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Retired judge to probe LH incident

A retired Judge has been appointed to probe the circumstances in which an article pertaining to the Sacred Tooth Relic came to be published in a Lake House weekend newspaper, Mass Communication Minister Imthiasz Bakeer Makaer said at Thursday's Cabinet briefing.

The Minister said it had been revealed that the article was a planned one designed to arouse tension among the public. "As soon as we received this information, we took appropriate steps in this respect," he said.

"This Government has so far refrained from removing any Desk Heads in the Lake House Group.

We would have to reconsider this position now, the Minister added.

Drowns in pool after liquor

A father of three children A.D. Gunawardana (50) who had taken liquor was drowned in a swimming pool at Biyagama village hotel recently during the day time.

This was stated at the inquest on his death by the Colombo City Coroner Edward Ahangama.

A.U. Gunawardana (17) a daughter and several others gave evidence.

The autopsy was conducted by the AJMO Colombo National Hospital Dr. (Mrs.) S.T.D.W. Ariyaratna.

The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death.

Biyagama police led evidence.

Heist by armed gang

An armed gang, entered a house of a gem-magnate in Watupitiya - Karawita in Nivitigala and decamped with gems, cash and articles of value estimated at Rs. eight lakhs recently, according to police report.

The robbers had come to the house under the pretext of selling a valuable gem stone. They had pulled out their weapons, guns and handbombs and threatening to explode them, and binding the inmates hand and foot intimidating the neighbours who came to the rescue of the victims, had gone off with the loot in a van, also taking with them the licensed gun the Inquirer into Sudden Deaths who rushed to the place.

Isipathana felicitate rural students

Isipathana College, Colombo 05 recently organized a felicitation ceremony to over 70 rural students who excelled in the year 5 exam last year.

Students of 5 schools of the recently drought hit Hambantota and Moneragala Districts participated in the Ceremony held under the patronage of Principal of Isipathana Maha Vidyalaya Upali Gunasekera.

These students from the areas of Thanamalwila, Sevanagala and Kataragama were also given an opportunity to make a site seeing visit in and around Colombo with the patronage of the students of the host school of Isipathana Vidyalaya.

Grenade attack

A grenade attack was launched at the house of a police sergeant attached to the Vavuniya police, Rajan Kanagarajah at Nellukkulam, west of Vavuniya, last Thursday at about 9.30 p.m. by unidentified persons. The police sergeant was not at home at the time of the attack and a close relative of his, Sathianesan(25), who was at home at that time was wounded. He has been warded in the Vavuniya hospital.

The Vavuniya police are conducting investigations into the incident but no suspects have so far been apprehended.

In another incident of clashes between two groups last Wednesday night at Thonikkal village in Vavuniya, two brothers were attacked with iron rods and swords by another group. One of the two brothers, Kandan Danapal (30), died in the attack while the other was seriously wounded and later admitted to the Vavuniya hospital. This clash was due to animosity between two sections of people of the village, according to reports. Two suspects have been arrested by the Vavuniya police in connection with the incident.

Motorcycle thief nabbed

The Polpithigama Police arrested a suspect who had allegedly stolen 17 motorcycles worth Rs. 1.5 million at Polpithigama, Nikaweratiya Division SSP Gamini Amarakoon told the 'Daily News'.

The motorcycles are said to have been stolen from Kalaweva, Galewela, Ibbagamuwa, Wariyapola, Polpithigama, Rideegama and Kumbukweva areas by using a fake key.

Power pirates fined

CEB investigators yesterday detected 37 unauthorised power taps in Wanathamulla. Thirty seven suspects were taken into custody. The loss they caused to the board in revenue has been estimated at over Rs. 1 million annually.

All 37 suspects were produced before the Maligawatta Magistrate yesterday and fined Rs. 5000 each. The search was undertaken on a directive of General Manager Colombo City Ranjith Gunawardena assisted by E.D. Wimalasiri ASP-2 Colombo South and Manager Investigation Ruben Wicramarachchi, he said.

The CEB loses over Rs. 50 million in revenue each year due to illegal tapping of electricity. The investigation branch has deployed a special team to crack down illegal tapping, he added.

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