Quick Look

Treasure hunters nabbed

Mahanama Vithanage Malwana group correspondent

Veliveriya Police took into custody an Army Major and two suspects while they were digging near a stone in search of treasure at Danawkanda on Saturday (07) evening.

Police also recovered a nine M.M. pistol, a hammer, wire, a water pump a piercing instrument and explosives. The suspects were due to produced Gampaha Magistrate courts.The police team which made this arrest was led by OIC Veliveriya Police, CIP, Roshan Rajapakse.

Ministers fund infrastructure projects

A. M. Gunasekera Banda Balangoda Central group corr

Four rural infrastructure projects implemented in the Imbulpe Divisional Secretariat Division in the last year with the funds allocated by the two Ratnapura District Parliamentarians from their decentralised Budget have been completed with the voluntary participation of the public, said M.M. Gunasinghe Divisional Secretary.

Belihuloya-Walakada road at a cost of Rs. 250,000 and Imbulpe-Ilukwatta road at a cost of Rs. 250,000 have been concreted with the funds provided by Jayatissa Ranaweera, Minister of Irrigation.

A drinking water supply project at Elle Arawa Colony at a cost of Rs. 150,000 and concreting the Naluwelayaya road at a cost of Rs. 24,650 have been completed with the funds provided by Mahinda Ratnatilleke, Minister of Textile Industry Development, he added.

In grip of drought

T. K. ARIYADASA Malimbada group correspondent

The entire Matara district is in the grip of severe drought and water level in wells and streams in most areas have gone down.

The drought that started last month has caused heavy damage to tea plantations and subsidiary food crop cultivations in the district.

The pipe-borne water supply in Matara and adjacent areas has not been interrupted.

Robbery suspect remanded

B. W. EHELIYAGODA Kegalle special correspondent

A notorious robber who had plundered almost a dozen houses and avoided arrest was nabbed by the Ruwanwella police while in hiding at a place called Indurana, Talagahalande in the Ruwanwella constituency.

This robber who had robbed millions of rupees worth of jewellery and other household goods had used various aliases.

His actual name is Sarath Abesinghe. This criminal was arrested by a team headed by Sub-Inspector H. U. Priyantha and two Sergeants of Ruwanwella police. The police were able to recover some of the stolen goods and a substantial amount of the jewellery stolen.

The suspect youth ‘Arthalaya’ alias ‘Abesinghe’ was produced before Ruwanwella Magistrate Sudath Gopallawa who remanded him for further investigations.

SDA houses for needy

Sumathipala Deeyagahage Southern Province Roving correspondent

The Samurdhi Development Authority (SDA) has decided to construct houses for twelve low-income families in the Balapitiya Divisional Secretariat area.

The Samurdhi Development Authority (SDA) which will bear the cost of construction will also obtain the labour of the recipients for the project.

Fined for impersonation

Sarath Malalasekera

Wattala Magistrate Rasantha L. Godawela imposed a fine of Rs. 1,500 on Akbar Haji Anvar of Vajira Road, Colombo when he pleaded guilty to the charge of impersonation in a fraud case.

The accused Akbar Haji Anvar was charged by the Wattala Police for appearing in open court on behalf of his brother Mohamed Mukthar Haji Anvar when the case was called. On his pleading guilty to the charge, the Magistrate imposed a fine of Rs.1500.

In default of the fine the accused Anvar was further sentenced two months RI.

Buddhist talk

Indika Perera will deliver a Public Buddhist talk in English on “What is Love? A Buddhist Perspective” at a meeting of the Servants of the Buddha Society on Saturday 14th February at 4.30 PM at Maitri Hall, Lauries Road, Bambalapitiya.

Dinner Dance

The Bishop’s College Past Pupils Association has organised a dinner dance Oh what a night! on Saturday, February 14 at the Oak Room of the Cinnamon Grand as a fund raiser. For further details call 0773777801.

Nav Pratibha

Nav Prathibha 2009 - A cultural show by the students of the Indian. Cultural Centre will be held on February 11, Wednesday at 6.30 p.m. at the Kularatne Hall, Ananda College, Colombo 10. The High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Shri Alok Prasad would preside while Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana will be the Chief Guest.

Mass phone theft

Southern Province Roving corr.

Two youths with mobile phones worth Rs. 266,000 stolen from a shop in Galle were arrested.

The two youths are from Baddegama and Makola. Galle police are investigating.