Showing their talents from behind bars
The second annual All Island Prisoners' Art and Craft Exhibition will be held from Tuesday, July 27 to Thursday 29 at the National Art Gallery, Green Path, Colombo 7. It will be declared open by Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms D.E.W. Gunasekera.
This annual exhibition is the outcome of programmes launched by the Prisons Welfare Association (Colombo Regional Committee) together with the Rotary Club of Colombo North to rehabilitate prisoners by honing their inherent talents and skills in order to give them work and a sense of self- worth.
The Commissioners General of Prisons have through the years initiated numerous career guidance and skill development programmes among both male and female prisoners.
The exhibition brings together the work of those prisoners who have been keenly following the career guidance and skill development programmes in carpentry, masonry, beauty culture and therapy, hair cutting, computer applications and IT, handloom, embroidery, sewing, dance and drama, cookery and English.
They will exhibit art works, handicraft, handlooms, embroidery, wooden items and linen produced by them within the workshops located in the prison, to raise funds for their further improvement.
Ajahn Brahm here in January for two meditation sessions
Ajahn Brahmavamso will visit Sri Lanka in January 2011 and conduct two meditation sessions - a nine-day advanced meditation retreat and a one-day Eight Precept programme/ retreat at the BMICH.
The nine-day residential retreat titled 'A Gentle Path to Jhana' will be held at the picturesque Bandarawela Holiday Resort from Sunday, January 9 to Monday, January 17, 2011.
This is intended for experienced meditators. Members of the Maha Sangha and nuns will be given preference. Part time participation is not possible. A limited number of lay persons who have previously completed Buddhist mediation retreats of seven days or longer will also be accommodated. Only 70 places are available. All teaching sessions will be followed by a Sinhala translation.
Applications for the nine-day retreat are now open and will close on August 31, 2010. Further details of the retreat and application forms can be obtained via email from prem@bswa.org.
The one- day retreat at BMICH in Colombo will be held on Duruthu full moon holiday, Wednesday, January 19, 2011. This retreat is intended for beginners to meditation.
The organising team in association with the Narada Centre in Sri Lanka is happy to invite applications for participation, and welcomes volunteers and sponsors for the activities.
All inquiries should be sent via email to prem@bswa.org.
Public lecture on mental health
A public lecture/discussion on 'Perfect Mental Health' by Dr. Vasantha Gunatunga, of the Contemplative Neuroscience Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo will be held on Wednesday, July 28 at 5 p.m. at All Ceylon Women's Buddhist Congress Hall (ACWBC), 400 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. It is presented by the Medical Section, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science and organised by ACWBC. All are welcome.
Free workshop on journalism
A free workshop on journalism and people photography for online journalists from all provinces except the Western Province is being held by the Catholic Asian news agency on August 17 and 18. Applications should be sent in before July 28. E-mail: quintus@ucanews.com or call Mr. Fernando on 011-4924351 or 011-2672065 for further information.
Royal Asiatic Society monthly lecture
Prof. Sirimal Ranawella will talk on 'Malayadesa' in the monthly lecture of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka to be held at 5 p.m. on Monday July 26, at the Gamini Dissanayake auditorium of the Mahaweli Centre, Colombo 7. It is open to the public.
Mlesna opens 15th Tea Centre in Kandy
Mlesna Tea - Sri Lanka's premium brand of superior quality teas - ceremonially opened their 15th Tea Centre at the Kandy City Centre, amidst a distinguished gathering including the Governor of the Central Province.
The newest Mlesna Tea Centre comprises a beautifully designed cosy restaurant where tea connoisseurs can enjoy their favourite tea alongside the tea shop which has over 102 varieties of teas including speciality regional teas, exotic flavoured teas and organic teas.
