News

6 dead, 10 injured as fire breaks out at candle factory

Published

1 year ago

December 9, 2023

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At least six people died and 10 sustained injuries after a fire broke out at a sparkling candle manufacturing unit in the Pimpri Chinchwad area of Pune district on Friday, an official said.

The fire brigade received a call about the blaze at the factory located at Talawade around 2.45 pm, said Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal commissioner Shekhar Singh. The factory manufactured sparkling candles which are generally used for birthday celebrations, he said.

“The fire has been doused. The cause is yet to be ascertained,” Singh added.

The owner of a nearby unit alerted the fire brigade to the incident, after which a team rushed to the site, doused the blaze and sent the injured to the hospital, an official from the Pimpri Chinchwad civic body’s disaster management cell said.

The six bodies have been charred beyond recognition, while the injuries sustained by 10 persons, comprising nine women and a male who is the owner of the ill-fated unit, are serious, he said.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar expressed grief at the incident and assured a inquiry.

Source – Times of India

News

Govt. to amend Online Safety Act

Published

7 minutes ago

February 5, 2025

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The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court today that the current government has decided to introduce several amendments to the Online Safety Act, which was enacted during the previous administration.

This announcement was made by Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, representing the Attorney General, during the hearing of four fundamental rights petitions challenging the legality of the law’s enactment.

The petitions were filed by several parties, including Transparency International Sri Lanka, claiming that the manner in which the law was passed was unconstitutional.

(News1st)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Protest against AG’s recommendation on Lasantha’s murder

Published

25 minutes ago

February 5, 2025

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A protest is to take place opposite the Attorney General’s Department tomorrow (Jan. 06) at 12 noon.

Organised by the Young Journalists’ Association, the protest is against recommendations to release suspects in the Lasantha Wickrematunge murder case.

In a letter dated 27 January 2025, now public, the Attorney General’s Department informed the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) that legal proceedings would not continue against Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagama, former Mt. Lavinia Crimes OIC SI Tissasiri Sugathapala, and former DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara.

The decision has sparked sharp criticism, especially from media rights activists and civil society groups.

Related News :

AG directive to drop charges in Lasantha murder sparks outrage

News

Certified prices for paddy purchase, announced

Published

1 hour ago

February 5, 2025

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The government has officially announced the certified prices at which the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) will purchase paddy from farmers.

This was announced by the Minister of Agriculture – K.D. Lal Kantha and Deputy Minister – Namal Karunaratne during a special media briefing held today (Feb. 05).

who outlined the revised procurement rates.
The Minister said that the rates were decided after evaluating rice market trends and farmers’ production costs and that the government will only purchase dry paddy from the farmers.

Accordingly, the purchase rates are :
– Nadu paddy : Rs. 120 per kilogram
– Samba paddy : Rs. 125 per kilogram
– Keeri Samba paddy : Rs. 132 per kilogram

The Paddy Marketing Board is expected to begin purchasing paddy at these rates immediately.