News

Sri Lanka receives World Methodist Peace Award 2022

Published

1 month ago

February 16, 2023

editor

The World Methodist Peace Award presented by the World Methodist Council for rendering a commendable service creatively with fearless conformity for the building of peace, justice and harmony in the countries around the world has been awarded to Rev. Ebenezer Joseph, the President of the Methodist Church Sri Lanka.

The World Methodist Peace Award honoured by over 80 million Methodist devotees across the world began in 1977. Since then, this peace award has been presented 38 times to people dedicated to peace and reconciliation around the world.

The award recipients include great personalities who committed to national religious and ethnic harmony in the US, Egypt, England, Zimbabwe, South Korea, Ireland, Germany, Israel, South Africa, Ghana, Argentina, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Australia, Nigeria, Kenya, Bolivia as well as Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev and Kofi Annan.

Reverend Ebenezer Joseph is the first recipient of the Peace Award in the Asian region. Born in Kandapola, Nuwara Eliya, Rev. Joseph received his basic education from Wesley College, Colombo.

He then pursued higher education at the Theological Institute in Tamil Nadu and obtained bachelor’s degrees from several universities.

He commenced his career as a Methodist pastor in 1980 and started his work at the City Mission Church located in Dam Street, Colombo. The reverend priest helped the members of the low-income families in the area and played a large role in protecting the Tamil people during the July 83 riots.

From 1999 to 2020, he held the position of General Secretary of the National Christian Board twice.

Rev. Ebenezer Joseph worked very closely with Ven. Itthepane Dhammalankara Maha Nahimi, Maduluawe Sobitha Nahimi, Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thera, Bellanwila Wimalarathane Nahimi, Murutthettuwe Ananda Thera and other religious leaders to build national unity among the people of the North and South following the end of the war.

Together with Buddhist and other religious leaders, he worked to convey a deep message about the religious harmony of Sri Lanka to the world by participating in various conferences abroad.

He has already received many national and international honors and awards for his work in building reconciliation in the country.

Rev Leslie Dareeju, the General Secretary of the Assembly of the Sri Lanka Methodist Church said the ceremony of presenting the Award to Rev. Ebenezer Joseph will be held on Saturday, February 18 at 5:00 pm at Wesley College, Colombo under the aegis of the President of the World Methodist Church Bishop K.J. Park (S. Korea) and its Secretary General Bishop Ivan Abraham (S.Africa).

News

President’s House to be shifted to Sandun Uyana

Published

13 mins ago

March 27, 2023

editor

The government has decided to construct a new President’s Official Residence and the Presidential Secretariat on the site of the National ‘Sandun Uyana’ (Sandalwood Garden) built at a cost of Rs.300 million.

Since it has been decided to use the President’s House premises in Colombo Fort for a development project under the Colombo Port City Project, it has been decided to build a new President’s House and the Secretariat at the Sandun Uyana.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana Wickramaratne has also recommended that the Sandun Uyana prepared in nine acres near the Parliament premises is suitable for that purpose.

Accordingly, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to prepare future plans and submit a report.

The President’s Office said that it has also been decided to relocate the Prime Minister’s office and the Prime Minister’s official residence on another plot of land located near the Sandun Uyana.

The President has informed the UDA to look into the possibility of moving the Cabinet office to another plot of land nearby, and the President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake to study the space required for this construction and submit a report.

The Sandun Uyana project was built and opened during the tenure of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

A total of 300 red sandalwood plants and 900 white sandalwood plants were planted in the garden at a cost of Rs.300 million by the UDA.

Although this garden was planned to be opened by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on July 20, 2021, it was opened by Minister Namal Rajapaksa.

BIZ

Only 50 Dollars to go to India by passenger ferry!

Published

1 hour ago

March 27, 2023

editor

Sri Lanka will commence the operations of the passenger ferry service between Kankesanthurai and Pondicherry on April 29, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said.

It said a passenger terminal is currently being constructed at the Kankesanthurai Port to facilitate the ferry service by the Sri Lanka Navy.

Ferry owners have mentioned during a recent discussion that they will be charging 50 US Dollars per passenger for a one-way trip, while allowing a passenger to carry baggage weighing 100kg.

A ferry is expected to carry 150 passengers at a time and will take around 4 hours to travel from Karaikal Port in Pondicherry to Kankesanthurai.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that any businessman in India and Sri Lanka can join this passenger ferry service.

News

Uebert Angel brought in by Jerome Fernando involved in gold smuggling!

Published

1 hour ago

March 27, 2023

editor

It has been revealed that Zimbabwean pastor Uebert Angel, who was brought to Sri Lanka by ‘Born-Again’ religious sect leader Pastor Jerome Fernando, is involved in large-scale gold smuggling.

This was revealed during an investigation conducted by Al Jazeera News.

This pastor has also worked as a Zimbabwean diplomat.

The Zimbabwean pastor has participated in the services held at the Katunayake ‘Miracle Dome’ hall owned by Pastor Jerome Fernando on several occasions.

During his visit to Sri Lanka, the Zimbabwean pastor had met former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well.

According to Al Jazeera, Uebert Angel has laundered millions of US dollars through gold smuggling.

Angel, appointed ambassador-at-large and a presidential envoy by Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa in March 2021, has told reporters he would be able to carry large volumes of dirty cash into the country using his diplomatic status.

The 44-year-old, who claims to be a prophet and heads a congregation — the Good News Church — with branches in 15 countries, said he would facilitate a scheme through which unaccounted cash could be exchanged for Zimbabwe’s gold.

Source – Aruna