News

Health emergency declared at Galle Prison

Published

1 year ago

August 22, 2023

editor

A health emergency has been declared inside the Galle Prison, in the wake of a bacterial outbreak.

Speaking to media, Deputy Director General of Health Services – Dr. G. Wijesuriya has said that initial investigations have revealed the recent spread of an illness among the inmates had been mostly revealed to be an outbreak of the Meningococcal bacteria.

Meanwhile, spokesperson of the Prisons Department – Chandana Ekanayake has said that a special medical team from the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital has been dispatched to the Galle Prison.

At the present,16 inmates are ill and 09 of them are being treated at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital while the other 07 are being treated at the Prisons Hospital, the Prisons Spokesman has added.

Two deaths were reported and the postmortems were done yesterday (21) with the doctors coming to an open conclusion.

Dr. Wijesuriya further notes that measures are being taken to ascertain how the bacteria had reached the prison. He said that there had been a report of a former inmate being admitted to the Karapitiya a week after his release and subsequently died. “We are trying to ascertain whether he was the primary source,” Dr. Wijesuriya said, adding that the members of this demised individual are also being tested.

He also said that health experts have also recommended that all inmates and staff at the prison be given antibiotic shots.

Dr. Wijesuriya also said that all measures will be taken to prevent the spread of this bacteria among the society.

Producing inmates in court, temporarily halted

Meanwhile, producing inmates at the Galle prison for court proceedings has been suspended for two weeks.

Prison authorities say that measures would be taken to produce prisoners for court proceedings virtually if required.

News

PNB seize over Rs. 280 mn. in biggest drug money bust

Published

9 hours ago

January 17, 2025

editor

The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) has seized a stash of currency notes amounting Rs. 283 million.

It is said that this is the largest amount of cash ever confiscated from a drug trafficker in Sri Lanka.

The banknotes were recovered from a residence in Kurunegala during a search operation. 18 grams of ‘Ice’ (Crystal Methamphetamine), a double-cab, and a van were also seized during the raid.
According to police, the money allegedly belongs to a suspect who is currently in prison.

The suspect was presented before the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court and the Magistrate has granted permission for authorities to detain and further interrogate him.

News

Energy Ministry differs on electricity tariffs (Update)

Published

9 hours ago

January 17, 2025

editor

Hours after the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) announced a 20% average reduction in electricity tariffs effective from midnight today (Jan. 17), the Energy Ministry has stated that the tariff revision would be implemented only upon receiving approval from the Finance Ministry.

In a media release, the Ministry has said that the proposals should be first officially received and thereafter they would need Finance Ministry advice.

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(Previous News : January 17, 2025 3.05pm)

Electricity tariffs slashed by 20%

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has decided to slash electricity tariffs by an overall average of 20 percent.

The tariff reduction will affect all consumer categories and will come into effect from midnight today (Jan. 17).

The PUCSL’s proposed reductions are as follows;

Domestic tariff – reduced by 20%
Places of worship – reduce by 21%
Hotels – reduced by 31%
Industries – reduced by 30%
Government Institutions – reduced by 11%

Electricity tariffs reduction (Domestic)

0-30 units reduced by 29%
31-60 by 28%
61-90 by 19%
91-180 by 18%
More than 180 by 19%

BIZ

SL – China currency swap agreement, renewed

Published

9 hours ago

January 17, 2025

editor

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the People’s Bank of China, in December 2024, successfully renewed the Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement signed in 2021, for a period of another three (03) years, under the terms and conditions stipulated in the original agreement.

The CNY 10 billion (approximately USD 1.4 billion) currency swap facility reflects the financial cooperation between China and Sri Lanka.

Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, signed the agreement on behalf of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, while Mr. Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People’s Bank of China, signed on behalf of the People’s Bank of China.

(CBSL)