COMMUNITY DN Writer felicitated

Ven. Prof Kamburugamuwe Vajira Thera and President's Co-ordinating officer on Islamic matters Hassan Moulana at a dialogue on religious amity held between Islamic and Bud- dhist clergy at the Islamic Centre, Maligawatte on Monday June 18. President of the Islamic Centre, former Minister M.H. Mohamed was also present on the occasion. Picture by Ashraff A Samed Dehiwala – Mt Lavinia special corr.

The Sinhala-Tamil Writ- ran’ tabloid newspaper felicitated by several wom- ers Forum felicitated Mrs after winning first place in en's organizations in India Pathma Somakanthan who a short story competition. and Canada and also pre- is a retired school Principal She has has since then sented with awards and and a prolific writer in both written several short sto- titles for her contributions English and Tamil for the ries and articles pertaining in the literary world. tremendous service she has to art and culture. Somakanthan is also The family of Army Private Dayaratne attached to the third rendered in the spheres of She is an author of sev- associated with the Colom- Vijayaba Infantry Regiment who died in action in Vavuniya Tamil literature, Hindu reli- eral Tamil and English bo Tamil Sangam, Colombo has been gifted with a newly built house in the Bingiriya gion, Hindu culture and books for children and also Hindu Women's Associa- Ranaviru Housing scheme by the Seva Vanith Unit of the even about women who a book titled ‘The Stories tion and several other wom- Vijayaba Regiment. Here late Dayaratne's wife Mrs. R.C.L. I. The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) Head office was recently shifted to No. 351/A/2 have contributed in numer- from Hindu Mythology’ in en's organizations. Kumari and her children getting ready for the house warm- Pannipitiya Road, Thalawathugoda. Here, Water Supply and Drainage Minister and MEP ous ways for the emancipa- English. Furthermore, she is a ing ceremony soon after they received the house. Com- Leader Dinesh Gunawardena at the opening ceremony. MEP Chief Secretary Karunathilake tion and liberation of She has also contributed very good speaker, debater mander Vijayaba Regiment Maj. Gen. R.V. Samaratunga, Dissanayake, Vice President Somaweera Chandrasiri, Deputy Secretaries ES Hewage, women nationally and nearly 100 articles in the and orator and most sought Bingiriya SLFP Chief Organizer Munidasa Premachandra Maithree Wijesinghe, Treasurer Jayaratne Ranasinghe, Urban Council members Jagath internationally. ‘Thinakkural’ Sunday news- after personality to preside and Seva Vanitha Unit officials were also present on the Pathirana, Nishantha Wimalachandra and Pradeep Liyanage were also present. She started her journalis- paper on womens affairs in literary and religious Picture by Colombo Central Thinakaran Correspondent Mohamed Imthiyaz occasion. tic activities in ‘Suthanthi- and has been honoured and meetings. - CM

Leelaratne Kankanamge's latest books ‘Lapa A Special World Environment Day Programme Nomavan Sanda Sema’ and ‘Sandawatha’ were under the’ ‘Tree of Life’ initiative was conducted launched at a ceremony presided by Higher by Jetwing Hotels with a series of programmes, The past students Association of Vidyadupa Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake at the such as, exhibitions, contests and presenta- Maha Vidyalaya, Mattegoda felicitated 52 teach- National Library and Documentation Board tions on climate change at Loyala College, ers who served the school between 1980 and Auditorium, Colombo recently. Here the author Negombo on June 5. Here, the Guest of Honour 1990. Here, the most senior teacher of the presenting the copies of the two books to Min- at this year's programme, film personality and group Kusalawathie Alwis (92) receiving a ister Dissanayake during the ceremony. Jetwing Eternal Earth Programme Patron memorial plaque from a past student. Picture by Iranganie Serasinghe inspecting some of the Wehelle Piyathilaka, Maharagama Special Correspondent exhibits created by schoolchildren at Loyala Southern Provincial Chief Minister Shan Wijay- College, Negombo. Picture by H Fernando alal de Silva who opened a Dharma Mandiraya at Negombo Special Correspondent the Galmadugoda Purana Viharaya, Galle pre- senting awards to Daham Pasal students. Depu- ty Galle Mayor Kelum Seneviratne was also present. Picture by Galle Special Corr D. Siriwardhana