Monday, July 12, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Leading News from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka may be dubbed as a small country but it is a country with a big heart, said Icon of Bollywood cinema Amitabh Bachchan when he visited Sri Lanka yesterday(20/April/2010), as the Brand Ambassador of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) to endorse Sri Lanka as the host for IFFA Awards which will be held in Colombo from June 3 to 5.
The IIFA weekend which will comprise events such as the FICCI IIFA Global Business Forum, the IIFA Fashion Extravaganza, the IIFA Foundation Celebrity Cricket match, world premieres of Indian films and IIFA Film Workshop will also take place along side the 11th IIFA Awards.
The main attraction of the lineup, the awards ceremony, will be held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on June 5.
The IIFA Awards is the biggest South Asian media event and is broadcast to 600 million across 110 countries.
Speaking at the event Bachchan stated that the event not only takes Indian cinema to the world but also opens doors to exchange of technology and interaction with some of the publics’ favourite stars.
“I admire the manner in which Sri Lanka is trying to integrate harmony and peace among its ethnic and cultural groups in the country. It sets a wonderful example to the world and I would certainly encourage many others to visit the country and explore what it has to offer to them,” he said.
Former Tourism Minister Achala Jagoda, Tourism Ministry Secretary K.A.D. George Michael, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, IIFA Director Sabbas Joseph, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Managing Director Dileep Mudadeniya, artistes Ravindra Randeniya, Jackson Anthony and Sri lankan born Indian actress Jacqueline Fernandez also spoke.
Leading News from Sri Lanka....
World famous Bollywood Film Star Amithab Bachchan called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa at President’s House, Colombo last evening. Here Amithab Bachchan presenting an IIFA souvenir to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Leading News from Sri Lanka.....
Sri Lanka to host 'Bollywood Oscars'
Sri Lanka will host top Indian movie stars for the annual "Bollywood Oscars" weekend showcasing one of the world's most ambitious and prolific film industries, officials said Tuesday.
The three-day International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) event from June 3-5 will feature premieres, celebrity parties, fashion shows and a Twenty20 cricket match.
It will culminate in the glittering 11th annual awards ceremony in Colombo's biggest sports stadium, which organisers say will be attended by 500 guests and watched by 600 million TV viewers in 110 nations.
"This is a very rare and wonderful opportunity for Sri Lanka. Thanks to the prevailing peace, Sri Lanka has received international recognition," Duleep Mudadeniya, who heads the tourism bureau, told reporters.
Celebrities expected to attend include famous Indian acting dynasty the Bachchans -- father Amitabh, son Abhishek and his wife, former Miss World Aishwarya Rai.
IIFA brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan said he hoped the decision to bring the event to Colombo -- which comes after the end of the island's long civil war last year -- would encourage collaboration.
"It is not purely about films, it is also about business networking and cross-cultural exchange. It is like a combination of Cannes and the Oscars," Bachchan told reporters in Colombo.
The awards, first staged in 2000, are held outside India every year in an effort to increase the international profile of Bollywood films.
After the first IIFA awards in London, Hindi cinema ticket sales grew 35 percent in Britain over the following six months, organisers said. Other sites have included Macau, Johannesburg and Amsterdam.
Bachchan said previous cities that hosted the event had since become popular sites for Indian films.
"The potential to film in this part of the world (Sri Lanka) remains untapped, and this could change after IIFA," Bachchan said.
India's production houses churn out about 1,000 new releases a year for enormous audience at home. Nearly half of the new movies are shot abroad.
The three-day International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) event from June 3-5 will feature premieres, celebrity parties, fashion shows and a Twenty20 cricket match.
It will culminate in the glittering 11th annual awards ceremony in Colombo's biggest sports stadium, which organisers say will be attended by 500 guests and watched by 600 million TV viewers in 110 nations.
"This is a very rare and wonderful opportunity for Sri Lanka. Thanks to the prevailing peace, Sri Lanka has received international recognition," Duleep Mudadeniya, who heads the tourism bureau, told reporters.
