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Benedict Council of Management for 2009/10
St. Benedict’s College 150th O.B.U. AGM was held on June 21 and the
following Office Bearers were elected for the year 2009/2010. **** 35 Originals Prints - Photographic exhibition
Robert Doisneau is one of France’s most noted photographers. He is best known for his street photography, his most famous example being ‘Kiss in front of the Palace of City Hall’ (1950). But he took thousands of photographs striving to capture the pulse of Parisian life. Doisneau liked nothing better than to walk the streets never knowing what sights he was to encounter. His talent lay in his ability to capture a moment of poignancy, absurdity or just plain strangeness. Doisneau’s work contained a distinctive sense of humour as well as a deep empathy for his subjects. Robert Doisneau was born in 1912 in Gentilly in the Val-de-Marne near
Paris. He studied engraving and lithography and went to work at
lettering and advertising photographs in 1930. He began working for
André Vigneau in 1931 as his cameraman and then joined the Renault
factory in Billancourt in 1934 working as an industrial and advertising
photographer. At the end of the war he joined the Alliance Photo Press Agency but
returned to Rapho a year later. In 1949 he joined Vogue as fashion
photographer where he remained for three years before going freelance.
Robert Doisneau died in 1994. **** Latino dancefest party at Hilton July 4 **** New website for climate change www.climatesuccess.org is a website sponsored by the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) showcasing case studies of companies and local
governments from around the world that have reduced emissions of climate
changing gases while achieving economic success. **** Blake calls for resettlement
Assistant Secretary Blake, testifying before the House of
Representatives Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, called
on Sri Lanka to quickly resettle the 300,000 internally displaced
persons in the North and to hold provincial elections. “The action the
Sri Lankan government takes now,” Assistant Secretary Blake said, “in
the aftermath of the war, with respect to both humanitarian relief and
political inclusion for minorities, will be important to securing an end
to terrorism and a lasting peace.” Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the U.S., met with Blake at the U.S. State Department a day before the hearing to congratulate Blake on his confirmation to his new post by the U.S. Senate. The Ambassador and Blake spoke about the Humanitarian issues in Sri Lanka, particularly resettlement of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and plans for redevelopment and elections in the North. Secretary Blake urged not only the speedy resettlement of the IDPs, but also a political process that gives the Northern Province a voice in the national government. He noted that the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution would do that, but that the amendment has to be fully implemented. Blake also said that other measures to promote national unity are
under consideration. Specifically, he mentioned a proposal to form an
Upper House of Parliament made up of provincial representatives, and the
conclusion of the All Party Conference. Those measures, he said, “would
help to achieve political reconciliation.” “Ambassador Blake has seen the situation in Sri Lanka change
dramatically during his service there,” Ambassador Wickramasuriya said.
“He knows what Sri Lankan citizens have lived through, and the
challenges that we face in the years to come. He is a fair-minded person
who understands what it will take to ensure lasting peace and
reconciliation.” **** Symposium on British genocide in SL June 30 Former Director General of Goverment Archives, Dr. K.D.G. Wimalaratna;
Attorney-at-law, Prasanthalal de Alwis **** Sri Lanka Sumithrayo completes 35 years On the June 14 this year Sri Lanka Sumithrayo completes 35 years of dedicated service to the lonely depressed and suicidal of this country. From humble beginnings in June 1974, in a little room located in Deans Road, Maradana, the first of the Sumithrayo Befriending Centres was set up by the founder Mrs. Joan de Mel. The organisation has grown over the last 35 years to include eleven Befriending Centres situated islandwide, a Drug Demand Reduction Programme and a Rural Suicide Prevention Programme that works in over 70 villages in two of the most suicide prone provinces of the country. The primary objective of Sumithrayo is the prevention of suicide and to alleviate human misery. The organisation is volunteer-based, the volunteers remaining anonymous wherever possible. They are chosen for their qualities of compassion, being non-judgemental and common sense with a good balance of head and heart. They are well trained in the art of providing emotional support to the depressed and despairing and being very discreet. Those who turn to Sumithrayo for help can be assured of total confidentiality and may remain anonymous if they wish to. The Sumithrayo Befriending Centres are open every day of the week for varying hours depending on the area they are located in. Those who feel the need to talk confidentially to someone may visit the centres in person or contact them on the telephone, email or even write to them. Services provided are free of charge. Sadly, Mrs. Joan de Mel, the founder of Sri Lanka Sumithrayo passed away on December 27 last year. Together with her late husband Bishop Lakdasa de Mel and Dr. Chad Varah, the founder of The Samaritans in the UK, she set up the first Sumithrayo Befriending Centre in Colombo. Both the founder of the Samaritans and the founder of Sumithrayo are no more, but the legacy they have handed down to us is perennial. It is imperative that we safeguard this legacy that embodies selflessness and that which offers no material reward. At Sumithrayo we ask ourselves if we have to change our attitude
before pointing a finger at someone else – and this realisation alone is
a huge step forward. We accept people for who they are and respect their
views even if they contradict our own. “The cure for all ills and wrongs, the cares, the sorrows and crimes of humanity, all lie in that one word ‘love’. It is the divine vitality that produces and restores life. To each one of us it gives the power of working miracles, if we will.” Lydia M. Child. (1802 – 1880) **** Public talk June 28 How Does One Learn About Oneself? Recorded public talk by J. Krishnamurti, organised by Krishnamurti Centre, Sri Lanka at Anula Nursery School, 310, High Level Road, Colombo 6 at 9: 45 a.m.
Five-year-old H.A Lakshan, at 134/1, Delgoda, Akurumulla has been taking treatments for his disabilities from birth. Now he is improving and capable of speaking only one or two words. The doctors treating him in the children’s hospital say that he needs regular in-door treatments and physiotherapy in hospital. Therefore, the parents seek public help. Donations can be made to People’s Bank, Delgoda, Account No.118-2-0016-0005214. For more information call 0602149350. **** Film July 1 ****
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July
2 - 23 
Ambassador
Robert Blake, new Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia and
Central Asia said at the hearing of the Congressional Subcommittee on
South Asia, today that Sri Lanka won an “important victory in the North”
when it defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. 
Child
patient needs your help
