8 Friday 26th May, 2006 Tsunami aid houses demolished due to poor construction A tsunami aid housing proj- designing and managing the in the contract. ect of 142 houses at S. K. Estate project after a tender process Two independent assess- Kataluwa in Ahangama, is KAA selected a civil contractor ments at site through a con- being demolished on the to execute the work. The con- sulting engineer and NBRO instructions of the donors tracts were signed according to (National Building Research Kurier Aid Austria. the prevailing ICTAD rules and Organisation) gave evidence of The houses consisting three regulations. bad workmanship and con- rooms, kitchen, bathroom and The civil contractor started struction. toilet are built on approximate- construction in August 2005 KAA is committed to com- ly 650 sqfeet. The housing and the village was planned to plete the Housing Project in scheme covers a 13 acre site be handed over in 2006. Kathaluwa’ said Director Max with 142 individual plots of Unfortunately, KAA realized Santner, ‘What has happened is eight perches per unit, a com- after 6 months of work and not our fault and it is disap- munity hall and a children‘s ‘completing’ about 70% of the pointing. But we feel sorry for A group of religious leaders led by Ven. Pandith Madampagama Assaji Thero of Inter-Religious Peace pre-school. project, the work delivered by the families we came to help.’ KAA contracted a chartered the contractor was not accord- he said. Foundation and Rev. Fr. Damian Fernando, National Director, Caritas Sri Lanka — SEDEC, met President architect/consultant for ing to the specifications given Mahinda Rajapaksha at Temple Trees recently and had a lengthy discussion on the current situation in Sri Lanka. The delegation also handed over a memorandum to the President to take steps to bring permanent peace to Sri Lanka through negotiations. The President emphasized that he is for peace. Pic by Deraniyagala Corr. Appeal for English CBEU against EPF workers teacher Nanuoya: The Vidulipura Maha Vidyalaya at Norton being employed in RDBs bridge in the Hatton Education zone lacks an Quoting a reply made to a Union questions the propriety These employees were English teacher. question in Parliament, by the and the correctness of the recruited through a manpow- Students in classes from Deputy Finance Minister Regional Banks being asked to er agency and were alleged by Grade one to thirteen are in Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, that employ those who were once the authorities to have lost a quandary. The transfer of some employees of the alleged, by the head of the EPF members’ files. If they an English teacher who Employees Provident Fund EPF, to have committed frauds are to be employed by the A group of students selling vegetables at a mini fair held at served in the School for the (Under the Central Bank) are and misplaced important offi- Regional Banks, the CBEU Kamabussawala Maha Vidyalaya in Beliatta to mark the school’s English past few years have attrib- to be employed in the Regional cial documents, the CBEU would protest against the deci- Activity Day. Pic. by Angunukolapellessa corr. uted to this situation. Development Banks (RDBs), said in a press release yester- sion and resort to trade union The school development the Ceylon Bank Employees day. action, the release said. society appeals to the Education Authorities to appoint an English teacher Invisible zebra crossings soon. Ambalantota: The residents The pedestrians in the dis- JVP threatens legal action over CC of Ambalantota said that trict risk their lives as yellow by Ifham Nizam & candidate to the Constitutional However, the TNA contended owing to the use of inferior stripes on roads cannot be Media Jayantha De Silva Council, by virtue of contesting that their candidate has the quality paints the yellow seen especially where traffic JVP Parliamentary Group under the UPFA at the last backing of both the Sri Lanka stripes drawn across roads in congestion exists. Parsadaya leader Wimal Weerawansa yes- Presidential Elections. Muslim Congress and the Up Hambantota District fade The vehicular traffic pose terday said they would go to The Speaker said that the Country People’s Front. away within a couple of threats to the lives of school Courts in order to safeguard Constitutional Council Act had JHU Parliamentary Group weeks. children and pedestrians. organises their members’ rights. many drawbacks. leader Ven. Athuraliya Rathana Weerawansa was retorting in The Speaker was replying Thera said the JHU nomination research on Parliament yesterday (25) to Chief Opposition Whip Joseph to the Constitution Councils Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara’s Michael Perera’s question per- faced similar difficulties. Sigiriya statement that he was informed taining to the nomination of The JHU has stated its stance Kalutara: “The Media by the Attorney General that the candidates to the Constitutional regarding the issue, he Parsadaya” has organised a JVP was not qualified to name a Council. explained. project to study and do research regarding the his- torical background and archaeological significance ‘Over a billion rupees in tsunami aid not distributed’ of Sigiriya and its sur- Governmental Organisations. report and take a decision. roundings. by Ifham Nizam and Gunawardena said that the Herath said that it is high