The Scout Master of Royal College, Colombo for over three decades, Rohan Wirasekara was recently honoured at the annual general meeting of the Royal College Old Boys' East Coast Association, USA (RCOBECA). The informal ceremony took place at a restaurant in New Jersey.
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| The Award of Honour being presented to Rohan Wirasekara by Chandana Mutucumarana, the
President elect of RCOBECA |
Mr. Wirasekara was invited by a group of ex Boy Scouts of Royal College in the USA. During his short stay, RCOBECA invited him to be a special guest of honour at its AGM where his services to Royal College were recognized and a special Plaque of Honour presented to him. The tour was sponsored by a few ex Boy Scouts of Royal College from the USA, Canada and Australia. During his weeklong stay, he visited Boy Scout Troops and Cub Scout Packs in New York and New Jersey, a public school, a university campus, a Buddhist temple, the United Nations headquarters, a US Coast Guard Base, the historic Fort Wadsworth and a Sri Lankan Restaurant in Staten Island, owned and operated by a disabled war veteran of the Sri Lanka Army.
Additionally, he took part in a night sky-viewing session organized by the Amateur Astronomers Association of NY. In Washington DC, he visited the White House and the NASA Air & Space Museum.
Senaka Senaviratne
Symposium on the Ramayana trail
The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka is organizing a Symposium on the Tourist Authorities Ramayana Trail on Saturday, July 17 from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., at the Gamini Dissanayake Auditorium of the Mahaweli Centre, No. 96, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7.
Several interesting talks will be presented. Gaston Perera will speak on: 'Tourist Authorities' Ramayana trail', Ven. Hegoda Vipassi on 'My travails in refuting the Ramayana Trail'; Prof. Tissa Kariyawasam on 'Ramayana in Sinhalese literature'; Dr. Nimal Perera on 'The factual pre-history of Sri Lanka'; Dr. Malini Dias on 'Distortions of archaeological evidence'; Dhanesh Wisumperuma on 'Misinterpretation of natural sciences'; Dr. Hema Goonatilake on 'Marketing Thailand for a mythical Ramayana instead of historical Buddhist sites'; Prof. Oliver Abeynaike on 'Indian Tourist Authorities' "Buddhist Circuit" but no Indian "Ramayana Circuit"' and Ambassador Bandu de Silva on 'Foreign policy implications of the "Ramayana Trail"'.
The symposium is open to the public.
Applications called for annual Science Popularization
and Promotion Awards
The Committee for the Popularization of Science (CPS) of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) has called for applications from Sri Lankans for the annual Science Popularization and Promotion Awards.
These awards are given to Sinhala, Tamil and English media science communication journalists, scientists and freelance writers who have excelled in publications in the print media( newspapers, books, magazines) etc during the period May 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010. Previous winners of this award are not eligible to apply.
For application forms please contact the SLAAS on 011-2688740. The deadline for applications is July 31, 2010.
Musical fundraiser to help disabled soldiers
'Tharu Dilena Reyak', a grand musical gala and fund raiser for the construction of 'Abimansala' - a resort for the disabled war heroes will be held on July 17 at 7 p.m. at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.
The show is organized under the 'Brave Hearts' project of the Seva Vanitha Army Branch. 'Abimansala' a concept mooted by Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya envisages the construction of a wellness resort for disabled and totally dependent war heroes.
The foundation stone for the resort situated on a picturesque five-acre plot at Anuradhapura was laid by the Commander and Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya, President of the Seva Vanitha Army branch in May this year.
The project estimated to cost Rs 200 million will have 5 villas (for disabled war heroes) and 5 cottages (for members of their families), each with four beds. It will be managed by a Board appointed by the Commander while the Seva Vanitha Unit of the Army will carry out overall maintenance of the resort.
The public are invited to contribute to this worthy cause. Donations could be sent to the 'Brave Hearts' account No. 9846021, Bank of Ceylon.
The dazzling musical show will see Chandana Wickramasinghe, Anoja Weerasinghe, Sabeetha Perera and others from the film industry with singing duo Bathiya and Santhush also performing.
Tickets priced at Rs. 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 750 and 500 are available at all Cargills Food City outlets and can be purchased at the entrance to the stadium as well.
Feast of Our Lady of Rosa Mystica
The Feast of Our Lady of Rosa Mystica will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 13, at Ragama, Tewatta Basilica.
There will be a meditation on 15 Decades of Holy Rosary, Litany of Rosa Mystica, at 10.30 a.m. and Festive Holy Mass at 12 noon.
Our Lady of Lanka will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Ajith Ruwan Perera O.M.I. (Samata Sarana Charity) and (Rev. Fr. Priya Jayamanne & Organizing Committee.)
The Feast will also be celebrated at St.Francis Sales Church, Kelaniya Dalugama, with the meditation and Litany of Rosa Mystical at 5 p.m. and Festive Holy Mass at 6.30 p.m. celebrated by Rev. Fr. Jude Sharman Fernando.
Mrs. Lalitha Rajapaksa
elected vice patron
The Lanka Japan Friendship Society one of the oldest friendship societies in Sri Lanka elected Mrs. Lalitha Rajapaksa as the Vice Patron of the Society following the demise of Deshamanya Dr. P. R. Anthonis who held this position with distinction for many years.
Mrs. Rajapaksa was also the first woman President of the society, and served her full term from the year 2004 to 2007 during which time the society celebrated its 50th anniversary of existence. The issue of a Rs. 15 postage stamp and a grand banquet were the highlights of that year.
Following the devastating Tsunami of 2004, she solicited and obtained the assistance of the Japan Lanka Friendship Association and was successful in building 12 houses for tsunami victims on land donated by the Government at Rathgama.
Help Ranjani with
her treatment
Ms. M.M.S. Ranjani is suffering from breast cancer. Her oncologist Dr. Upul Ekanayake of the Galle Karapitiya Hospital has recommended six injections of Herceptin 440 mg for her treatment. Each injection costs Rs 232,000.
Ms. Ranjani is employed at the Sub Post Office at Dambagasara at Dickwella, Matara and cannot afford this sum. She is requesting assistance from kind donors to help her fight this deadly disease. Donations could be sent to A/C No. 1-0082-88-14180 of the National Savings Bank, Dickwella.
For more details please contact 071-1131716. |
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