Celebrities expected to attend include famous Indian acting dynasty the Bachchans -- father Amitabh, son Abhishek and his wife, former Miss World Aishwarya Rai.
IIFA brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan said he hoped the decision to bring the event to Colombo -- which comes after the end of the island's long civil war last year -- would encourage collaboration.
The awards, first staged in 2000, are held outside India every year in an effort to increase the international profile of Bollywood films.
After the first IIFA awards in London, Hindi cinema ticket sales grew 35 percent in Britain over the following six months, organisers said. Other sites have included Macau, Johannesburg and Amsterdam.
Bachchan said previous cities that hosted the event had since become popular sites for Indian films.
"The potential to film in this part of the world (Sri Lanka) remains untapped, and this could change after IIFA," Bachchan said.
India's production houses churn out about 1,000 new releases a year for enormous audience at home. Nearly half of the new movies are shot abroad.
The Education in rural areas of Sri Lanka.....
The necessity of connecting geography to history in the school curriculum is now being extensively discussed in educational forums of other countries.
Modern educationalists point out that, “History has a spatial dimension - the places where human actions occur. For example, aspects of the natural environment, such as climate and terrain, influence human behaviour; and people affect the places they inhabit.
Therefore, main ideas of geography, such as the location of places and relationships within places should be included as important parts of the study of history.” Research done in Singapore and a number of European countries about this combination had proven that students agree.
Most of them believe that besides the critical thinking skills the combined subject brings with it, it also makes for interesting learning. One student added: ‘I think it is more interesting this way.
When I learn about the formation of rivers, I will also learn about history - how rivers were used for survival, major floods and the subsequent formation of dams - so knowledge is more complete.’ If the combination of history and geography has worked so well in many countries, shouldn’t we also begin to do a serious study of it? A number of teachers of social studies whom I have spoken with were in favour of any move to integrate the teaching and learning of these two subjects. They said that the ability to perceive links and connect the dots across disciplines has tremendous practical importance.
In our highly knowledge-intensive and interconnected era, we must help students develop broad perspectives and appreciate complex interrelationships.
---Copyright © Whatz Up... 2010---
Modern educationalists point out that, “History has a spatial dimension - the places where human actions occur. For example, aspects of the natural environment, such as climate and terrain, influence human behaviour; and people affect the places they inhabit.
Therefore, main ideas of geography, such as the location of places and relationships within places should be included as important parts of the study of history.” Research done in Singapore and a number of European countries about this combination had proven that students agree.
Most of them believe that besides the critical thinking skills the combined subject brings with it, it also makes for interesting learning. One student added: ‘I think it is more interesting this way.
When I learn about the formation of rivers, I will also learn about history - how rivers were used for survival, major floods and the subsequent formation of dams - so knowledge is more complete.’ If the combination of history and geography has worked so well in many countries, shouldn’t we also begin to do a serious study of it? A number of teachers of social studies whom I have spoken with were in favour of any move to integrate the teaching and learning of these two subjects. They said that the ability to perceive links and connect the dots across disciplines has tremendous practical importance.
In our highly knowledge-intensive and interconnected era, we must help students develop broad perspectives and appreciate complex interrelationships.
---Copyright © Whatz Up... 2010---
News from Thailand.....
The Thai army sent troops to a Bangkok business district on Monday, a day after vowing to punish protesters if they marched there, raising fears of more violence after 24 people died in bloody clashes a week ago.
Army commanders had been due to meet later in the day for what was billed as a regular meeting, but officials said it had been postponed. No explanation was given.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva made army chief General Anupong Paochinda head of national security on Friday, replacing a deputy prime minister, after admitting efforts to control a five-week protest movement aimed at forcing an early election had failed.
The stock market fell 2.8 percent in early trade in continued reaction to the unrest, although other regional markets were also lower. Bangkok shares fell 6.8 percent last week, when trading was restricted to Monday and Friday because of holidays.
