suffering from an acute heart ailment.

Five years ago she underwent a surgery and Dr. K. Shivakumaran of Appollo Hospital, Colombo has advised that she undergo another surgery.

This surgery has to be done in India and will cost a total of Rs. 8 lakhs. While being able to raise most of the funds required, we are still short of Rs. 75,000.

The surgery scheduled for March 2008, is pending because due to financial constraints we couldn’t raise the required sum in time.
So, we humbly request you to make your donations towards this meritorious act. Our phone number is 011-7211619 and Bank account number is 196-2-001-4-3892608, (Kaduwela Branch).

****

Nawaloka gifts land worth 15m

A 40-perch land worth of Rs. 15 million was donated to Sri Dharmaloka Vidyalaya, Kelaniya, by the proprietor of the Nawaloka Group, Deshamanya H.K. Dharmadasa. The Minister of Education hands over the title deed of the land to the Principal of the school, A.G. Nimal Jayaweera.

****

****

The facsimile reprint of Heirs to History, a hardbound book with colour illustrations, by Loranee Senaratne, was launched July 1, at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo 3. The book was first published in 1969 and has been out of print for many years. It is reproduced by Vijitha Yapa Publications.

****

Film

July 8, 9 & 10
Podium by Yann Moix (2003, 95 minutes) at the Alliance Française, 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 7, at 3 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Liberty! The American Revolution (1997, 360 minutes) at the American Centre, 44, Galle Road, Colombo 3, from 2:30 p.m. onwards.

Drama

July 11
Maamai Baanai by Rohana Baddhage and Bandula Wijeweera, at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, at 3.30 p.m. & 7.00 p.m.
July 12
Apahu Harenna Behe (No Return) by Rajitha Dissanayke, at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, at 3:30 p.m. & 7 p.m.
July 13
Nari Bena and Jasaya Saha Lenchina by Dayananda Gunawardena, at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, Colombo 7, at 3:30 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Public lecture

July 13
If You Are Accumulating, There is No Learning, organised by the Krishnamurti Centre, at the Anula Nursery School, 310, High Level Road, Colombo 6, at 9:45 a.m.

****