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‘The Banana Tree Crisis’, a collection of short stories by Isankya Kodithuwakku will be launched on August 8 at 5 p.m. at the National Library Services and Documentation Board (NLSDB), No. 14, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7. These stories map the journeys of individuals from diverse locations and lifestyles around Sri Lanka.

The author received her primary education in Japan and South Korea, and returned to Sri Lanka to complete her schooling. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Kenyon College, Ohio, USA, where she gave up her mathematics major to concentrate on writing. She is now at Columbia University doing an M. F. A. in Creative Writing. She hopes the reader will appreciate these stories, and prove wrong her parents' predictions of the dire future she faces as a writer rather than a mathematician.

The book is published by Vijitha Yapa Publications.

Sessions on health

The 19th Annual Sessions of the Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka will be held on August 11 and 12 at the BMICH. The main theme of the sessions is ‘Health in Sri Lanka – Challenges and Responses’. Eminent speakers will speak on the problems and challenges in the health sector.

All about medical toxicology

The fifth Scientific Congress of the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Toxicology (APAMT) is now being held in Colombo. The conference opens today and ends on August 8. Minister of Health Nimal Siripala de Silva will be the Chief Guest at the inauguration.

The main themes of the meeting include Toxicology, Agrochemical Poisoning and New Algorithms for Pharmaceutical Poisoning in limited resource settings.

There will be presentations on OP and Paracetamol poisoning, utilisation of domestic safe storage of agrochemicals, effecting regulatory change in agrochemicals, reduction in mortality from parquet reformulation, social responsibility of toxicologist, and the role of the toxicologist in creating awareness in subtle homicidal poisoning and anti-venom treatment for snake bite. The international and local experts participating will include Professor Nick Buckley, Dr. Anna Ommen, Dr. Franz Worek, Dr. Horst Thiermann, Dr. Anand Zachariah, Dr. Flemming Konradsen, Dr. Martin Wilks, Dr. Ken Hartigan-Go, Dr. V. V. Pillay, Dr. Geoff Isbister, Dr. Alison Jones, Dr. P. K. Abeytunga, Dr. John Fountain and Dr. Michael Eddleston, Professor Andrews Dawson (President of the APAMT), Professor Ravindra Fernando (Past President of the APAMT), Prof. Nimal Senanayake, Dr. Gamini Manuweera and Dr. Ariaranee Gnanadasan.

Book on personalities

‘Mozhi Peyakkappadda Mounam’ (a collection of interviews) by Latha will be launched at the Colombo Tamil Sangam, Colombo 6 on August 12 at 4.00 p.m. The book is a collection of interviews by the author, a journalist, with Sri Lankan personalities. Poet – Kasi Anandan, writer – Sutharaj, Announcer – Abdul Hameed, singer – Muththazhaku and many others as well as Indian personalities such as writers Jeyakanthan and Sujatha, poets Vairamuththu, Kavikko Abdhul Rahman and actresses Kushbu and Manorama are some of those interviewed.

125 years in Talangama

Grateful Catholics of Talangama along with thousands of devotees around the country will join hands this August to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of St. John Dal Bastone Church, Talangama.

This church is believed to be the first and the only church dedicated to Saint John Biotteconi, well-known as John Dal Bastone from Paterno, in the district of Fabriano. St. John Dal Bastone Church is presently administered by Franciscan Friars, who brought the gift of faith to Sri Lanka in the 16th century.

Under the guidance of the Parish Pastoral Council a number of events were held in preparation for this event, which officially began following the festival celebrations in 2005. During the festival mass last year, the jubilee year was proclaimed and declared by Fr. Clitus Perera, the Prior of the Benedictine Order. Following that, the parishioners actively and spiritually participated in the year-long preparations, which included a successful Mission (retreat) conducted by O. M. I. Priests of Nazareth.

The much awaited event of the year to coincide with the 125th jubilee celebrations was the laying of the foundation stone of the three-storied Daham Pasal building. A special uniform being made for the Daham Pasal students was another unique event that occurred during the jubilee year. Marking another milestone in the church history, a special stamp will be issued to record this year’s jubilee celebrations.

The idea of building a new church in Talangama was the brainchild of Fr. Emilino Millani and Fr. John Leo Ratnayake, and the foundation stone was laid by Fr. Ratnayake, a native priest from this area, on October 27, 1872 amidst blessings by Vicar Apostolic of Colombo Rt. Rev. Mgr. Hilarian Sillani, OSB. The church was completed by Fr. J. B. Balangero and blessed by Rt. Rev. Mgr. Hilarian Sillani, OSB on July 11, 1881.