Teachers serving in the Eastern Province on voluntary basis, to be absorbed into the permanent cadre

Governor of the Eastern Province: Rohitha Bogollagama says, teachers serving in the Eastern province on voluntary basis, will be absorbed into the permanent cadre.  Interviews are being held, and appeals are being taken up in this regard, these days.  In addition, 1,000 unemployed graduates will be recruited to the teaching service.  Mr. Bogollagama points out, this year, as of now, 1,127 graduates have been recruited to the teaching service.  365 teachers were recruited for the English Medium.

A project to conserve Namal Uyana is presently underway

The project to conserve Namal Uyana, the ironwood forest and rose quartz mountain, is presently underway with funding mainly by the Central Cultural Fund. Its founder Venerable Wanawasi Rahula Thera says developing tourism-related activities and starting a wood museum and an educational centre are part of the conservation work. The ironwood forest spans over 2,000 acres while the rose quartz mountain is 600 acres in extent.

Read more...

Applications are invited for the Madya Aruna loan scheme for media personnel

The Media Ministry is inviting applications for the 'Madya Aruna' loan scheme for media personnel. The closing date is July 31st. Media personnel below the age of 60 years and are full time or part time employees of recognized media institutions, freelance journalists as well as correspondents with a more than three year service are eligible to apply. Selected personnel will be given an interest free loan of a maximum 300,000 rupees to buy media equipment. Also a low interest loan of 150,000 rupees is on offer to improve the available media equipment.

A pilot project begins next week to control road congestion in Colombo and suburbs

Dehiwela police and the Moratuwa University will join together to launch a pilot project next week to control congestion on the roads in Colombo and suburbs. Professor Amal Kumarage of the university says this will be a temporary measure until such time that public transportation is developed properly. The pilot project will see the use of Google Maps technology to identify and address vehicle congestion.

An extensive development programme is being carried out at the historic Dimbulagala Viharaya under the 'Pibidemu Polonnaruwa'

Read more...

The Poson week will begin tomorrow. Additional train service will be operated for the convenience of the devotees

Read more...

10 senior literary personalities have been awarded by the National Radio

'Senior writers awarding ceremony-2018' organized by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and Godage and company was held at the Kumarathunga Studio of the Corporation this evening. 10 senior literary personalities who rendered an yeoman service to the local literary field have been awarded by the National Radio. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was the chief guest at the event.

Read more...

President vows no return to dictatorship in the island

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday took serious exception to a top Buddhist monk urging former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to take over the country as a Hitler-type military dictator. President Sirisena said as a Buddhist he had the highest respect for the clergy, but could not agree with a senior monk of the Asgiriya chapter who invited Rajapaksa to “be a Hitler, take the military and take power.”

He said the voters toppled former strongman President Mahinda Rajapaksa because they wanted to end a decade-long iron-fisted rule and win back their personal freedoms.

Addressing a meeting in Nikawaratiya yesterday the President said, in January 2015, people did not vote for food or jobs. They voted for freedom and democracy. President added that he has restored both and will not allow this country to slip back to a dictatorship.

He was saddened by the call of Ven. Venduruwe Upali Thera who sought a return to an era when citizens were deprived of their basic human rights and any dissent was immediately crushed.

He said he was being criticised as a weak leader because he did not oppress the people unlike his predecessor. Former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike too was criticised using the same language and he was assassinated three and a half years into his term, the President noted.

Despite the threats, the President said he will not waver and will not allow the hard-won democracy to be undermined in the country.

The Prime Minister says the government will develop the country by upgrading export and the service sector

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe says the government's aim is to develop the country by enhancing export and service sectors. Each city in the country will be developed under a proper plan. The government acquire plan for development projects in transparent manner. The Prime Minister made these remarks at a ceremony held in Boralesgamuwa yesterday to declare open the newly constructed children park for the children of special needs and the walking path. The Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development has conducted this development project with the help of the Land Reclamation and Development Board. There are 19 food and trade stalls in this area as well. Joining this occasion Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that the good governance rule will provide more relief to the general public. The government officials should also work in responsible manner to achieve the government's targets. He added that such a special children's park will be set up close to the Kottawa interchange of the Southern Express Way. A light railway will be established from Moratuwa to Fort to ease the traffic congestion along the Galle road. It will be connected to Colombo-Piliyandala road as well.

Provincial council election will be held in December under preferential vote system

Minister Dr. Rajitha Senarathne says provincial council election will be held in December under preferential vote system. A relevant amendment will be tabled in parliament in September. The Minister further said majority of peoples representatives and common masses feel more comfortable with the old system which is preferential voting system. The Minister made these comments at a media conference held in Colombo.