In brief

Avurudu Pola

The All Ceylon Women's Buddhist Congress- Avurudu Pola will be held at 400 Baudhaloka Mw. Colombo 7 on April 5 from 9.00 a.m. onwards.

Talk on Turin Shroud

Evidence that the burial cloth of Jesus Christ was the same one used for the table of the last supper will be discussed on a Catholic Half-hour programme to be broadcast on the SLBC today at 8 p.m .

This special talk on the Turin Shroud will be given by Rv. Fr. Louis Marie Navaratne, a Professor of Theology who is involved with the international experts doing the latest high-tech computer research on the burial cloth. The programme will be conducted by senior journalist Vilma Wimaladasa.

Discussions on Geeta

Swami Anubavanda, a disciple of Gurudev Chinmayanda and senior monk of Central Chinmaya Mission Mumbai will arrive this week to conduct a series of discourses on Bhagawat Geeta.

The visiting Swamiji is popular in Inida and other Western countries for his scholarly discourses on Vedanta and his dynamic personality.

Sri Lanka Chinmaya Mission has arranged following programmes for him at the Saraswathi Hall, Lorenz Road, Bambalapitiya.

Evening public discourses on Living Life (Geeta Chapter1) - April 1 to 6 daily 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Morning lectures on "Panchadasi" - April 2 to 6 daily 6.30 a.m. to 7.30 a.m.

ACHC Complain over priests

Not only ordinary Tamils but even Hindu priests and their families are being harassed in a discriminatory manner, a religious body has complained.

The All Ceylon Hindu Congress has written to the President and leaders of all parties asking that urgent action be taken to stop the unwarranted arrests.

The ACHC was reacting mainly to two recent incidents where an assistant priest and family members of another priest at kovils in the city were arrested.

Meanwhile a federation of north-east priests has written to the new BJP government in India and the UNESCO expressing concern over the plight of Hindus here.

They claim that some 1700 Hindu temples have been damaged during the ongoing war.

Mendis to explain case

Deepening the political controversy, Chief Opposition Whip and Gampaha District MP Wijayapala Mendis has decided to explain to his fellow UNP parliamentarians the validity of his decision to remain in the UNP, despite pressure from many sections, UNP sources said.

It is reliably learnt that Mr. Mendis who recently was found guilty of abuse of power, by the Special Presidential Commission, has wanted to make his side of the story public.

He has reportedly instructed his close allies to arrange several meetings with all groups of UNP legislators, to explain his contribution to the UNP during crucial times, the sacrifices he has made and how the controversial land deal was being used by the PA to victimize him.

Meanwhile, the UNP group will also meet on April 6 to decide his fate, as the issue has given rise to divergent views among the party.

Haj issue hots up again

Having half boiled public holidays only for those of a particular religion is creating confusion and administrative problems besides being an act of discrimination or insult against those people, an MP has said.

UNP Parliamentarian A.H.M. Azwar has again appealed to the government that the Haj Festival on April 8 be declared a full public holiday instead of a holiday for Muslims only.

As part of the holiday cutting measures to improve productivity the government had from last year removed Haj and Maha Sivarathri from the list of full public holidays and made them holidays only for the particular community.

Earlier Hindus also protested asking that Maha Sivarathri on Feb. 25 be restored as a full public holiday.

Mr. Azwar said he had made several appeals in Parliament and elsewhere asking that the Haj public holiday be restored and pointing out that it was a holiday even for the United Nations.

UNP May Day rally in Kandy

UNP will celebrate May Day in Kandy aiming to muster grassroots level participation in party activities, UNP General Secretary Gamini Atukorale said.

The party has already given instructions to strengthen the grassroots level organisations to stage a show of power, on May Day, a campaign which the UNP expects to continue till the conclusion of the Provincial Council polls, due in June.

Mobile hospital at Pussellawa today

A medical camp jointly organized by the Chimaya Mission Sri Lanka and Rotary Club of Colombo Mid Town will be held at Pussellawa Tamil Maha Vidyalayam today.

In addition to free services by Paediatricians, Eye Surgeons, Dental Surgeons, Gynaecologists and general Physicians, necessary drugs will also be supplied free to patients.

E. C. G. , Blood, Urine tests will also be done free of charge and reports handed over on the spot. Arrangements will be made to supply specs to deserving cases.

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