Quick Look
 

Tsunami tragedy:

Two minute silence Dec 26

A nation-wide two minute silence will be observed from 9.25 am to 9.27 am tomorrow as a mark of respect for all those who died in the 2004 tsunami, the Disaster Management Centre said.The National Safety Day to commemorate tsunami victims too will be held on the same day at the Weerasingham Hall in Jaffna under Prime Minister D M Jayaratne's patronage.

This year's theme would be 'Sustainable Development and Hazards mitigation'.

Babul haul:

Police look for kingpin

Sarath MALALASEKERA

Modera Police has deployed a special team to trace the kingpin involved in the massive sale of 'babul' to schoolchildren, Modera Police OIC Chief Inspector C M Samson said.

Modera police recovered 14 kilos of babul valued over Rs 1.4 million from a house at Henamulla in the Ganemulla area.

Investigations revealed that the babul had been prepared to be sold to schoolchildren in the Colombo district.

One suspect was taken into custody in connection with the sale of babul. The suspect had been detained under the emergency regulations until the completion of investigations, the OIC said.

The raid was conducted by a special police team attached to the Modera police.

Woman held for stabbing mother-in-law

Bandula GUNASEKARA and T K Ariyadasa Maliymbada Group Corr

A woman who allegedly stabbed and injured her mother-in-law was taken into custody by Weligama Police.

The incident had taken place at Polwathumodera in Weligama, Police said.

The suspect is to be produced before the Magistrate Court.

Paddy cultivation up in North

Jaffna special correspondent

Paddy cultivation in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu districts have increased during the Maha season.

Jaffna farmers who cultivated only 6,500 acres of land have increased cultivation to 28,000 acres this Maha season.

Army camp in Kayts

Gayan RAJAPAKSA and NCP Corr.

An Army camp has been set up at Kayts island replacing the Naval Camp which existed earlier.

Jaffna Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe said the Army Camp was set up on Defence-Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's direction to ensure peace, and co-existence among the people living in the Kayts island.

Gifts for Grade 5 schol winners

D Siriwardena Galle District special corr.

Special awards including gold medals, certificates and dictionaries are to be presented to all students in the Southern Province who passed the Grade 5 scholarship examination this year. Teachers who trained them will also receive gifts.

This is on a concept of Provincial Education Minister Chandima Rasaputra.

The distribution of awards will be held at 13 centres covering the Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts during ceremonies to be held between December 27 and 31, said a spokesman for the Provincial Education Director's office.

Carols at Batticaloa

Jawfer KHAN-Batticaloa group corr.

A program of Christmas carols will be staged at Batticaloa St Michael's College Auditorium on December 27 at 6 pm.

Fifteen music troupes representing all churches in the Batticaloa district will participate.

The program will also include several nativity and Christmas plays with music supported by the Army band.

The program has been organised by 234th Brigade Commander Brigadier Mahinda Mudalige.

Woman hacked to death

Bandula GUNASEKARA and Malimbada Group Corr

A mother of three aged 30 was hacked to death by unidentified men with a Keththa on Wednesday, Weeraketiya Police said.

The victim, Inoka Chandini of Thalwatta succumbed to her injuries after admission to the Matara Hospital.

The Katuwana Police are investigating.

Wildlife lovers increase

Nuwan KODIKARA

The number of local and foreign tourists that visit the National Wild sanctuaries have gone up by 78 percent and 28 percent respectively. Wild Life Director General, Dr Chandrawansa Pathiraja said. Measures are being taken to increase tourist arrivals at these national parks, he said.

River overflows

Sarath WELAGEDARA- Elahera group correspondent

The Mahaweli River is overflowing and several roads are under water following torrential rains in the area.

Some parts of the Gallella-Mahawilachchiya main road and the Welikanda - Namalgama have been submerged.

The Polonnaruwa District Secretary requests villagers in Medirigiriya Lankapura and Mahavilachchiya to be vigilant.

MC budget passed

Ariyapala WANSATHILAKE- Kurunegala Central Special

The inaugural budget of the Kurunegala Municipal Council was passed by a majority of five votes, Friday.

UNP member Thusara Vitharana Voted for the budget.

Ganja chena busted in Yala

Suraj A Bandara

A special police team raided a cannabis chena cultivation in a five acre land in Kohombadigalpitiya in the Yala National park.

Police found over 250,000 cannabis plants cultivated in the chena. The main suspect, a resident of Sella Kataragama is evading arrest. Kataragama police are investigating.

Muslim students felicitated

The Muslim Educational Progressive Society (MEPS) has honoured 30 Muslim students who obtained 9As at the year 2009 GCE O-L Examination held at the Muslim Ladies Study Circle auditorium in Colombo recently. Chief Guest South Eastern University Chancellor, Prof A M Ishak said that Dr A M A Azeez sacrificed his time and energy for the upliftment of Muslim Education and for Zahira College, Colombo. He praised the Muslim Education Progressive Society and Dr T B Jayah in particular, for their yeoman service for the upliftment of Muslim Education and also for honouring students every year.

Stray dogs in Kandy

Indika POLKOTUWA

Kandy Division Public Security Information Service on a survey conducted recently revealed that there are 95 stray dogs in the Kandy city and these dogs roam in public places causing threat to the public.

The survey also revealed that there are 42 beggars in the city.