News
Closing ceremony of the Oxonian Heart Foundation (OHF) Sri Lanka
The Oxonian Heart Foundation, Sri Lanka was recently closed, a noble endeavour that was spearheaded by renowned cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr. Ravi Pillai. The objective of setting up the not-for-profit Oxonian Heart Foundation was to help men, women, and children suffering from heart-related diseases in the Northern, North Central, and the Eastern provinces.
With the remaining funds in OHF Sri Lanka, a few of the Trustees, namely, Dr. Naomali Amarasena, Mr. Ananda Atukorala, and Mrs. Jeeva Perumapillai together with Mrs. Shanthi Jayawardena Pillai handed over a cheque to the Trustees of the Heart To Heart Trust Fund, Dr. Rajitha Y De Silva, Dr. Aruna Kapuruge, Dr. Kumudini Ranatunga and the Chairman of Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka at the Chairman’s office, Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital. The hospital’s Director, Dr. Ratnasiri Hewage, Deputy Director, Dr. Chandraguptha Ranasinghe, and Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Catharine Sudarshan from the UK and Shanti Fernando, Executive Coordinator were also at the function.
The OHF – UK will remain and will assist cardiothoracic surgeons planning to go on training to the UK.
Dr. Ravi Pillai was a great friend of the cardiac surgical community of Sri Lanka. He was instrumental in training several of Sri Lanka’s current pool of consultant cardiothoracic surgeons, giving them refuge under his wings, in Oxford, UK. As Dr. Rajitha De Silva prepared to launch the Heart To Heart Trust Fund, Dr. Pillai became his guide, graciously sharing his experiences of setting up OHF – Sri Lanka, and sharing the fundamentals of setting up a trust fund as envisaged by the young cardio surgeon. As he looks back, Dr. De Silva is grateful to Dr. Pillai, who had stood by him like a father figure in those early days of the burgeoning Trust Fund. As a founder trustee of the Heart To Heart Trust Fund, Dr. Pillai will always be remembered with gratitude as an immense pillar of strength.
Dr. Pillai passed away on December 09, 2018. He was a great man who will be fondly remembered for his enormous service to Sri Lanka. In remembering Dr. Pillai on his birth anniversary in April, the Heart To Heart Trust Fund will continue to conduct a free heart surgery in Jaffna.
The Heart To Heart Trust Fund organized an alms-giving on Dec 09 at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital Nursing Training School.
The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.
The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.
The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.
[Aljazeera]
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.
Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.
Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.
Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings
Mandhana, Shafali and Ghosh lead dominant India to Asian Games gold
Fatima Sana and Umm-e-Hani secure bronze for Pakistan in Asian Games
India bat first in Asian games womens cricket final
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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