News

Civil Defence officer arrested over shooting of Perahera elephant

Published

1 year ago

September 30, 2023

editor

A Civil Defence Department officer attached to the Mapakada Wewa Wildlife Regional Office has been arrested in connection with the shooting of a female elephant that had participated in the annual Randoli Perahera of Mahiyanganaya Rajamaha Viharaya.

Police spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said a statement is being recorded from the said officer.

The incident has taken place at around 3:30 a.m. this morning.

It was reported that following the procession, the female elephant had been tied to a tree on the banks of the Mahaweli River.

The mahout, who said he was having breakfast when the incident happened, accused the officer of shooting the elephant despite people telling him that ‘Sita’ was not a wild elephant.

The officer in question had shot ‘Sita’ after mistaking it for a wild elephant that had crossed the river.

The injured 48-year-old elephant was later treated by veterinary surgeons of the Wildlife Conservation Department.

In a statement, the Director General of the Wildlife Conservation Department, M.G.C. Sooriyabandara had clarified that one of the wildlife officers at the site had mistakenly fired rubber bullets at the female elephant ‘Sita’ while trying to scare off the wild elephants in the vicinity.

News

CC approves Acting IGP appointment (Update)

Published

4 hours ago

October 8, 2024

editor

The Constitutional Council today (Oct. 08) approved the appointment of Senior DIG Priyantha Weerasuriya as the Acting Inspector General of Police.

Previous news( October 8th 2024, 2:45 pm)

CC to decide today on Actg. IGP’s appointment

The Constitutional Council (CC) is to reach a final decision today (Oct. 08) over the appointment of Acting Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya.

According to regulations, if the Acting IGP serves for more than 14 days, the approval of the Constitutional Council is required.

The meeting chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena will also include the new Prime Minister – Harini Amarasuriya, and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

News

Warrant issued to arrest Upul Tharanga

Published

5 hours ago

October 8, 2024

editor

The Matale High Court has issued a warrant against Upul Tharanga, Chairman of the Selection Committee at Sri Lanka Cricket, for failing to appear in court today (Oct. 08).

The warrant pertains to a match-fixing case that Tharanga himself had filed a complaint over related to the Legends League tournament played in Kandy.

Upul Tharanga is currently in the US playing in a franchise cricket tournament.

News

Vasu’s DLF decides to back NPP in general election

Published

5 hours ago

October 8, 2024

editor

The Democratic Left Front (Prajathanthravadi Vamanshika Peramuna) has officially announced its support for the National People’s Power (NPP) in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

The party’s leader, former MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara, confirmed this decision during a press conference held today (Oct. 08).

Noting that the DLF’s efforts to align with the NPP, Vasudeva has said : “We have worked to build a relationship with the National People’s Power and contest this election together. Even during the presidential election, we tried to cooperate. Although it came down to a matter of policy for the NPP, we are now offering our full support to the National People’s Power.”

“We are committed to standing with the National People’s Power as we head into this election. We must say our supporters that the vote you give us is a vote for the NPP”, he added.