News
Maha Kumbabishekam Ceremony of Mayurapathy Bathrakali Amman Kovil on April 4

Mayurapathy Sri Bathrakali Amman Kovil of Wellawatte announced that the Maha Kumbabishekam (Consecration Ceremony) will be held auspiciously on Sunday, April 4.
Shri Bathrakali Amman will be consecrated along with the deities in the Kovil. The grand ceremony will be held from 6.00 am to 7.00 am during the auspicious time of Amirth Siddhi Yoga in the zodiac sign of Pisces.
The Kumbabishekam is part of the festival to mark the reopening of the temple with a new look after a massive reconstruction. The festival commences with a special Pooja for Lord Ganesh on March 29 from 6.30 am. Oil Anointing begins on Thursday April 1 from 7.30 am to 9.00 pm. Devotees will be allowed to apply oil to the deities during that time and on Friday, April 2 from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm. The Maha Kumbabishekam (Consecration Ceremony) continues on Sunday, April 4 from 6.00 am to 7.30 am. From Monday, April 5 to Wednesday, May 19 Mandala Abishekam pooja will be performed for 45 days in the mornings and evenings.
Mayurapathy Bathrakali Amman Kovil known for its stunning architecture has been renovated beautifully. A three-storey shrine top made of stones gives an elegant look to the eastern gate while the northern gate is beautified by a magnificent five-storey shrine top.
Mayurapathy Kovil’s administration cordially invites all devotees to make reservations and participate in the poojas and invoke the blessings of Shri Bathrakali Amman.
Devotees are also requested to participate in the alms-giving (Annadhanam) and donate rice, dhal, vegetables and oil for this purpose.
For further details, contact 0112500840 or meet the temple’s administration at 17/A, Mayura Place, Wellawatte.
News
SF claims thousands of police and military personnel leaving

By Saman Indrajith
Thousands of police and military personnel had left the services recently as they did not want to carry out illegal orders, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka told Parliament yesterday. According to the war-winning army commander 200 policemen have resigned during the past two months and 25,000 soldiers have left the army during the last two years.
“We urged the law enforcement and military officials not to follow illegal orders. We will reinstate them with back pay,” he said.
Fonseka also urged the President and the government MPs not to take people for fools.
“Sri Lanka owes 55 billion dollars to the world. Ranil’s plan is to borrow another seven billion during the next four years. So, in four years we will owe 62 billion to the world.
Ranil and his ministers ask us what the alternative to borrowing is. These are the people who destroyed the economy and society. They must leave. Then, we will find an alternative and develop the country,” he said, adding that the IMF loans had made crises in other nations worse.
“Ranil says that by 2025, we will have a budget surplus as in Japan, Germany and South Korea. These countries are economic power houses, and this comparison is ludicrous.”
News
CEB hit by exodus of technical staff

By Shiran Ranasinghe
At least five technical personnel of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) resigned daily for overseas employment, a senior CEB official said.They included electrical engineers, electricians and foremen, he added.
“Most of them are quitting due to the economic crisis while others are simply disillusioned. Trained and experienced technical staff are in high demand in many countries,” he said.
CEB United Trade Union Alliance President Ranjan Jayalal said that the CEB had lost about 2,000 employees in recent times due to the above reasons.
“We had about 24,000 such personnel a few months ago. Now the number has come down to 22,000. A number of people had to retire on 31 December, 2022.
News
Sajith questions sudden decision to charge Rs. 225,000 from students following NDES

By Saman Indrajith
The government had decided to charge Rs 225,000 from those enrolling at the Institute of Engineering Technology, Katunayake under the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday in Parliament.
Premadasa said that the institute awards the National Diploma in Engineering Sciences (NDES) and no fee was charged from students until 2023.The IET awards the National Diploma in Engineering Sciences under the three major fields of civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, and eight sub-fields.
“This is an institute that has created over ten thousand tier two engineers. NDES is a four year programme,” he said.
The opposition leader said that the sudden decision to charge 225,000 rupees from students at a time when the average Sri Lankan family is facing significant economic challenges is unfair.
“This institute offered free tuition. We should continue this tradition. A large number of engineers are leaving the country and we need to ensure that we have a continuous supply of engineers to ensure we can maintain our essential technical services,” he said.
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