The Sri Lanka Council for the Blind, the principal service provider organization for the blind in the country, is seeking funds from local and foreign philanthropists, banks and well-wishers to construct its headquarters at Rajagiriya.
The Urban Development Authority which has leased the land at No. 50B, Sarana Mawatha, Rajagiriya, to the council requires construction to begin before December 31, 2008, states a press release from the council.
However, more funds are required than those collected so far. The funds hitherto collected have been deposited under the ‘Sri Lanka Council for the Blind Headquarters Building Fund’ at the Commercial Bank, Union Place, Colombo 2, Account No. 1480022047 and Account No. 8480022288.
Currently the council is housed in a dilapidated building owned by the Colombo Municipality at No. 74, Church Street, Colombo 2. Therefore, we appeal to generous donors for support, the council states. For more information please contact: Phone – 011-2329564 or 011-2399834; email – slcblind@sltnet.lk
Chrishmal bags Outstanding Young Person award
Chrishmal Warnasuriya, 36, was adjudged the Outstanding Young Person of 2008 in the legal category and received the coveted JCI/HSBC - TOYP award from chief guest Dr. Peter Hayes, British High Commissioner for Sri Lanka & Maldives, at a ceremony held at the Cinnamon Grand on September 12.
Chrishmal had his education at S. Thomas’ Prep., Kollupitiya and at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. He later passed out from the Sri Lanka Law College and was called to the Bar in 2000.
He also graduated from the University of Colombo in 2002. Then he secured a place at King’s College, University of London, and obtained a Master’s Degree in Law (Hons) in 2007; specializing in Corporate & Commercial Law. He thereafter sought admission to be a Barrister of England & Wales as a “qualified practitioner”.
Four years later, Chrishmal returned to Sri Lanka.
A literary feast
‘Literary Rites 2008: A celebration of writers, rituals and rights’ will be held on September 27 and 28 at 4.30 p.m. at The Study, 10, Alwis Place, Colombo 3.
Organized by the Interact Club of the Study, the discussions will revolve around the art, craft or mystery of literary writing with Ameena Hussein, Simon Harris and Yasmin Gooneratne on September 27 and Neluka Silva, Seneka Abeyratne and Vivimarie Vanderpoorten on September 28.
For more information and reservations call: Widya on 0771230809 (for Saturday) and Saashya on 0777678944 (for Sunday).
STC Centenary Group get-together
The membership of the STC Centenary Group is confined to students of the college who were in the Mount Lavinia school in 1951 when it reached its hundredth year.
The Centenary Group celebrates its annual get-together next Sunday, September 28, at the Colombo Rowing Club, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The two Vice-Presidents, Sri Sangabo Corea and Dayasiri Warnakulasooriya have drawn up an exciting 5-hour programme.
Since the traditional circular could not be mailed to the general membership due to unavoidable circumstances, members are requested to contact Secretary Tissa de Alwis, Treasurer Vernon de Rosairo or President Desmond Atapattu to obtain their tickets.
Books at the Book Fair
‘SRI LANKA: A NATION IN CONFLICT’ by H.L. de Silva which was launched at the Colombo International Book Fair yesterday will be available at the Visidunu Kiyawana Nuwana Stalls No. C 177-178-179 at the BMICH.
Published by Visidunu Prakashakayo (Pvt) Ltd., the hard cover is priced at Rs. 1,800 and the soft cover at Rs. 1,200.
‘Clinical Surgery Made Easy’ by Prof. Mohan de Silva, was displayed at the Book Fair yesterday.
The book is written for undergraduate and postgraduate doctors by Prof. de Silva who is Professor of Surgery at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Colombo and Honorary Consultant General Surgeon, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom.
A soft launch was held in August during the Annual Scientific Sessions of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, while it is also to be displayed at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October.
The British publishers have appointed Jeya Bookshop as the distributors for Sri Lanka.
Remembering Aggamaha Panditha Ven.
Madihe Pangngasiha Thera
A seminar to commemorate the 5th death anniversary of the late Aggamaha Panditha Ven. Madihe Pangngasiha Thera will be held today at 3.30 p.m. at the Madihe Pannasiha Lecture Hall of the Sri Vajiraramaya Temple in Maharagama.
The commemorative speech will be delivered by Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thero, Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. The seminar is organized by the Sasana Sewaka Samithiya and the Sanasili Foundation in collaboration with the Dharmavijaya Foundation
Don’t miss this sing-along
The Cosmic Rays promises to give the audiences a treat on September 26 at the Holiday Inn at 7.30 p.m. when the Rotary Club of Colombo Regal hold a sing-along.
The proceeds from the show will go to the Sarada Mission Orphanage where war and tsunami victims are being looked after.
Song-book tickets priced at Rs. 2,000 can be obtained from Dilip Motha who is contactable on: 0776676487, 5365072 or 4516622-4.
Cross - breeds to take a bow
The Blue Paw Trust, an animal welfare organization, will host the country’s first-ever dog show for cross - breeds next Sunday, September 28 at the Viharamaha Devi Park, Colombo. This will be hosted annually to mark World Rabies Day and a special Blue Paw Trust stall will disseminate important facts on rabies prevention.
Some of the fun categories to enter your cross - breed would be: ‘Best Coat’, ‘Longest Tongue’, ‘Nicest Eyes’, ‘Cutest Tail’, ‘Shiniest Teeth’, ‘Best Behaved’, ‘Most Cuddly’ and ‘Drama Queen’, for the ones that love theatrics. Entrance is free!
Indian photo show ‘Urban Changes’ ends tomorrow
‘Urban Changes’, an exhibition presenting images of India through the lenses of well-known photographers from the South Asian region ends tomorrow at the Goethe-Institut, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7.
The exhibition is the result of a photography workshop organized by the Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai.
The works are by Sohail Abdullah, Vivek M, Baptist Coelho, Clare Arni, Mahesh Shantaram and from Sri Lanka Alefiya Akbarally and Jagath Dheerasekara.
Dudley Senanayake Memorial Lecture
The 11th Dudley Senanayake Memorial Lecture will be delivered on September 24 at 5.15 p.m. in Committee Room ‘A’ of the BMICH.
The event which is organized by the Dudley Senanayake Foundation in coordination with Friedrich Naumann Stiftung, will commence with a documentary film and welcome address by Bradman Weerakoon.
The keynote address will be delivered by Lord John Alderdice, President of the Liberal International, on ‘Risk, Rights and Respect — essential elements of the Irish Peace Process’.
For invitations, please contact Shalini Senanayake, Secretary, DSF, on 0777291425.
The Anagarika’s birth anniversary
Many events were held in Sri Lanka as well as abroad to commemorate the 144th birth anniversary of the late Anagarika Dharmapala which fell on September 17.
An alms-giving (photo on top right) was held for the resident monks of the Vidyodaya Pirivena at Maligakanda, the oldest monastic college in Sri Lanka which was founded by the Anagarika in the late 19th century. The alms-giving was organized by the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust.
In England, the Anagarika’s birth anniversary was commemorated last Sunday at the London Buddhist Vihara, the oldest Theravada Buddhist temple in Europe founded by the Anagarika in 1928.
Picture (bottom right) shows the Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the UK, Sumith Nakandala, garlanding the statue of the Anagarika, witnessed by the Chief Sangha Nayake of Great Britain, Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala Maha Thera. |
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