COMMUNITY

International Sea Sunday Service on July 8

The Mission to Seafarers in Sri Lanka Colombo, will celebrate the international Sea Sunday Service at St. Peter's Church, Fort, adjoining the Police Headquarters and the GOH Hotel on July 8 at 10.00 a.m.

St. Peter's Church has served as a sanctuary of prayer and solitude since 1821.

The church provides a haven of peace and tran-quility to all visitors. The Officers and ratings from the Army, Navy, Air Force and the police will at-tend the ceremonial service along with the Sri Lanka Navy brass band and officer cadets from the Cinec Maritime Campus and other institutions.

Krishnamurti talk A recorded public talk on ‘Ending disorder now’

delivered by the late Indian sage J. Krishnamurti will be replayed at Anula Nursery School, High Level Road, Colombo 6 today at 9.45 a.m. It is or-ganised by the Krishnamurti Centre, Sri Lanka Inc.

Forty-fourth APACPH Confab in October

The Faculty of Medicine, University of Colom-bo has organised the 44th Conference of the Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH) in Sri Lanka from October 14 to 17 at the BMICH.

‘Celebration of Excellence’ todayHejaaz International School, Mount Lavinia will

hold its annual prize-giving “Celebration of Excel-lence” today at 9.00 a.m. at Bishop's College audi-torium.

Former Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran M.M. Zuhair PC will be the chief guest.

SLHA 'Home Makers’ Haven 2012' The Sri Lanka Housewives’ Association (SLHA)

will present its annual fund - raiser, “Home Makers’ Haven 2012”, on July 1 at the Cinnamon Lake Side from 9.00 a.m. Part of the proceeds of the event will be donated to the Sri Lanka Cancer Homes, Maha-ragama.

The event is coordinated by Mrs. Deanna Rizvi: 0777666519 and Mrs. Joyce Fernando: 0776395690.

‘Glorious Cloud’ on June 20The praise and worship team of All Saints’

Church, Pettah will present 'Glorious Cloud', an evening of praise and worship on June 30 from 5.00 p.m. at the Vihara Maha Devi Open Air theatre.

Bishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Dhiloraj Canagasa-bay will be the main speaker.

RASSL lecturesThree lectures organised by the Royal Asiatic

Society Sri Lanka (RASSL) on ‘The 13th Amend-ment and Fabricated History’ by Arch. T.L. Kir-ingoda, President OPA (‘Why the OPA opposed the 13th Amendment), Emeritus Professor, C.M. Maddumabandara (‘Traditional Homelands and the 13th Amendment’) and Dr. P.G. Punchihewa, former C.C.S. (‘Changes in Districts and Provin-cial Boundaries from Colonial Times’) will be held tomorrow at 5.00 p.m. at the Gamini Dissanayake auditorium, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7.

It is open to the public.

Workshop for media personnelA workshop on ‘Tourism’ will be held for print

and electronic media personnel at the Senate Hall of the Colombo University today from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Entrance is free for journalists who hold the ID issued by the Government Information De-partment.Speeches on tourism to economics will be delivered by University lecturers and eminent personalities in the tourism industry.

Central Provincial Councillor and Chairperson, Lakvanitha Peramuna, Mrs. Shanthini Kongahage distributed mats to Gampola Pahala Vihara on Poson Poya Day. Here Mrs. Kongahage presents the mats to a bhikkhu. Pradeshiya Sabha member Naizer looks on.

The Samadhi Foundation organised "Govi Jana Diri Maga” to donate agri-cultural equipment to various Agrarian societies in the Matara district. Here Parliamentarian and MD/Chairman of the Samadhi Foundation Bud-dhika Pathirana presents a mammoty to a member of the Delgalla Agrar-ian Society in Dondra.

The annual festival of St. Anthony's Church, Kimbula Ela, Modera, Colombo 15 was held under the patronage of Rev. Fr. Ernest de Mel recently. Here the parishioners and Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Alan Uster being greeted at the church according to Hindu religious cus-toms. Pic: a. Maduraveeran, Colombo north Gr. Cor.

A farewell dinner was hosted for the outgoing US Ambassador Patricia Butenis by former Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogoll-agama recently at his Longden Place residence.

Pic: Sumanachandra ariyawansa National College of Education, Addalaichenai celebrat-ed its 20th anniversary at the College auditorium with Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena as chief guest Here the Minister cuts the birthday cake while the guests of honour Ministers A.L.M. Athaullah, Rauf Hakeem and special guests MPs M.T. Haseen Ali, H.M.M. Harees and President of the National College of Education P. Piyasena look on.

Pic: M.a. Phakurdeen, addalaichenai Gr. Cor.

A special Executive Committee meeting of the Sri Lanka Pradeshiya Sabha Chairmen's Association was held at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Mahagedara Hall at the Gothatuwa New Town recently. Here the Association's Chairman Prasanna Solangaarachchi addresses the chairmen. His predecessor Matale PS Chairman R.H.R. Nimal Jayawardena and Executive Committee member, Samanthurai PS Chairman A.H.M. Nau-shad were also present.

Pic: a. Sumanasena, Kolonnawa Gr. Cor.

The new conference hall at the Bingiriya Divisional Secretariat in the Kurunegala district built at a cost of Rs. 13 million was opened by Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs W.D.J. Seneviratne recently. Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mrs. Kusum Hettige, District Secretary, Kurunegala are also in the picture. Pic: S.M. Wijayaratne, Kurunegala Cor.

Major Niroshani Fernando was awarded the Major Ramani Kangaraarachchi Challenge Trophy for the Best Leadership in 2011 at the 16th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Ex-Army Women's Association at the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen's Headquarters, Colombo recently. Here Major Fernando, also a Vice President of the Association receives the trophy from the Patron, Major General Indira Wijerathna while the other patron Capt. Victoria Lakshmie looks on.

