Goodbye, space shuttle!

Courtesy - Daily News by Nalaka GUNAWARDENE and Vindana ARIYAWANSA

The US space agency NASA’s Space Shuttle programme has just ended after 30 years. Space Shuttle Atlantis performed STS-135 mission which was the final flight by a Space Shuttle: it lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on July 8, 2011, and landed at the same facility on 21 July after 200 orbits around Earth and a journey of 5,284,862 miles. Thus ended three decades of exploration that taught humanity much about how people can live, work and thrive in near orbital space. The space shuttle was developed in the 1970s as a reusable launch system and orbital spacecraft for human space flights.

The first of four orbital test flights occurred in 1981, and operational flights commenced in 1982. Starting with Columbia and continuing with Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, the space shuttles have carried people into orbit repeatedly; launched, recovered and repaired satellites; conducted cutting-edge research; and built the largest structure in space todate - the International Space Station. The winged Space Shuttle could be launched vertically, usually carrying four to seven astronauts (although eight have been carried) and up to 50,000 lb (22,700 kg) of payload into low earth orbit.

The shuttle is the only winged manned spacecraft to achieve orbit and land, and the only reusable space vehicle that has ever made multiple flights into orbit.

Marriage and sex in the Christian family

Courtesy - Daily News by Lenard Maharachchi

The companionship between man and woman, the differences between the sexes is frequently mentioned in the Holy Bible. Much of the subjects mentioned in the Old Testament acquires full meaning only in the New Testament and that too after Jesus’s arrival on planet earth. ‘Male and female he made them’ - This is the first mention of the sexes in the scripture. (Gen. 1/27). The Holy Bible tells us that man was made in the image of God., man meaning here both species. After the creation, but before the making of woman, God found that everything he had created was good.

But God, who saw that everything He created was ‘good’, found that it is ‘not good’ for man to be alone. He thought, “I will make a helpmate for man.” Then came Eve, made from Adam, by removing the re productery part of Adam’s body. Then God gave the duo the power to continue His creation of man through sex. So sex is Holy because it was created by God Himself, as “it is not good for a man to be alone sans a partner.” Sex, therefore is not something indecent as many Christians think today. Sex is a sacrament since Jesus made it, a sacrament by attending the marriage at Cana, (where according to a strand of legend, the shy groom is supported to be Nathaniel who is a native of Cana).

Sanga's speech was 'very good'

Following are excerpts from an interview given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Hindu Editor, N Ram on July 22.

Q: Mr. President, what is your view of Kumar Sangakkara's MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture?

A: It's a very good lecture. I appreciate it.

Q: About both cricket and country?

A: On cricket, it's what he feels about it. There are others who don't agree with him, on that part. But he can express his views. About the country, he has said it. Now, no one has taken that part of it where he criticised the LTTE as terrorists. He spoke about the terrorists of Sri Lanka whereas some locals are trying to show the LTTE as our freedom-fighters!

Q: And he spoke about the equality of all Sri Lankans, Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher.

A: Yes, we treat them all alike; that's what he said. It was a very good speech. I appreciate it. (Sangakkara's The 2011 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture can be heard at www.thehindu.com)

The Hindu / Daily News

Maldivian Journalists’ delegation visits SLPI

A delegation from the Maldives Journalist Association (MJA) visited the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) recently. The delegation which comprised Ahmad Zahir, President MJA, Ali Shamaan, Vice President and Midhath Adam, Treasurer, exchanged views and suggestions on topics of interest with the CEO of SLPI, Imran Furkan, Act. CEO of the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka (PCCSL), Kamal Liyanarachhi, Director of the Sri Lanka College of Journalism, Anuradha Herath and the Tamil Complaints Officer of the PCCSL, Ameen Hussain on media freedom, training of new and mid-career Journalists as well as implementing a self-regulation regime for the Maldives.

The Maldives Journalist Association was formed in 2009 to advocate for the rights and protection of journalists as well as promoting cooperation and professionalism among journalists and to work towards establishing free and independent journalism in the Maldives. It has over 100 members and the MJA is also affiliated to the International Federation of Journalists.

The SLPI and PCCSL have agreed to consider a request from the MJA to assist them with technical assistance in setting up a Press Complaints Commission as well as assisting them in finding new donors for various projects.

The MJA has also requested that the Sri Lanka College of Journalism (SLCJ) to provide part scholarships to Maldivian Students to study at the SLCJ considering the high standards maintained by the College and the need to increase professionalism in new entrants to the Maldivian media industry.

The SLPI agreed to explore the possibility of procuring the services of Sri Lankan and international experts to conduct short workshops for mid-career Maldivian Journalists to further increase the professionalism of Maldivian journalists already in the media industry.

කුරුටු ගෑ ගී පොත - Samanala Wawa Purawannata...............................