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Ferry service to be launched between India & SL

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Steps have been taken to launch a passenger ferry service between South India and Kankesanthurai, Trincomalee and Colombo Ports in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said.

A special discussion was held at the ministry’s auditorium yesterday (13) under the chairmanship of Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva in this regard.

Minister de Silva said that passenger ferry services between Kankesanthurai and Pondicherry would be commenced in January as the first step of this programme and the approval of the Indian Government has already been received.

The minister said that since a large number of Indians are engaged in business activities in the Jaffna peninsula, the country will be able to earn foreign exchange by launching the passenger ferry services, and it will also be a great relief to the Sri Lankan pilgrims visiting Bodh Gaya.

The ship owners have meanwhile pointed out that the existing infrastructure facilities at the ports should be improved before launching the ferry services.

Accordingly, Minister de Silva has instructed the Ministry Secretary to take necessary steps to improve infrastructure facilities at the ports related to Customs, Immigration and Emigration activities and to proceed according to the government’s approved procurement process.

The ship owners who participated in the discussion had said that ferries, which can carry 300 or 400 passengers at a time, take about 3 and half hours to complete one journey.

The ferry owners have said US$ 60 would be charged per passenger for one journey and they can carry 100 kg of luggage.

Meanwhile, those who were present at the meeting had commented how this ferry service will take less time to complete its journey than the time it takes to visit Badulla, which is Minister de Silva’s constituency, from Colombo.

Generally it takes around 8 hours to travel from Colombo to Badulla by bus.

Secretary of the Ministry K.D.S. Ruwanchandra, Controller General of Immigration Department I.S.H.J. Ilukpitiya, Commander Senaka Wahala representing the Navy and a group of passenger vessel owners also participated in the meeting.

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Power supply restored in 80% of affected areas – CEB

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The power supply in 80% of the affected areas has been restored, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) reported.

Efforts to restore power in all remaining areas are also currently underway, CEB Media Spokesman Engineer Noel Priyantha said.

Earlier this evening (09 Dec.), major power outages were reported across the island due to a breakdown in the transmission line from Kotmale to Biyagama.

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

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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

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Youth abducted in Matara and shot

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A youth, abducted from Matara by a group claiming to be police officers was shot and left behind with injuries in Habaraduwa last night (8), Police said.

The persons had arrived in a car and taken him claiming he was wanted for an investigation.

He had been shot on the leg and injured.

He is currently receiving treatment at hospital.

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