[Quick Look]

Two die in motorcycle, lorry crash

Yasaratne Gamage

A 70-year-old woman and one-year-old year boy died and two others, including a four-year-old girl were seriously injured when the motorcycle they were traveling in, collided head on with a tipper truck at Kola Eliya junction on Anamaduwa – Bangadeniya road on Tuesday morning.

Susila Emalin and Nenula Rathmal of Ambakele, Pallama died in the incident. The deceased boy’s mother aged 32 who was riding the motorcycle and the girl were admitted to the Chilaw Base Hospital. Pallama Police arrested the driver of the tipper truck. Meanwhile, a 21-year-old man died and the pillion rider seriously injured when the motorcycle they were traveling crashed into a culvert and a high tension electrical tower on Keeran Pulipanchakal road in Valachchenai. Sadashiwam Sakyawan of Keeran died in the incident. The pillion rider who was rushed to Sandiweli Hospital was transferred to Batticaloa hospital.

Arecanut planting in Hambantota

Raja Waidyasekera - Tissamaharama special corr

Steps are taken to plant arecanut plants in the irrigation reserves in the Hambantota district. The Forest Conservation Department has pledged to provide arecanut plants. Farmers say arecanut planting will put an end to soil erosion in irrigation reserves.

Fatal serpent bite

A. A. L. Dias - Matale district group corr

A 53-year-old father of two was stung by a serpent and died after being admitted to Galewela divisional hospital last Sunday. The deceased was identified as R. A. Jayasingha, a resident of Kosgahahinna. Galewela Police are investigating.

Premil Ratnayake dies

Veteran Journalist Premil Ratnayake (83), a former employee of the Daily News and Ministry of Trade and Shipping passed away yesterday afternoon. Premil was an old Anandian who started work at the Bank of Ceylon and later joined the Lake House as a journalist.

He was a Father of three and leaves his wife Jasmine, daughters Manohari, Sirimali and Nayomini. His funeral will be held today at the Borella cemetary.

The cortege will leave Jayaratne Funeral Parlour, Borella. The time will be notified later. Please contact 0777713350
 

More buses to bolster SLCTB fleet

Sri Lanka Transport Board will add 60 new buses to its fleet at a ceremony to be held at the Kesbewa Depot today. Single door, 33 seat bus is a Layland make.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama will be the chief guest.

These buses will be distributed among Gampaha, Kandy, Ruhuna, Wayamba, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Nuwara Eliya, Rajarata and Uthura Depot.

The buses were purchased using the 2012 budget allocations. They will be utilized for the public in rural sector and for short distance running.

Avurudu Pola

Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry will put on sale wood arts, agriculture products, furniture, handicrafts, wall decorations, kitchen utensils, vases, sweetmeats and other items made by prison inmates, at a trade fair today from 10 am to 9 pm at the Prisons Headquarters on Baseline Road.

SPC sets up committee to counter extremism

Mahinda P.Liyanage - Galle Daily News Corr

A provincial broad action committee to be observant over the acts of communal and religious extremity in the South will be set up by the Southern Provincial Council following a unanimous decision taken at the council meeting at the Provincial Council Secretariat, Kalegana, Galle on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister will head the committee, consisted of councillors representing all parties, religious dignitaries of all religions, community leaders of all faiths and ethnic groups, scholars and voluntary resource persons. Three ancillary committees will be established in Galle, Matara, and Hambantota to assist and coordinate the functions of the provincial committee.

The decision was taken following submissions by councillor Nalin Hewage (JVP).

The committee will deal with all acts that would lead to communal and religious disunity and take measures to counter any such activity to ensure religious and communal unity, harmony and goodwill among all religions and communities.

Monkey menace in Mihindupura

Amila Prabath Wanasinghe

A troop of nearly 20 monkeys frequenting the Mihindupura area is causing great inconvenience to the public. Residents say the monkeys not only damage their roofs but also feed on fruits and vegetable in home gardens and damage other crops.

Provincial ministry to extend home garden projects

P.P.G.Sugathadasa - Thihagoda group corr

The Southern Provincial Agriculture Ministry will extend home garden cultivation projects over 100,000 this year, Provincial Agriculture Minister Vijaya S. Weerasinhe said.

Minister Weerasinhe was addressing a meeting after opening an exhibition of agricultural products organized by the Kantha Abhimani Organization at the Srimaha Bodhi old Buddhist Temple at Kapudue, Thihagoda.

He said abandoned paddy lands are used for subsidiary food crops cultivation. Priority has been accorded to cultivations of green gram, maize, cowpea and other short term vegetable and fruits. Over 4,000 acres of uncultivated land in Matara have been brought under these cultivations.

The minister said Rs.50 million was spent for the distribution of agricultural tool kits and planting materials for cultivators last year.

Matara District Agriculture Deputy Director also spoke.

Man trapped by trap gun

A.A.L.Dias - Matale district group corr

A man who went in search of his cattle to a jungle in Palugaswewa, trampled a trap gun set for killing animals and was injured. The victim, Ranjith Dissanayaka, 34, a father of two was admitted to Dambulla base hospital in a critical condition. Sgiriya Police are investigating.