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Hollywood Artists launch housing project

The Chief Sanga Nayaka of America and President of Dharma Wijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles, Ven. Dr. Walpola Piyananda Thera launched a massive fund-raising campaign with the participation of Hollywood Artists and the World Trust Foundation in U.S.A., for the construction of permanent houses for the victims of tsunami catastrophe who lived along the coastal villages of Telwatta, Akurala, Godagama, Seenigama and Peraliya in the Divisional Secretariat area of Hikkaduwa.

Recently the ceremonial foundation laying was held at Galagodawatta amidst a large gathering of Hollywood Artists. Camille Cellucci Founder of Holywood Artists Alliance and Art Director of Titanic film addressing the gathering said that "in order to raise funds for the affected people who lost their houses and dear ones in your families numerous programmes were held in U.S.A. On the guidance of Ven. Piyananda Thera Hollywood Artists Alliance was formed", she said.
Referring to the clowns, she said that their role was to bring happiness and love for the affected communities and in the same manner the spiritual leaders such as the Buddhist monks present here tried to convey the universal message of the importance of love and sympathy," she said "Love is greater than suffering" she furthur said.

Fisheries nets Rs. 1.5 billion Chinese aid

The Chinese Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) will be re-constructing six fisheries harbours out of the 10 destroyed by the tsunami, at an estimated cost of approximately Rs. 1.5 billion (US $ 15m), within a period of 18 months.

The tsunami-battered fisheries industry gets a shot in the arm with the inauguration of Fisheries Harbour re-construction project in Panadura, with Chinese assistance.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the Panadura Fisheries Harbour yesterday, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said that having understood the seriousness of the damage caused by the tsunami to the fisheries industry and infrastructure and its impact on the country's economy as a whole, the Chinese Government despatched a high-level Chinese company for the re-construction of the harbours.

Premier Wen Jiabao observed, "The Chinese people were greatly perturbed by the severe losses caused to Sri Lanka by the tsunami tragedy. Sri Lanka and China have had long and traditional bilateral ties and mutual cooperation between them.
Although China is not a very rich country, it has offered its heart-felt assistance at this great hour of need, to revamp the fisheries industry, worst hit by the tsunami devastation".
He also pledged to assist Sri Lanka in setting-up 'Detection and Early-Warning' systems for disasters such as tsunamis and earthquakes, inclusive of training personnel for same.
"I wish Sri Lanka will progress to prosperity despite temporary shortcomings encountered in the process", Prime Minister Wen Jiabao added.

Fisheries and Ocean Resources Minister Chandrasena Wijesinghe speaking at the ceremony pointed out that the tsunami devastation was the worst ever disaster in Sri Lankan history killing over 40,000 people. The worst impact had been on the fisheries industry, in which over 20,000 boats and ten out of the twelve fisheries harbours around the island were destroyed. It has caused a grave threat to the economy of the country.

"We are confronted with the greatest challenge of reconstruction of the country. China's assistance in the re-construction of the fisheries harbours and the inauguration of this project today in Panadura is a great victory for us", the minister re-iterated.

Khalid

Tension between police and public in Potuvil

A tense situation is prevalent in Protuvil, Trincomalee after police had a confrontation with the public after villagers in Potuvil handed over a memorandum against illegal construction in their fishing areas. The situation intensified after last night's bomb attack by an unknown group. However, our sources confirmed that a Reserve Police Constable had been involved in this incident of a grenade being thrown. An eye witness of this incident is said to have been beaten up by the police later on.

Several Muslim villagers were reported to have been hospitalized after the confrontation between the Police and the public after the incident.
The public complained that certain elements are creating a conflict in the area with several incidents of illegal construction. After the villagers handed over the memorandum, the District Secretary had investigated the matter and he too had decided that this construction was illegal.
Rauf Hakeem , the Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, said that the Government should hold an independent inquiry on this matter, he also said that he will bring this matter before the police officials in the area. Hakeem further stressed that various interested extremist groups in the area with vested interests are stirring clashes between the Sinhalese and Muslims. He warned that there were some outside elements who would benefit from such activities. SLMC leader urged all communities in the East to act with maximum restraint, in spite of the difficult situation.

Khalid