"Overall sentiment remains weak, especially with increasing political risk, which will add to the pressure on the market," said Globlex Securities analyst Chakkrit Charoenmetachai.
Bond yields fell as investors switched to the relative safety of government debt and bet the Bank of Thailand would not raise interest rates on Wednesday because political unrest could set back the economic recovery.
Red-shirted supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have said they would take their protest to the business district this week, two blocks away from their main base in an upmarket shopping area, in defiance of an emergency decree.
------Reuters©
Copyright © Whatz Up... 2010
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Leading News from Sri Lanka
Pirith at Parliamentary Complex - Sri Lanka
President Mahinda Rajapaksa attended a Pirith ceremony held at the Sri Jayawardanapura Parliamentary Complex, Sunday evening. All elected MPs and former Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara also participated.
Pix by Chandana Perera.
Copyright © Whatz Up... 2010
President Mahinda Rajapaksa attended a Pirith ceremony held at the Sri Jayawardanapura Parliamentary Complex, Sunday evening. All elected MPs and former Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara also participated.
Pix by Chandana Perera.
Copyright © Whatz Up... 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Financial news from Sri Lanka...
PC House partners with Creative Solutions
PC House Private Limited has long been locally renowned for their attention to customer needs as well as their trademark of high quality products and diverse product range. The recently signed partnership between PC House and Creative Technology Ltd Singapore is a testament to the companies' dedication to keeping Sri Lankan consumers at the very cutting edge of available technology.
The recent growth of the entertainment industry and the enhanced demands of advanced lifestyles of consumers have contributed to a rise in demand for sound and gaming accessories. While Creative Technology is the worldwide leader in digital entertainment products, providing technology that has revolutionised the entire industry the combination of PC House and Creative Technologies provides a powerhouse combination of the best products and the best services.
Their innovations have changed the face of how consumers operate their PC's and appreciate sound. We are confident that coupled with our extensive islandwide distribution networks and our commitment to customer satisfaction, this partnership will benefit consumers and enrich lives for many years to come'. The extensive range of products offered by Creative are not only covered by the average warranty, they are also upgraded regularly, ensuring that the technology available is always the latest innovations.
Copyright © 2010 Whatz Up... All rights reserved.
PC House Private Limited has long been locally renowned for their attention to customer needs as well as their trademark of high quality products and diverse product range. The recently signed partnership between PC House and Creative Technology Ltd Singapore is a testament to the companies' dedication to keeping Sri Lankan consumers at the very cutting edge of available technology. The recent growth of the entertainment industry and the enhanced demands of advanced lifestyles of consumers have contributed to a rise in demand for sound and gaming accessories. While Creative Technology is the worldwide leader in digital entertainment products, providing technology that has revolutionised the entire industry the combination of PC House and Creative Technologies provides a powerhouse combination of the best products and the best services.
Their innovations have changed the face of how consumers operate their PC's and appreciate sound. We are confident that coupled with our extensive islandwide distribution networks and our commitment to customer satisfaction, this partnership will benefit consumers and enrich lives for many years to come'. The extensive range of products offered by Creative are not only covered by the average warranty, they are also upgraded regularly, ensuring that the technology available is always the latest innovations.
Copyright © 2010 Whatz Up... All rights reserved.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Leading News from Sri Lanka...
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he is humbled by the continuing support his government receives from the people and the confidence placed in his policies.
"We are humbled by the size of the repeated mandates given by the people and pledge to respond, in full measure, to the trust placed in us," the President said commenting on the on the results of the parliamentary elections held on April 8.The ruling party won 117 seats of the 225-member parliament and secured its power in the new parliament which is to be convened on April 22. The results however, are not yet complete as re-polling is scheduled for two polling divisions.
President Rajapaksa noted that the assured majority in parliament given by the voters encourages the government to proceed with its policies for the strengthening of peace and reconciliation, reconstruction, greater infrastructure development, increased investment in identified areas of growth, and the overall development of the country to make it the centre of economic and social progress in South Asia.
Copyright © 2010 Whatz Up!... All rights reserved.
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