Brides-in-Vogue held recently at Hotel Earl's Regency attracted a large and enthusiastic audience for a morning of fun and entertainment. Harris Wijesinghe's bridal show was the top attraction while the beautiful floral decor from Lassana Flora added colour to the event.

Vocalists Keerthi Pasquel and Victor Silva backed by the Hezzonites and Michael Sansoni provided musical interludes and the Chandana Wickremasinghe dance troupe entertained the audience with a rhythmic dance to open the show.

Project Chairperson Mrs. Chithra Weeraratne escorts the Chief Guest Mr. Hemchandra to the venue.

Consultant ENT Surgeon Dr. Pushpa Balasuriya and physician Dr Asoka Hettiarachchi were elected founder president and secretary respectively of the Sri Lanka Chapter of Doctors for Peace and Development (SLDPD) that was formed recently in Kandy. SLDPD is affiliated to the South Asian network consisting of Indian Doctors for Peace and Development, (IDPD), Pakistan Doctors for Peace and Development and Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) in Nepal and Bangladesh. The Nobel Prize winning International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNN) have inspired this South Asian initiative.

Dr Pushpa Balasuriya (Centre) with Dr. Asoka Hettiachchi on her right at the press conference in Kandy with three of the visiting delegates.

The Indian doctors who took the lead in forming this organization firmly believe that in the post Cold War world South Asia is more vulnerable than almost any other region to a nuclear conflagration. Hence the concern of the medical fraternity to do something to avoid such a calamity. A delegation from India, Bangladesh and Nepal recently visited Kandy to help form the Sri Lanka Chapter. An informal group organised by Dr Hettiarachchi with the assistance of Dr. Ram Alagan of the Department of Geography and several other doctors hosted the visitors. The visiting doctors conducted a seminar on the risk of nuclear war and related themes for a group of Sri Lankan doctors interested in such issues. The delegates also visited the University of Peradeniya and the International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Kandy where they discussed issues concerning violent conflict and peace.

Besides the president and secretary the following are the other office bearers of the Sri Lankan chapter: Doctors Ranjith Jayasekera (Vice President), Priyanjan Weerasinghe (Vice President), Kala Sivayoganadan (Assistant Secretary), Renu Hettiarachchi (Treasurer), Padmini Suraweera (Publications), S. Paskaranadan, S N Dayarathne, and Sarath Dissanayake (Committee Members). Doctors interested in joining the Sri Lanka chapter should get in touch with an office bearer.

Governor Lion Professor Luxhmen Wijeyeweera

Lions International District 306C1 Governor Lion Professor Luxhmen Wijeyeweera in a recent press conference in Kandy revealed that during the first five months of the Lionistic Year 2005-06 the 60 clubs in the District have completed community development work estimated to be worth Rs Six hundred and fifty million. The main focus of service has been in the fields of health, poverty reduction, environment and peace building. The Governor's Program Coordinator Lion Daya Weeraratne who organised the press conference is seated next to Governor Wijeyeweera

General Sarath Fonseka Visits Maligawa

The new commander of the Sri Lanka Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka (Centre) accompanied by the Central Region Commander Brigadier Lalith Daulagala (right) visited the Sri Dalada Maligawa recently.