News

Suspicious parcel in plane toilet turns out to be gold

Published

1 year ago

November 10, 2023

editor

A parcel suspected to be explosives, found in a toilet of an Indian bound aircraft today from the Bandaranaike International Airport, was discovered as a parcel of Gold weighing two kilograms, Customs officials have said.

As Flight AI-272 of Indian Airlines took off from Katunayake Airport today at 01.35 pm to the runway to depart for Chennai, India the airline staff had discovered there was an unclaimed black parcel in the rear toilet of the plane.

Accordingly, this flight did not take off and turned back from the runway at 01.40 pm.

All the passengers were taken out before the plane was taken to an isolated place. After being checked by the bomb disposal unit, the contents of the parcel were discovered.

After that, the parcel containing gold cream weighing two kilograms has been handed over to the airport customs officials for further investigation and none of the owners of this parcel has been arrested.

Subsequently, the Indian flight departed BIA at 04.43 pm for Chennai, India.

(Pics : sundaytimes.lk)

News

Helicopter crash during SLAF training session

Published

40 minutes ago

May 9, 2025

editor

A Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has reportedly crashed today (May 09).

It crashed during a training session at the Hingurakgoda Air Force Base.

Further reports indicate that the helicopter crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir.

News

American Cardinal elected as new Pope: Pope Leo XIV

Published

46 minutes ago

May 9, 2025

editor

Following a 02-day papal conclave, American Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the new Pope yesterday (May 08) evening, Vatican time.

At 69, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the 267th Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.

He becomes the first American to ascend to the papacy in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV now assumes spiritual leadership of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

The election follows the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88 at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City, a day after participating in Easter Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

News

Heavy rains expected in the afternoon

Published

3 hours ago

May 9, 2025

editor

The Department of Meteorology says that showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island after 1.00 p.m. today (May 09).

Showers may occur in Western province and in Puttalam, Galle and Matara districts in the morning too.

Fairly heavy rains above 50 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Northern and North-central provinces.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Ampara and Polonnaruwa districts during the morning.