News

208 elephants killed in A’pura in 2.5 years

Published

10 months ago

July 13, 2023

editor

A total of 208 wild elephant deaths were reported in the Anuradhapura District in a period of two and a half years, Wildlife Ranger M. Rathnasiri said.

He said that 78 wild elephant deaths were reported in 2021, 84 in 2022 and 46 in the first six months of 2023.

This was revealed in a recent meeting held at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat where it was also revealed that 87 humans were killed in Anuradhapura in a period of two and a half years due to the human-elephant conflict.

In 2021, 32 humans were killed in elephant attacks, 37 in 2022 and 18 in the first six months of 2023.

Meanwhile, Anuradhapura District Secretary Janaka Jayasundara said that it has been decided to construct seven new electric fences to cover Anuradhapura Wildlife Zone and Vavuniya Wildlife Zone.

Accordingly, five electric fences will be constructed in the Anuradhapura Wildlife Zone, and its length would be 272 kilometers.

Two new electric fences about 71 kilometers will be installed in the Vavuniya Wildlife Zone.

Mr. Jayasundara said that Rs.88 million have been approved to be released to the construction companies for this purpose.

The District Secretary instructed the officials of the contracting agencies to carry out the construction of the electric fence before the next rainy season.

News

Rathupaswala shooting: Army personnel acquitted

Published

32 mins ago

May 17, 2024

editor

All four Sri Lanka Army personnel who had been indicted on charges of shooting dead three persons and injuring 45 others during a protest by villagers demanding clean drinking water in Rathupaswala in 2013 were today acquitted by the Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar.

Delivering its verdict, the three-judge High Court ordered the acquittal and release of all four accused – a Major and three Army soldiers.

The incident occurred on August 1, 2013, when army personnel opened fire on a protest by villagers in Weliweriya. The villagers were protesting against a factory which they said was contaminating groundwater in their area and were demanding clean drinking water.

(sundaytimes.lk)

News

Fmr. Army Chief joins SJB

Published

3 hours ago

May 17, 2024

nipuni

Former Army Commander Retired General Mahesh Senanayake has joined with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

In a Facebook post, party leader Sajith Premadasa said that the Former Army Chief joined the SJB to support the program to rebuild Sri Lanka.

Mr. Premadasa had appointed General Mahesh Senanayake as the Chief of the Samagi Ranaviru Balawegaya.

News

Colombo HC sentences 9 Pakistani drug traffickers to 10 years in prison

Published

4 hours ago

May 17, 2024

nipuni

Nine Pakistani nationals, who were arrested on charges of smuggling a large cache of drugs, have been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Colombo High Court.

During a joint operation carried out by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) and the Sri Lanka Navy on January 01, 2020, the Pakistani nationals were apprehended while transporting 614 kg of ‘Ice’ (Crystal Methamphetamine) and 581 kg and 34 grams of suspected drugs by boat.

The report of the Government Analyst has confirmed that the seized parcels contained over 491 kilograms of ‘Ketamine’ drugs and nearly 472 kilograms of ‘Ice’ (Crystal Methamphetamine).

The accused pleaded guilty to the charges when the case was taken up before the court, and were subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison, police said.

Furthermore, the police mentioned that measures are underway to extradite the suspects to Pakistan in order to serve their sentences.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)