President Anura Kumara Disanayake is set to depart the country this evening (Jan. 13) for a four-day state visit to the People’s Republic of China.

This visit, taking place from Jan. 14 -17, is undertaken at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.  

During the visit, President Disanayake will hold discussions with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, as well as engage with other senior Chinese officials to strengthen diplomatic ties.  

The agenda includes key focus areas such as technology, agriculture, and poverty alleviation. The President is also scheduled to visit strategic facilities and participate in high-level business forums aimed at enhancing economic collaboration and investment opportunities.  

A series of bilateral agreements to deepen mutual understanding and cooperation between Sri Lanka and China will be signed during the visit.  

This marks President Disanayake’s second international state visit since assuming office and is considered a pivotal step in fortifying the longstanding partnership between Sri Lanka and China. It is anticipated that the visit will significantly advance bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and economic cooperation. 

(President’s Media Division)

Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs – Ananda Wijepala has said that measures have been taken to establish crime investigation divisions on a provincial level.

According to the Minister, such divisions have already been established in the Southern Province.

The Minister has added that these divisions will be established in addition to the existing police stations with the objective of regularising the investigation process.

Certain investigations will be conducted under the direct supervision of the IGP, he had noted.

The Police Department has purchased 30 advanced speed guns with cutting-edge global technology to identify and prosecute speeding drivers. These devices have been distributed among traffic divisions in 30 police stations across the country.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police Manoj Ranagala, Director of the Traffic Headquarters, these speed guns can not only record the speed of a vehicle but also automatically capture images of the driver and the vehicle’s number plate. When a driver is caught speeding, a printed copy of the data, including the date, time, and speed, can be provided on the spot. This advanced laser technology allows clear images to be captured even at night.

SSP Ranagala highlighted that the data recorded by these speed guns eliminates any possibility of false accusations against drivers.

With documented evidence of the driver’s face, the vehicle number, and the exact speed, both officers and drivers are held accountable, leaving no room for disputes.

Previously, basic speed guns were used to catch speeding drivers on regular roads, while high-speed highways had more advanced equipment. The new devices, costing Rs. 91 million, surpass the technology of the existing speed monitoring systems. These laser-based devices, produced in the United States, are specifically designed for nighttime operations, said Police Spokesperson SSP Buddhika Manatunga.

On November 11, Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya distributed the new devices to traffic officers at the Police Headquarters. Training sessions have also been initiated for officers to ensure proper use of the equipment. Additionally, the Police Department plans to acquire 15 more speed guns in the near future.

SSP Manatunga further revealed that of the 24,589 road accidents reported in 2024, 731 were caused by speeding. Police filed 31,182 cases related to speeding during the same year. He acknowledged that a significant number of older speed guns were non-functional, making it challenging for traffic officers to enforce speed regulations and minimise accidents.

Before receiving the new devices, each district only had one or two operational speed guns. The National Audit Office reported that since the purchase of 25 speed guns in 2016, no new devices were acquired until the end of 2023. Despite repeated requests for 500 speed guns from 2018 to 2023, only a fraction was approved.

(dailynews.lk)

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