News

Arrest warrant issued for Putin

Published

9 months ago

March 17, 2023

editor

Arrest warrants have been issued by judges at the International Criminal Court for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Commissioner for Children’s Rights.

In a statement, the ICC says they are suspected of the war crime of unlawfully deporting children, from Ukraine to Russia.

There are reasonable grounds to believe President Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for such deportations, the statement says, adding it is alleged to have taken place since he launched the full- scale invasion of Ukraine last February.

It says the same thing of his children’s rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova.

Ukraine has responded, with presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak saying: “This is just the beginning.”

And Ukraine’s prosecutor general has called it a “historic” decision.

However, Russia has repeatedly denied accusations of atrocities during its invasion of Ukraine and has also said it does not recognise the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and says it bears no obligations under it.

“The decisions of the International Criminal Court have no meaning for our country, including from a legal point of view,” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on her Telegram channel.

“Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and bears no obligations under it. Russia does not cooperate with this body, and possible ‘recipes’ for arrest coming from the International Court will be legally null and void for us.”

(BBC News)

News

Sri Lankan ground staff awarded promised cash reward – SLC

Published

5 hours ago

December 6, 2023

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Sri Lanka Cricket states that they have commenced the distribution of the US$50,000 award (LKR 16 million) money promised during the Asia Cup to the ground staff of the RPICS, Colombo, and PICS, Kandy.

Accordingly, 138 members of the ground staff of the RPICS, Colombo, who worked during the Asia Cup 2023 (permanent and contract employees) were rewarded for their effort, while 115 members of the ground staff of the PICS, Kandy, will receive their reward this Friday.

A media statement by the SLC further notes :

The staff of both venues did a yeomen service during the tournament to ensure the practice facilities, outfield, pitches, covering and uncovering of the ground, and related services were in place and in time to conduct the tournament successfully, despite the bad weather conditions that prevailed during that time.

Curators, turf supervisors, ground staff, and technical staff are among the recipients of the reward payment.

The rewards were granted to the RPICS ground staff by the National Curator, Mr. Godfrey Dabrera, this morning.

The rewards were awarded jointly by the Asian Cricket Council and Sri Lanka Cricket, with each institution contributing US$25,000.

News

Man killed after hospital wall collapses

Published

5 hours ago

December 6, 2023

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A father of one lost his life after he was crushed under a wall that collapsed at the Henwala Divisional Hospital in Kadugannawa.

The wall had collapsed when workers were preparing the foundation to construct a new wall, says Mr. Indika Ranaweera, Assistant Director of the Kandy District Disaster Management Centre.

The man who was crushed to death has been identified as a 32-year-old named Ranjith Abeyratne who is a father of one.
The remains were moved to the Henawala Hospital in Kadugannawa, and the Kadugannawa Police are investigating the incident.

News

Earthslip blocks upcountry railway tracks again

Published

5 hours ago

December 6, 2023

editor

Train operations on the upcountry line have been disrupted due to an earthslip which occurred around 4.00pm today (Dec. 06) between Ohiya and Idalgashinna railway stations, amidst the heavy rains in the area.

Sri Lanka Railways said that trains plying to Badulla will be terminated at Ohiya railway stations until the tracks are cleared.