A disabled soldier who lost his both eyes and hands due to the war had launched a continuous fast unto death this morning in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station by demanding pensions for retired disabled soldiers in tri forces and Police Officers who have not completed 12 years of service.
At present the retired disabled soldiers in tri forces and police who have not completed 12 years of service not received any pension benefit .
Retired disabled tri force soldiers and Police Officers had conducted several protest marches in Colombo during last few days by demanding a pension scheme for them.
The former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendren whom the COPE(Committee on Public Enterprises) Report accused as directly responsible for the controversial Central Bank bond scam arrived in Katunayake Bandaranaike International Air Port this evening from Singapore.
The former Central Bank Governor had left Singapore on 27th of October a day before the COPE Report was presented to the Parliament last week.Prior to his departure he had informed the Prime Minister Ranil Wikramasinghe that he will be leaving Singapore to attend a wedding it has been reported.
Pandit Amaradeva had been the recipient of numerous awards including the Philippine Ramon Magsaysay Award (2001), Indian Padma Sri Award (2002)[7] and Sri Lankan "President's Award of Kala Keerthi" (1986) and Deshamanya Award (1998). In 2003 the French government awarded him the prestigious honour; Officier (officer). Notably he still remains the most popular artist as confirmed by Nielsen Media Research findings[5][8] He has also represented Sri Lanka in many forums including the UNESCO 1967 ManilaSymposium.
In 1972, Pandit Amaradeva composed the music for the Maldivian National Anthem (Gaumii salaam) at the request of Maldivian Government.
He found steady work as an artist on Radio Ceylon,
where his unique vision and talent could be exhibited to an audience
wider than he had ever before known – earning him a position at the
Bhatkhande Music Institute in Lucknow, India. After extensive training, Albert returned to Sri Lanka as Pandit Wannakuwatta waduge Don Amaradeva.The name Amaradeva which translates as Immortal god was given to him by Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra (Sri Lanka's foremost playwright and a close associate).
Honors
Officier (officer) in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) from the French government (2003)
Veteran Singer and Musician Pandith W.D Amaradeva who considered as a national treasure in Sri Lanka's musical industry has passed away this morning at the age of 88 .
The late Pandith Amaradeva was admitted to ICU of the Kotte Sri Jayawardanapura Hospital following a cardiac arrest this morning and he passed away while receiving treatment there sources said.
Veteran Singer Pandith W.D Amaradeva has been admitted to the intensive care unit of Kotte. Sri Jayawardenapura Teaching Hospital this morning following a sudden illness sources said.
A large number of unemployed graduates in the country had staged a protest campaign in front of the Colombo fort Railway Station yesterday (02) by demanding by demanding solutions for several of their demands including preparing a programme to recruit unemployed graduates to working stations.
According to the unemployed graduates union which organized this protest campaign since April 2012 to upto now nearly 30,000 unemployed graduates are there in the country.
The neurological disorder "Autism" is in the increase among new borns in Sri Lanka as in other countries in the world and 1 child with Autism has been found amongst every 93 new borns in the island according to the consultant Psychiatrist attached to the Lady Ridgway Hospital in Colombo Dr.Swarna Wijethunge.
Addressing a media seminar held at the Health Education Bureau in Colombo today (02)on chidren who need special care, Dr.Wijethunge has stated that Autism can be defeated if the parents can identify the symptoms of the disease at early stages of a child and get the required treatment and support they need.
"Unfortunatly most parents identify the abnormal behaviour of a child who was born with Autism lately and then it's too late to cure the condition "Dr,Wijethunge has stressed.
The main symptoms of Autism are loosing eye to eye contact ,speech delay ,failure to understand the views of others and lack of social contact she has revealed.
Prime Minister Ranil Wikramasinghe is due to leave for Hong Kong in few hours time to attend the Asia -Pacific Conference of German Businesses.
Prime Minister Wikramasinghe is due to deliver the key note address of the conference which will be held from 03rd to 05th of November in Hong Kong .
The Asia-Pacific Conference Of German Businesses is an event held in the Asia Region for every two years and organized for Executives,Business Leaders,and government representatives to discuss and to promote the economic relations between Germany and Asia.
Prime Minister Ranil Wikramasinghe has said today (02)that he is ready to appear before the Bribery Commission to respond the allegations leveled against him over the Central Bank bond scam, if he is asked to appear before the Commission.
A group of 11 Joint Opposition MP's had filed a case at Bribery Commission recently by accusing Prime Minister of being involved in the Bond scam.
Prime Minister Wikramasinghe has stated while addressing a press briefing in Colombo today that the Central Bank Bond Scam report is now with the Attorney General and the next step regarding the report will be taken based on the recommendations of him.
He has also stressed that he called a report on Greek Bond Scam as well and will submit the findings of that report too to the Parliament.
Government has decided to increase the age limit of holding responsibility of a crime from 8 years to 12 years it has been revealed during the Cabinet Briefing held at Government Information Department in Narahenpita today(02).
Accordingly Cabinet has approved a proposal submitted by Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe on to publish a bill which make amendments to the penal code to enable to increase the age limit of holding responsibility of a crime ,in a gazette notification and afterwards presented the bill to the parliament for approval. At present the age limit of holding responsibility of a crime in Sri Lanka is 8 years and as experts including Psychiatrists are in the view that the current age limit is too young to hold a responsibility of a crime government has decided to increase the age limit it has been revealed.
A group of MP's supporting former President Mahinda Rajapakshe had registered a new political party under the name" Our Sri Lanka Freedom Front"(Ape Sri Lanka Nidahas Peramuna) and later changed it's name as "Sri Lanka Common Peoples Front"(Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna) it has been announced today(02).
"Flower Bud" is the symbol of the new party and Joint Opposition MP Professor G.L Pieris has been appointed as the new chairman of the party and Attorney At Law Sagara Kariyawasam appointed as the Secretary.
Joint Opposition MP's are planning to launch the new party at a ceremony scheduled to be held at Anuradhapura on 18th of November to mark the birthday of former President Mahinda Rajapakshe it has been reported.
A disabled soldier who lost his both eyes and hands due to the war had launched a continuous fast unto death this morning in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station by demanding pensions for retired disabled soldiers in tri forces and Police Officers who have not completed 12 years of service.
