Exhibition
October 5 to 7
An exhibition of paintings by Jayasiri Semage, at the Alliance Française
Auditorium, 11 Barnes Place, Colombo 7.
Film
October 7 and 8
Comme Une Image by Agnès Jaoui (2003, 110 minutes) at the Alliance
Francaise, 11 Barnes Place, Colombo 7, at 6:30 p.m.
October 9
Mur – a documentary by Simone Bitton (2004, 100 minutes) in
French with English subtitles, at the Alliance Française Auditorium, 11
Barnes Place, Colombo 7, at 6 p.m.
October 7
The Wizard of Oz (1939, 101 minutes), at the American Centre, 44, Galle
Road, Colombo 3, at 6 p.m.
****
Driver and conductor given lands
The driver and the conductor who acted swiftly to
evacuate all passengers from the bomb laden bus plying from Mattakkuliya
to Moratuwa, minutes before the explosion, were felicitated at Temple
Trees by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and rewarded with plots of land.
The land was donated by ASP Group Chairman Deshamanya Dr. A. S. P.
Liyanage. Minister Dullas Alahapperuma and ASP Group Sales Manager S. V.
C. Alexander are also in the picture.
****
Kuwait-Sri Lanka Cultural Association
gives Rs 1m to Ranaviru Sevena
To renovate Ward 5 of the Ragama Ranaviru Sevena and
offer scholarships to children of soldiers with financial difficulties,
Kuwait-Sri Lanka Cultural Association donated Rs.1 million recently.
Secretary to Kuwait-Sri Lanka Association, A.M Iqbal, Advisors Jayantha
Premadasa M.D.H Pushpakumara Public Trustee Sarath Seneviratne were also
present.
****
Seventh NAC AGM
Seventh Annual General Meeting (AGM) of National
Agribusiness Council (NAC) was held on September 23, under the patronage
of Mission Director, USAID, Rebecca Cohn. The meeting was held at the
auditorium of National Agribusiness Council at No. 503, Sri
Jayewardenepura Mawatha, Ethulkotte.
A distinguished gathering of corporate sector managers, donor agencies,
media personnel and government officials attended the meeting.
The committee elected was as follows.
Officer bearers:
Chairman: Asoka Gopallawa
Immediate past Chairman: Sarath de Silva
Chairman Elect: Dhammika Gunasekera
Hony. Secretary: Aruna Weerakoon
Treasurer: Ravi Fernandopulle
Chairman- Special Projects: Mario de Alwis
Committee:
Chairman, Seed Producers’ Association of Sri Lanka, Leo Nanayakkara
Director, A. Baur & Co, Janaka Gunasekera
CEO, Hayleys Agro Products Ltd, Upali Gangoda
Chairman, Crop Life Sri Lanka CLSL, Rohitha Nanayakkara
CEO, Plenty Foods (Pvt.) Ltd., Mohan Ratwatte
General Manager, CIC Agri Business, Sunith Subwickrama
Accredited Representatives:
Director, Forbs & Walkers, Damitha Perera
President, Coconut Growers’ Association of Sri Lanka, Parakrama
Jayatilleke
****
Nalanda OBA
conducts Ranawiru programme
Nalanda College Old Boys Association held a Ranawiru
Upahara Programme recently at the College premises. Air Vice Marshall
Priyantha de Silva, who is also an old Nalandian was the chief guest at
the event.
(Pic by Ravindra Dharmathilake)
****
Art of Documentary Films
A discussion on the documentary film Mur (Wall) Directed
by De Simone Bitton will take place on Thursday October 9 at 6p.m. at
Alliance Française de Colombo. After the screening, a discussion on
documentary art will be conducted by the film-maker Jude Ratnam.
The film: Travelling along the route of separation that cuts through the
belly of a region charged with history, placing some behind bars, others
behind barriers, Simon Bitton, in a very personal reflection, collects
the words, songs and reactions in Hebrew and Arabic of those separated
by the ‘wall’: Children, workers, soldiers…
This film has awards : Grand Prix – Marseille International Documentary
Film Festival 2004, Quinzaine des réalisateurs – Festival de Cannes
2004.
Please note that the entrance is free
For more information, French Embassy 2639439
****
Lankan Embassy in Washington organises
pirith chanting ceremony
A historic event took place at the Sri Lankan Embassy in
Washington DC, for the first time when its Ambassador Jaliya
Wickramasuriya and the staff of the Sri Lankan Embassy organised an all
night Pirith Chanting Ceremony, to invoke blessings of the Maha Sangha
for peace and prosperity of Sri Lanka, the United States and rest of the
World on September 27, 2008 with the participation of all Chief
Incumbents of all Sri Lankan Buddhist temples in the USA.
