Excellent performance from Dilshan in the Bangladesh- Sri Lanka 2nd Test match

In the 2nd test match against Bangladesh, Sri Lankan batsman Thilakarathna Dilshan played a magnificent 162 which included 21 boundaries and 02 sixes.

The 2nd test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka commenced yesterday (03) at the Chittagong where Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardena won the toss and elected to bat. Sri Lanka scored 384 runs for the fall of all wickets in the first innings.

Chamara Kapugedara and Malinda Warnapura contributed 96 runs 66 runs each for the Sri Lankan innings.

Bangladesh team is 51 for the lost of 03 wickets in their first innings.

Courtesy: Lankapuvath

Rukaman praises army victories

UNP Assistant Leader Rukman Senanayake yesterday expressed his confidence of an outright army victory over the LTTE.

Senanayake said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government should be praised for boldly meeting the enemy challenge and successfully carrying out the war. The leadership given by the President and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had been very good the MP added.

He declared that the recent territorial gains on the Vanni front had made the remaining LTTE strongholds shaky.
He dismissed the view that the UNP was attempting to throw a lifeline to the LTTE.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe recently accused the air force of failing to evacuate soldiers wounded on the Vanni front for want of fixed wing aircraft.

The Defence Secretary told that fixed wing aircraft couldn’t touch down in the Vanni as there weren’t any airstrips. All personnel wounded both east and west of the A9 had to be evacuated by helicopters or road.

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that the Opposition had mixed up the Jaffna theatre with Vanni. He declared that the administration had struggled hard to provide every possible facility to the fighting soldier. He rejected the perception that all soldiers wounded in the northern and eastern provinces were evacuated by air to Colombo.

Courtesy: Lankapuvath

A new hotel to the east

With the intention of developing the Eastern province, Rs 100 million has been allocated to build a luxuary hotel in Kalladi Batticalo.

The Liyara Beach hotel Pvt Ltd ahs signed an agreement with the BOI on the construction of the hotel.

Accordingly a three star hotel with 30 rooms will be put up in the area. The hotel will include facilities to provide herbal baths and other Aurvedic treatments. A tennis court, a gymnasium and many other facilities will be included in the hotel.

The construction of the hotel will commence at the beginning of this month and the work is due to finish within one year’s time.

Courtesy: Lankapuvath

Cold wave hits the Nuwara Eliya district

A severe cold wave is hitting the Nuwara Eliya district, thus affecting tea and other plantations in the low lying areas.

Thick frost is falling throughout the nights and in the early hours hot sun is causing destruction to tea and other vegetation.

Night temperatures have dropped to Zero to two Celsius. According to residents of Nuwara Eliya after a spell of heavy rains in the recent months, a severe cold wave is being experienced and the usual weather patterns have changed.

Courtesy: Lankapuvath

Another challenging year for the Foreign Ministry

It is the primary duty of the Foreign Ministry abroad to implement Sri Lanka’s agenda in every aspect while discharging their duties and functions.

Foremost among these responsibilities is the protection of the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama made these observations when he addressing the staff of the Ministry yesterday (1st) at the Foreign Ministry.

Minister Bogollagama thanked the Ministry staff for their support and corporation in performing their duties last year, which was a highly productive year for the Ministry. He especially highlighted their contribution for the 15th SAARC Summit in Colombo.

This year too would be challenging for the Ministry. Plans are underway to host several international and regional conferences. The visit of the Maldivian President to Sri Lanka starting today would herald the Foreign Ministry’s calendar of activities.

In February, Sri Lanka will host the SARRC Council of Ministers under its Chair, and in the following month a high level Ministerial Meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is due to be held in Colombo.

He said that Sri Lanka Foreign Service could be compared favorably with the diplomatic service of other countries. He directed that Foreign Service officers should be attached to a District Secretariet Office in a rural area, prior to being posted to serve in a Mission abroad. Therefore Foreign Services officers need to have an in-depth knowledge of the realities and difficulties faced by the people especially in the rural hinterland.

Minister Bogollagama commended the social responsibility dimension of the Foreign Ministry and the overseas Missions. The Seva Vanitha Unit of the Ministry has been rendering yeoman service in the development of health facilities in the rural areas.

Courtesy: Lankapuvath