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Bulk tea exports rise by Rs. 2.5 billion

Earnings from exports of bulk tea and tea bags have recorded a Rs. 2.5 billion increase whilst earnings from exports in packeted form shows a decline.

Though export volumes have decreased, export earnings for the year 2002 records a growth of Rs 1.4 billion. The export earnings from bulk tea have been attributed as the main factor in this increase.

A spokesperson of Forbes and Walkers told Daily News that exports to Syria, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Chile recorded an increase whilst exports to United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, Jordan, United Kingdom (UK), Japan and Tunisia showed a decline when compared with 2001.

He also said that tea production of 310.03 m/kgs for the year 2002 betters the previous all time record of 305.8 m/kgs established in 2000. production for 2002 shows a substantial increase of 14.94 m/kgs.

Prisoner release for Independence

Over thousand prisoners are to be released today on account of Independence Day.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has granted approval for the release of these prisoners on a recommendation made by the Minister of Interior and Christian Affairs John Amaratunga, a press release said.

These prisoners who are in prisons throughout the island fall into two categories. One set of prisoners are those who are jailed for minor offences and who are to complete their sentences three to four months from February 4. The other category of prisoners are those who are imprisoned for failing to pay fines imposed on them.

Gajamuthu deal: Three held

Three men who brought two gajamuthu valued over Rs.1 million to sell them to a foreigner in the Chilaw area, were arrested by Police on Sunday following a tip-off.

The Police team in civvies had waited in ambush for more than 10 hours to arrest the suspects who had come from Medirigiriya.

They had arrived in Chilaw in a vehicle hired from Matale after arriving there from Polonnaruwa by bus. Police arrested the suspects by pretending to be the foreigner's agents.

The suspects produced before the Chilaw Magistrate were remanded. Chilaw Police are investigating under the direction of Chilaw SSP Upali Ranasinghe.

Attack on journalists : Two suspects taken in

Three journalists belonging to leading Sinhala newspapers, were assaulted by a group of people on Sunday night, Weligama Police said yesterday.

According to Weligama Police, the incident had taken place in a private hotel in front of the Weligama bus stand where the journalists had stopped for dinner.

An argument between the journalists and a certain group, who were under the influence of alcohol, had eventually turned into a physical assault, Weligama Police said.

One journalist was admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital with minor injuries. Two suspects of the alleged assault were taken into custody by the Weligama Police. They are on the trail of an another suspect.

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