The Pirith ceremony was followed by an alms-giving at the Ambassador’s
residence on September 28, 2008. The proceedings were in keeping with
the vision and policies laid out in the Mahinda Chintana and tradition
of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C, of commemorating the
important religious festivals of all four world religions practiced in
Sri Lanka.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Education Minister Susil
Premajayantha were also present to grace the occasion, prior to their
return to Sri Lanka after participating in the 63rd Session of the UN
General Assembly, to join in and give their patronage to what was both a
historic and memorable event for the Sri Lankan community in the USA.
The Foreign Minister took the opportunity to brief the large gathering
of Sri Lankan diaspora on the important steps being taken by the
Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to bring lasting peace and
development to Sri Lanka. The Foreign Minister elaborated on the
important statement made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in front of the
world’s leaders at the United Nations General Assembly on September 24,
2008 and the wide acclaim received by that statement. He also outlined
developments in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka and indicated that the
Government of Sri Lanka hopes to bring democracy and development to the
Northern Province in the near future.
The Chief Incumbents from all Sri Lankan Temples throughout the USA were
very appreciative of the hard work and tremendous coordination that had
resulted in such a historic gathering of the Buddhist clergy from
throughout the USA. In the comments made by the Chief Incumbents, many
glowing accolades were paid to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the
Government of Sri Lanka and Ambassador Wickramasuriya for the important
work being undertaken by them.
The auspicious event was organised under the invaluable guidance of the
Venerable Maharagama Dhammasiri Nayaka Thero of the Washington Buddhist
Vihara, the first Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple established in the USA. The
event was also assisted by the Venerable Katugastota Uparatana Nayaka
Thero of the Wheaton International Buddhist Centre in Maryland. Over 40
Chief Incumbents of Buddhist Temples representing different states in
the USA chanted Pirith on September 27. Over 300 Sri Lankans were
present at the Embassy premises to participate in this meritorious event
and obtain blessings. The Pirith Mandapaya was constructed in
traditional Sri Lankan style by ‘Ranga Kalakavaya.’ The Embassy premises
were illuminated with lights and Buddhist flags.
****
Special Health Camp
Investment Promotion Minister, Navin Dissanayake
donating a parcel of stationery to a school child, at a special health
camp, carried out in Hanguranketa, Babaragama Temple recently, with the
sponsorship of Suriya Foundation and the Social Service and Welfare
Ministry, organised by the Gamini Dissanayake Foundation in
collaboration with the Red Cross Society, which was initiated by the
Minister The medical camp featured the expertise of Paediatricians and
Gynaecologists, Ayurvedic and other doctors. 400 spectacles and
education equipment, wheel chairs, crutches for disabled were also given
away
****
 Homes and Property Sri Lanka: The
latest Real
Estate magazine
Homes & Property Sri Lanka is the latest publication
from Well Red Ink Pvt. Ltd. one of Sri Lanka’s leading publishers of
specialized magazines. Homes and Property Sri Lanka provides an
informed, articulate and objective voice for the vast world of property
and design in Sri Lanka.
****
Guest lecture by chief architect of
Indian Constitution
Minister of Tourism, Milinda Moragoda, appointed a
committee headed by Ambassador Mangala Moonesinghe recently to organise
a series of guest lectures. The first of the above series will be an
oration, on Dr B R Ambedkar, by Chairman, University Grants Commission
of India, Prof. S. Thorat and is scheduled to be held on Tuesday October
14, 2008 at 6 pm at the Hotel Management and Training School Auditorium,
78, Galle Road, Colombo 3.
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar known as Babasaheb, was an Indian nationalist,
jurist, Dalit political leader and a Buddhist revivalist. He was also
the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Born into a poor
‘untouchable’ family, Ambedkar spent his whole life fighting against
social discrimination, the system of Chaturvarna - the Hindu
categorisation of human society into four varnas - and the Indian caste
system. He is also credited with having sparked the Dalit Buddhist
movement. Ambedkar has been honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India’s
highest civilian award.
Overcoming numerous social and financial obstacles, Ambedkar became one
of the first “untouchables” to obtain a college education in India.
Eventually earning law degrees and multiple doctorates for his study and
research in law, economics and political science from Columbia
University and the London School of Economics, Ambedkar returned home a
famous scholar and practiced law for a few years before publishing
journals advocating political rights and social freedom for India’s
untouchables.
The Ministry of Tourism and the organising committee has extended an
open invitation to scholars and academicians to the above oration. Since
only limited admission is available in the auditorium, those interested
are kindly requested to call 0714880572, 0714880570 and 4865050 –(
extension 2 or 5) for reservations..
****
Poetic Impressions 2008
October 10
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Poetic Impressions 2008, an evening of poetry by Asoka Palliyaguruge,
author of The Bower Bird and Other Poems will be held at the Alliance
Francaise de Kandy, at 6:30 pm.
Headmaster, Gateway College, Asoka Herath will grace the occasion as
Chief-Guest.
****
****
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