Minister of Irrigation and Water Management Nimal Siripala de Silva inaugurated the Sampukkalappu Phase 3 project at Addalaichenai. Here Minister of Local Gov-ernment and Provincial Councils A.L.M. Athaullah presents a memento to Minister Silva. Eastern Prov-ince Minister M.S. Uthumalebbe and Deputy Director of Irrigation, Eng. S.L.M. Aliyar were also present.

Pic: M.a. Phakurdeen, addalaichenai Gr. Cor.

A ceremony in memory of former chief priest of the Bala Selva Vinayagar Moorthy Kovil, Captain's Gar-dens, Colombo, the late B. Shanmugaratna Sarma was held at the Rama Gana Sabha Kovil, Wellawatte. Here Vishavanatha Manikka Kurukkal performs the special pooja while the Secretary Shanmuganathan looks on.

Pic: a. Maduraveeran, Colombo north Gr. Cor.

The 25th anniversary celebration of Ahadiya (Religious) Schools affiliated to the Al Hidhaya Muslim Vidyalaya, Maradana, Colombo 10 was held at the Tower Hall, Colombo 10 recently, presided over by Urban Affairs Minister A.H.M. Fow-zie recently. Here a student receives the Minister on his arrival while the officials look on.

Pic: a. Maduraveeran, Colombo north Gr. Cor.

The Colombo Janaza Welfare Society opened the Janaza Kaf-fan Bank at Rosmead Place, Colombo 7 recently. Here Deputy Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade Basheer Segu-dawood presents Kaffan Bank materials to the Society Presi-dent Ashraff Hussain. M.H.F. Sheriff, Faizal Faleel and F.M. Fairoos are also in the picture.

Pic: ashraff a. Samad, dehiwela-Mt. Laviniya Spl. Cor.

A farewell party was accorded to the Manager, Bank of Ceylon, Akkaraipattu M.I.M. Ashraff who was transferred to Kalmunai, by Bank of Ceylon staff of Akkaraipattu, Addalaichenai and Thirukkovil recently at the auditorium of the Addalaichenai Lloyds Hotel. Here his successor M.I.M. Haniffa presents a memento to Ashraff.

Pic: M.a. Phakurdeen, addalaichenai Gr. Cor.

The website of the Youth Parliament conducted by the NYSC was opened during the sixth session of Parliament by the Permanent Representative for the UNO in Sri Lanka Sukeno Nandi. Chairman/Director General of the NYSC Lalith Piyum Perera was also present. The website is www.srilankayouth parliament.lk.

Pic: Wehelle Piyathilaka, Maharagama Spl. Cor.

Valuable books were donated by popular writer, Thambi-aiyah Devadas to the newly opened library of the Kala-surabi Kavin Kalayagam Educational Centre at St. Benedict's Mawatha, Kotahena recently. Here the Chief Librarian M.E. Losan receives the consignment from the author. Ambrose Peter, artistes Lenin Mathivanan and Thambo were present.

Pic: a. Maduraveeran, Colombo north Gr. Cor.

The fish canning factory at Pesalai in Mannar, built by the then Minister of Fisheries and Industries Philip Gunawardena decades ago was inspected by the Chief Government Whip and Minister of Water Supply Dinesh Gunawardena and Minister of Commerce and Industry Rishad Bathiyutheen in response to a request by the Head of the All Lanka Youth League Yadamini Gunawardena. Pic: Mohomad Imitiyas, Colombo Central Thinakaran Cor.

The presentation ceremony of two tractors donated by the Gov-ernment of Japan, under the auspices of JICA for agricultural development was held at the District Secretary's office complex recently. Here Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Yapa Abeywar-dena addresses the gathering. Harumio AO, Chief Representa-tive JICA, Sri Lanka, W. Sakalasuriya, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Matara District Secretary Mrs. W.K. Athukorala and officials of several departments were present.

Pic: a.W. Gunawardhena, Matara Central Cor.

The Zahira Hockey Committee organised the Under-20 All Island Inter-School Hockey Tournament to mark the 120th anniversary of Zahira College at the college grounds recently. Here the winning team captain of Wesley College Promod Ramadas receives the Champi-on Award from the chief guest Vishwa Lokugamage, General Manager, Browns Group. ITN Director Hashim Omar, Principal M.H. Jiffry, Mindventures Lecturer Imran Hasheem, Member of the Board of Governors Alavi Mukthar and old boys were present.

Pic: ruzaik Farook

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The ceremony to felicitate the Senior Hindu Priest Sivanesan Sarma who was promoted as the Sivacha-riyar was held at the Sithi Vinayagar Kovil, Nava Kelanipura, Wellampitiya recently. The event was organised by the International Hindu Religious Forum and the International Hindu Priests’ Forum. Here the Sivachariyar and his wife with the Presi-dent's Co-ordinators for Hindu Religious Affairs Bala Ravi Shankara Kurukkal and R. Weerapandian (Babu Sarma).

Pic: a. Maduraveeran, Colombo north Gr. Cor.

Methodist Church (Punchi Palliya), Katubedde is one of the oldest churches in Moratuwa. Katubedde Methodist Church Society is now 140 years old. The church is ninety years old. Punchi Palliya is popular among students of the University of Moratuwa. The open-ing ceremony of the new building project was held on June 3 in the church. Here the Resident Priest of the Katubedde Methodist Church, Moratuwa, Rev. Sarath Hettiarahchi and the Chairman of the Southern Province of the Methodist Church in Sri Lanka, Rev. Sumith Weeramunde conduct the special service at the Punchi Pal-liya which celebrated its 90th anniversary recently.

Katubedde Punchi Palliya turns 90