This research pro- Jayantha de Silva Central Bank recently released time that laws were enacted to gramme has been organised Nearly one billion rupees in a very strong report pertaining counter NGOs that pose a to enlighten and to educate aid from NGOs to tsunami vic- to the distribution of tsunami threat to the sovereignty of the the local correspondents. tims has not been distributed aid and monies not being fully country. However, there are The programme is to be among the deserving, utilised. Strict action must be many NGOs that are doing a held on May 26, 27 and 28th. Mahajana Eksath Peramuna taken in this connection, he great service to the country. This is the first occasion leader and Urban Development said. “NGOs need not fear this that a seminar of this and Water Resources Minister Chairman of the Special committee. We are thinking of Newly appointed Gampaha District MP, Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, (SLFP), was felici- nature is to be conducted Dinesh Gunawardena said at a Committee, JVP parliamentari- country’s future, irrespective of tated by the constituents of Wattala, Ja-ela, Katana and Negombo recently. for local correspondents. special conference of the an Vijitha Herath said that the parties, creeds and religions,” In the picture Gunaratne is seen being conducted to the Negombo Municipal Council. Local correspondents will Parliament Special Committee, Committee will review the he added. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Felix Perera, Chief Minister, Western be selected from persons to look into the role of Non Provincial Council Reginald Cooray, Deputy Minister Dilan Perera, Negombo Mayor who actively engage in Nimal Lansa and Mrs. Sujatha Gunaratne were present on the occasion. reporting to newspapers. “The Media Parsadaya will provide residential facilities to the correspon- Look for new moon of dents. Jumadhal Cola Hijri 1427 A Conference of the learned ule- the Islamic month of Jumaadhal Cola mas, Theologians, Katheebs and Hijri 1427 on the evidence of sighting One dead, Trustees of Jumma Mosques, repre- the new moon in any part of Sri Lanka. sentatives of the All Ceylon The Colombo Grand Mosque two injured Jemmiyathul Ulema, Sharia Council, appeals to the Muslims to look for the Thakkiyas, Zaviyas, Anjuman Faiz-E- new moon on Sunday 28th May 2006 in shooting Raza (Memon Community), and the immediately after Magrib (6.22 pm) and Department of Muslim Religious & if the new moon is sighted inform the Ambalangoda: A 34- year-old person identified Cultural Affairs, Insha Allah, will be held Colombo Grand Mosque with reliable as Sumedha Dhamayatha under the auspices of the Colombo witnesses on telephone Nos. 2432110, Mendis of Dupathkade Grand Mosque at the Madrasathu! 2390783, 2434651 or 0777 366099 Handiya, Adadola was shot Hameediah Hall on Sunday 28th May states a press release issued by the dead and two others identi- 2006 immediately after the Salath Ul General Secretary of the Colombo fied as Namal of Neenatiya Magrib, to decided on the beginning of Grand Mosque Mr. Nazushan Hassen. and Supun of Balapitiya were severely injured due to a quarrel between two parties, at Heenatiya, New Vice Chancellor, Open University Balapitiya in the Visiting Norwegian envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer meets Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe at his Ministry on Thursday. The President has appointed ment. Having a keen interest in open and Ambalangoda police area Professor Nandani de Silva as the new distance learning, she pioneered the recently. The Balapitiya Vice Chancellor of the Open University development of distance education pro- Magistrate, S. A. Perera of Sri Lanka. Professor de Silva grammes for doctors working in the EXCON: Exposition for construction industry held an inquiry on the spot assumed duties as the Vice Chancellor periphery through the Postgraduate and ordered the police to By Brian Tissera enhance capacities and com- gy providers, vendors of build- at a simple ceremony held on 23rd May Institute of Medicine and the Sri Lanka despatch the dead body to “EXCON” , the exposition petitiveness of the domestic ing systems, construction at the Open University. Medical Association. She has published the Karapitiya hospital for for the construction industry construction industry. inputs and plant and equip- Prof. Nandani de Silva, Professor of many articles on aspects of medical edu- a post mortuam. will be held at the Sirimavo The Chamber’s strategic ment suppliers are among the Family Medicine at the Faculty of cation and is the author of two books. At The Ambalangoda police, Bandaranaike Exhibition partner Holcim Lanka Limited 200 trade stall holders. The Medicine, University of Kelaniya has the induction ceremony as Vice HQI, Upul Nilmini Centre from May 27 to 29. It is is the principal sponsor. The exhibition is due to be introduced many innovations in teaching Chancellor, Professor de Silva spoke of Ariyaratne is investigating organized and designed by the co-sponsors are Metro declared open by Prime and research and has contributed her vision for the future advancement of the incident to arrest the Chamber of Construction Minerals and SME Bank. Minister Ratnasiri immensely towards curriculum develop- the Open University. suspect. Industry of Sri Lanka to A large number of technolo- Wickramanayake .