News

Additional year sought to complete Northern Railway – Vijitha

Published

7 months ago

October 22, 2024

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Cabinet Spokesman Minister Vijitha Herath said that train services on the Northern railway line from Maho to Anuradhapura are being delayed after the projects not being completed properly.

Speaking during the Cabinet press briefing today (Oct. 22), he said that the Tender procedures for the construction of the Northern railway line and the completion of the signals system were granted separately to the same Indian company – Ircon, rather than being Tendered as a single project.

The minister alleged the previous government had not issued these tenders properly. “If the railway line construction and the installation of the signals system had been handled as a single project by the same company, delays would have been minimized,” Minister Herath added.

He has also said that the Indian company has sought an additional year to complete the signals system.

If we wait another year for the signal systems to be restored, services cannot be operated, so the Railways Department has taken measures to do repairs to the prevailing signals system and to resume railway services.

Also, the construction of railway stations is still going on, with slight delays, he further said.

News

8,742 Vesak Dansals registered islandwide

Published

5 hours ago

May 12, 2025

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The Public Health Inspectors (PHI)’s Union states that a total of 8,742 Dansals have been registered islandwide, in line with Vesak celebrations this year.

According to the PHI’s Union chairman – Upul Rohana, the highest number of ‘Dansal’ is registered in the Western Province, particularly in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) area.

The union has also urged organiser to reduce the use of polythene and plastic during food distribution efforts.

News

Financial assistance from President’s Fund for Gerandi Ella bus accident victims

Published

6 hours ago

May 12, 2025

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A sum of Rs. 1 million from the President’s Fund will be granted for each individual who lost their life in the Kotmale bus accident, the President’s Media Division states.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake has directed that a sum of Rs. 1 million be granted from the President’s Fund to each individual who lost their life in the tragic bus accident that occurred early this morning (11) in the Garadiella area, Kotmale.

Accordingly, arrangements have been made to promptly disburse these funds to the next of kin of the deceased through the President’s Fund.

In addition to this assistance, compensation will also be provided to the affected families through the Sri Lanka Transport Board and relevant insurance schemes.

Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate the cause of the accident, which has claimed 22 lives so far.

(Pic : Accident1st)

News

Maxwell gets 5-yr. ban

Published

6 hours ago

May 12, 2025

editor

Former Secretary of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) Maxwell de Silva was handed a five-year ban, sources revealed.

Earlier, De Silva was suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Ministry of Sports due to various irregularities committed by him over several years.

Accordingly, the NOCSL Executive Committee decided to hand down a five-year ban on De Silva, considering the recommendations made by the NOCSL Ethics Committee, NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam told the Daily Mirror.

Subramaniam further stated that the penalty on De Silva has already been communicated in writing to the IOC.

Accordingly, the former secretary, who has been banned for five years, is now completely prohibited from representing the NOCSL at any foreign event or international conference.

(dailymirror.lk)

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