News

Air India flight delayed as sky marshal detained with weapon at BIA

Published

1 year ago

May 7, 2023

editor

Chennai-bound Air India (AI) flight was delayed by over four hours at Sri Lanka‘s Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo on May 6 after the sky marshal of the aircraft was detained by the security agency with a weapon at the BIA airport.

“The sky marshal was detained at the transit terminal (passengers) area with loaded firearms, delaying the flight by over four hours,” an official with knowledge of the incident told ANI.

In India, sky marshals or flight marshals were introduced in 1999 after the hijacking of the flight Air India IC 814 in Kandahar to prevent hijacking in future. Sky marshal travel with loaded firearms/weapons in passenger (commercial) aircraft and can also take action in the aircraft for the purpose of preventing hijacking. Sky marshals are recruited from the National Security Guard (NSG) India‘s elite commando force.

According to the rules, “the sky marshal is strictly prohibited from taking his weapons out of the aircraft and if the security officer wishes to exit the aircraft, he must hand the firearm over to the aircraft‘s pilot in command (PIC).”

According to sources, “The matter was reported with the Indian High Commission in Colombo and the issue was resolved diplomatically.”
A statement from Air India was not available till the time of publishing the story.

Source – ANI

News

Cabinet approval for power purchase agreement with Adani Green Energy

Published

1 hour ago

May 7, 2024

nipuni

Cabinet approval has been granted yesterday (May 06) to enter into a power purchase agreement with Adani Green Energy, says Minister of Power – Kanchana Wijesekara.

The 20-year agreement will see to the development of 484 MW of Wind power stations in Mannar and Poonaryn.

Taking to X, the minister further added, ‘the negotiated tariff rate of USD 0.0826 per kWh, is to be paid in LKR on the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment. On the current exchange rate considered as, 1 USD = Rs 300, the cost of energy will be Rs 24.78 per kWh. The current average cost of energy in SL is Rs 39.02 per kWh.’

Approval was granted yesterday by the Cabinet of Ministers to enter in to a 20 year power purchase agreement with Adani Green Energy for the development of 484 MW of Wind power stations in Mannar & Poonaryn.

The negotiated tariff rate of USD 0.0826 per kWh, is to be paid in LKR…
— Kanchana Wijesekera (@kanchana_wij) May 7, 2024

News

RDA probes Central Expressway beam collapse mystery

Published

2 hours ago

May 7, 2024

nipuni

The Road Development Authority has initiated a special investigation into the collapse of a concrete beam in the Kadawatha to Mirigama section of the Central Expressway, which was under construction, and later suspended.

According to the Chairman of the Road Development Authority, the relevant report is anticipated soon.

On Sunday, at around 5:45 PM, a concrete beam collapsed on the Central Expressway between Kadawatha and Mirigama, specifically in the Kadaoluwawa area in Bemmulla.

The collapsed concrete beam measures approximately 35 meters in length.

This incident occurred within a 17 km section of the Central Expressway.

According to the Road Development Authority, there are similar constructions elsewhere on this road.

Two more beams are reportedly in a dangerous condition.

A senior official from the Road Development Authority has informed the project director to provide a report regarding the incident.

The report will consider factors such as construction delays and potential errors in the construction

The Scene Of Crime Officers of the Sri Lanka Police visited the site this afternoon.

An on-site investigation was conducted in response to a complaint suggesting sabotage by a group.

However, specific explanations regarding the cause of the collapse have not been provided by relevant parties.

(News 1st)

(This story, originally published by News 1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Speaker endorses certificate on Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill

Published

2 hours ago

May 7, 2024

nipuni

Deputy Speaker – Ajith Rajapakse announced to the Parliament today (May 07) that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana has endorsed the certificate on the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill recently (May 03).This Bill was taken up for debate on April 24th of 2024 and was passed in Parliament.

Accordingly, the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill came into force as the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 2024 with effect from the 03rd of May 2024.