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Takiko Yoshida’s 115th Birth Anniversary today

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The 115th Birth Anniversary of Japanese Philanthropist Takiko Yoshida who opened up opportunities for Sri Lankans in Japan is celebrated today (16).

On the occasion of Ms. Yoshida’s 115th Birth Anniversary, a commemorative ceremony will be held at the Yoshida Preschool and Yoshida Shokanji International School (YSIS) premises in Sapugaskanda, its Director Hemakumara Gunasekara said.

Venerable Banagala Thera, who arrived at Abeysekarama Vihara in Sapugaskanda from Japan, established the Yoshida Education and Social Service Foundation and launched the first Traditional Japanese Early Childhood Development Centre in Sapugaskanda, on June 26, 1979. Ms. Yoshida arrived in Sri Lanka and fully contributed to the initiative.

At that time, there was no talk of travelling to Japan for work or educational purposes from Sri Lanka. Everyone in Sri Lanka was focused on sending their children to countries like England, the USA and Germany. The discussion in Sri Lanka about employment and educational opportunities in Japan commenced when Banagala Thera sent a large number of Sri Lankan girls to Japan to study early childhood development education for the first time.

The country called Japan gained popularity among Sri Lankans thanks to the efforts of Ms. Yoshida and Banagala Thera. These early childhood development centers known as “Japanese Preschools” were established in Nittambuwa, Horana, Nuwara Eliya, Maththegoda, Agalawatta, Polgasowita, Malambe, Kandy and Neluwa with the help of Japanese philanthropists under the coordination of Ms. Yoshida.

Since then, Ms. Yoshida has become one of Sri Lanka’s closest and dearest development assistants. That’s why many Sri Lankans fondly call her “Okasan Amma”.

Born on August 16, 1908 in Kyushu, Japan, Ms. Yoshida later married a renowned surgeon, Kishi Yoshida, and became a shareholder of Yoshida Hospital, one of the largest private hospitals in Japan today.

She offered to provide free medical treatment at that hospital to many people including the Mahanayake Theras of Sri Lanka. Ms. Yoshida was a renowned Japanese woman who was highly respected by monks and Buddhist leaders in Sri Lanka.

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Bus associations oppose proposal of 2% fare reduction

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The government’s proposal to reduce bus fares by a 2% effective from July 01 has led to the strong disapproval of bus associations, reports say.

It was also proposed not to revise the minimum fare.

The announcement was made during a meeting between officials of the Transport Ministry and representatives of private bus associations to discuss the annual bus fare revision, scheduled for July 01.

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UN Rights chief meets families of missing persons

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A group of activists and families of missing persons handed over letters and memorandums to the visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk in Trincomalee today (June 25).

UN Human Rights Spokesperson – Jeremy Laurence, who is accompanying the High Commissioner, said while in Trincomalee that Mr. Volker Turk expressed sorrow and solidarity with the families of the disappeared.

Meanwhile, a peaceful demonstration was also held in Trincomalee during this visit, where a group of activists and victims of disappearances was seen holding placards and banners.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will visit Kandy before concluding his official visit to Sri Lanka tomorrow (June 26) after a special press briefing in Colombo.

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200 new super luxury buses to be procured for expressways

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There is an urgent need to introduce new buses to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus fleet, as nearly 52% of the regular bus fleet of the Sri Lanka Transport Board and nearly 94% of the luxury bus fleet have exceeded the economic life span. 

As to the insufficient buses to meet the passenger demand on the expressway, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is currently operating 61 luxury buses belonging to the private sector on a profit-sharing basis. 

Therefore, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has decided to purchase 200 new super-luxury buses by using their own funds. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Port and Civil Aviation to purchase 29 super luxury buses through the financially capable depots and to purchase the remaining buses by making a down payment using SLTB funds and the balance to be paid in monthly instalments over a period of 5 years.

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