News
Scriptwriter of ‘Oshin’ dies

Renowned Japanese scriptwriter Sugako Hashida, best known for the internationally popular TV drama series “Oshin,” has died of lymphoma. She was 95.
Hashida had been treated for the illness since earlier this year. She died Sunday at her home in Atami, west of Tokyo, according to Pinko Izumi, an actress who appeared in many of the dramas Hashida wrote, including “Oshin.”
Born in Korea in 1925 during the Japanese colonization of the Korean Peninsula, Hashida moved to Japan in the late 1930s and grew up in Osaka.
She joined the Shochiku film studio in 1949 before becoming a freelance scriptwriter for television dramas, including the hugely popular morning drama series (asterisk)Oshin(asterisk) broadcast in 1983-1984 on NHK public television.
The fictionalized drama is based on the biography of a Japanese woman who co-founded a famous supermarket chain and her multiple hardships from her childhood until her final days in the 1980s.
“Oshin” was broadcast in more than 60 countries around the world and gained high acclaim.
Her other popular dramas include the long-running series (asterisk)Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari,” or “Making it Through,” a family drama which started in 1990 and aired more than 500 episodes.
Actress Izumi, who was in both “Oshin” and “Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari,” said she was at Hashida’s bedside when she died.
“I said to her ‘mama,’ then she briefly opened her eyes, then it was as if she went back to sleep,” Izumi said in an interview with Japanese media.
Hashida wrote a book asking for the right to die in dignity. According to her request, there will be no funeral.
Hashida received the Japan Order of Culture last year.
News
Cabinet gives green light to develop Sigiriya as a sustainable tourism destination

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the combined proposal presented by the Minister of Tourism and Lands and the Minister of Buddhasashana, Cultural and Religious Affairs to prepare a Master Plan to develop Sigiriya as a sustainable tourist destination with the contribution of all relevant parties.
News
Cabinet approves incorporation of the Sri Lanka Institute of Agriculture

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture to incorporate the Sri Lanka Institute of Agriculture, which currently has more than 1000 agricultural professionals as members, and to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare the bill for the same, so that the quality of service and ethics of the agricultural professionals can be widely, efficiently and effectively ensured.
News
Vesak week from 2nd to 8th May 2023

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs to declare the Vesak week from 02.05.2023 to 08.05.2023 and to implement various religious and social programmes during the period
-
Features5 days ago
Happy Birthday dearest Mrs. Peries !
-
News4 days ago
Mano says LG and PC elections equally important
-
News6 days ago
Decorated gunship pilot blacklisted for appearing on political stage
-
Midweek Review7 days ago
Growing foreign dependency and India’s USD 4 bn lifeline
-
News6 days ago
No more selling of Hajj visas, assures Minister
-
Breaking News7 days ago
Property tax to be replaced with Wealth Tax, Gift Tax and Estate Tax – President
-
Editorial7 days ago
Celebration of debt
-
Sports6 days ago
Sri Lanka’s flawed ODI strategies