Quick Look

School girl dies in accident

Mahanama Vithanage Malwana group correspondent

One student died and another was injured when they were knocked down by a private bus on the Colombo - Kandy road at Kandakapapu Junction on Thursday evening.

Kaushi Madushika, 14, was a student of Weboda-North Viddiyadeepa Maha Vidyalaya of Weboda-West.

The injured student is receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital. Inquirer into sudden deaths. Kelaniya, A. Hulangamuwa recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Gampaha police are investigating.

Pinkamas to mark month of Vesak

Edward WEERASINGHE - Kelaniya group correspondent

A series of Pinkamas to mark the month of Vesak and invoke blessings on the country and its people will be held at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya under the patronage of Ven. Prof. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangarakkitha Nayake Thera from May 9 to 16.

The program will commence with a Sanghika Dana to 100 Bhikkhus on May 9. This will be followed by daily Buddha Pooja till May 14 and a unique Sambudu Guna Sangayana from 4 a.m. on May 15 to 7 a.m. the following day. The program will conclude with a heel dana to Bhikkhus on May 16 morning.

Alleged murder suspect’s house set on fire

Siri WAWWAGE - Matara Roving Corr.

The house of a suspect who is alleged to have killed an Army Sergeant had been set on fire on April 10 by an unknown gang.

According to the complaint received by the Matara police, the Army Sergeant had been killed due to an alleged family dispute. The suspect is now in remand custody, the Police said.

The damage caused to the house is estimated over Rs. four lakhs.

Matara HQI M.M.S. Caldera conducting investigations assisted by OIC Crimes Krishantha Lokuge into the incident.

Cab knocks down pedestrian

Edward WEERASINGHE - Kelaniya group correspondent

A pedestrian who tried to cross the Colombo-Negombo Road near the pedestrian-crossing at Mabola junction, Wattala was knocked down by a cab and died before admission to the Colombo North General Hospital, Ragama on Friday. The deceased was a father of five children Mohamuda Abdul Kadama (69) of Matthumagala, Ragama.

SI Kulawardena and PC S. P. Wickremasuriya (39040) of Wattala police arrested the driver of the cab and was produced before the Wattala Magistrate and was remanded till April 21.

No place for rejects

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has re-iterated his decision not to appoint any defeated candidate on the National List to Parliament, UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha said at a media briefing yesterday.

Asteroid to pass near Earth on Thursday

A recently discovered small asteroid will pass by the Earth on Thursday, but poses no risk of striking, US space scientists said.

The orb will come just 395,000 kilometers (223,000 miles) from Earth - a hair's breadth away in astronomical terms. At its closest, it will be closer to Earth than our Moon is, scientists said.

The asteroid, approximately 22 meters (71 feet) wide, was discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey, Tucson, Arizona. It will come nearest to Earth at about 2300 GMT Thursday.

Woman arrested

A woman in Seeduwa suspected to have been involved in theft and other criminal activities was arrested by a special police team yesterday morning, according to Police Media Spokesman SP Preshantha Jayakody.

Jewellery and money amounting to Rs. 400,000 was also recovered from her possession during the raid.

The suspect is due to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate today.

Seeduwa police are investigating.

Illegal fags to go up in smoke Excise sleuths seized illegally imported cigarettes worth over Rs 4 million from a warehouse in Colombo yesterday. Among the contraband were duplicates of brands used in Sri Lanka. The consignment had arrived from the Middle-East. The Commissioner General of Excise had ordered the stock to be confiscated. Here Excise Narcotics Division Head Inspector P. Jayawickrama with the contraband. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage

A van travelling along the Badulla-Colombo main road veered off the road at Demodara injuring 21 commuters on Saturday. The victims were admitted to the Badulla Hospital. The casualties, residents of Balangoda were travelling to the Maduru Oya Army Camp to take part in a ceremony. Picture by R.M. Somaratne

Youth TV, the first TV channel for youth born under a concept of Tharunyata Hetak Chairman Namal Rajapaksa was launched at the Hunupitiya Gangarama Temple recently. Here the chief incumbent of Gangarama Viharaya, Colombo, Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera who launched the TV Channel with Tharunyata Hetak Deputy Chairman Yoshitha Rajapaksa participating in religious observances at the start of the event. Picture by Lalith Walivitigoda