"Since its inception in 1983, whilst exporting our fine quality teas to the international markets, Mlesna Tea has served our connoisseur tea lovers in Sri Lanka and set up tea centres in key destinations around the country serving fine quality Ceylon teas," said Anselm B. Perera - Chairman and Managing Director of Mlesna (Ceylon) Ltd. Mlesna enjoys a growing clientele in over 50 countries. Its superior quality is proven by the over 78 accolades that it has won including nine 9 World Star Awards for packaging excellence and superior quality products awarded by the World Packaging Organization.
Mlesna Tea Centres are also located in the Hilton Colombo, Hilton Colombo Residencies, Galadari Hotel, Crescat Boulevard, Majestic City, Liberty Plaza, Colombo International Airport-Katunayake, Taj Airport Garden Hotel, Beruwala, Bandarawela, Tea Fortress - Peradeniya, Dalada Veediya in Kandy and the Tea Castle in St. Clair, Talawakelle.
Neelan Tiruchelvam memorial lecture
One of the world's foremost experts on the history of early India, Romila Thapar, will deliver the 11th Neelan Tiruchelvam Memorial Lecture at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute Auditorium on Sunday August 1 at 6 p.m. The title of her lecture is "Of Histories and Identities".
Prof. Thapar, Emeritus professor of Ancient Indian History at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi has served as visiting professor at Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania. The author of many seminal works on the history of ancient India, her volume of the Penguin History of India has been continuously in print since 1966.
Her other best-known books are Asoka and the Decline of the Mauryas; From Lineage to State: History and Beyond; Cultural Pasts, Essays in Early Indian History; Exile and the Kingdom: Some thoughts on the Ramayana; Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300 and The Aryan: Recasting Constructs.
Took oath as
President’s Counsel
Nihara E. Rodrigo took his oath as a President's Counsel on July 16 before the Chief Justice Asoka de Silva.
Rodrigo received his education at Ave Maria Convent, Negombo, Maris Stella College, Negombo and Aquinas University College. He apprenticed in the chambers of the late G. F. Sethukavelar, P.C and the late Eardley Perera, P.C. He was admitted to the Bar as an Attorney-at-Law on September 18, 1978.
Rodrigo joined the Attorney General's Department in October 1979, and was a Senior State Counsel when he retired prematurely.
Immediately upon retirement, he successfully established a wide practice in criminal and industrial law. He appears in the Superior Courts in Colombo and Courts throughout the island.
Islamic scholar here
World renowned Islamic scholar Jamal Badawi will be in Sri Lanka on a lecture tour organized by the Centre for Islamic Studies (CIS), Colombo 6, in connection with CIS's silver jubilee celebrations.
Dr. Badawi, an Egyptian-born Canadian, will deliver a public lecture on "Reforming Islam or Reforming Muslims?" on July 30 at 7 p.m. at D.S. Jayasinghe Hall, Dehiwala. On July 31, he will conduct a Shariah Forum titled "Muslims in a Non-Muslim Society" at 4.30 p.m. at Hotel Ranmuthu, Colombo 3. Sheikh Esam Ishaq from Bahrain along with Yusuf Mufti will be other members of the forum.
He will also participate in a symposium titled "Role of Muslims in Emerging Post-War Sri Lanka" on August 1 at 8.30 a.m. at Miami Reception Hall, Colombo 6. Other participants are Sarvodhaya President Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, Institute of Contemporary Studies (Malaysia) President Rizwan Wu Abdullah, UNP parliamentarian Kabir Hashim and Lyceum International School Director Mohan Lal Grero.
Dr. Badawi is a former professor in the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is a well-known author, activist, preacher and speaker on Islam and Muslims.
Educational
exhibition
FORUT Sri Lanka will be launching an interactive educational exhibition titled 'To Win - What can be done about alcohol?' at the auditorium of the Public Library from July 27 -29 from 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. each day.
Senior Girl Guide Investiture
Lyceum International School, Nugegoda will hold a Senior Girl Guide investiture Ceremony for the first time at Bellaraphone building, on August 4 at 3 p.m.
It is the first time that Senior Girl Guides (between 16 years & 23 years) are invested at an International School. |
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