News

Indian swimmer dies while swimming from SL to India

Published

12 months ago

April 23, 2024

editor

Indian swimmer dies while swimming from SL to IndiaA 78-year-old man, Gopal Rao, of Bengaluru, Karnataka, died of a heart attack while he was swimming from Talaimannar in Sri Lanka to the Dhanushkodi islet in Rameswaram, T.N., on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

Mr. Rao was part of a group of 31 swimmers who held a relay swimming event from Sri Lanka to India through the Palk Strait. The swimmers had left Rameswaram by boat, and had gone to Sri Lanka on April 22. At 12.10 a.m. on April 23, they began swimming from Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka towards Dhanushkodi.

Gopal Rao, believed to have been the third swimmer on the row, began feeling uneasy and complained of chest pains at 3.10 a.m. He was immediately helped to get into the boat that was accompanying the swimmers. The doctor attending on him however, subsequently declared that he was dead.

As a mark of respect, all the other swimmers cancelled the relay event and reached Dhanushkodi islet by boat.

The body has been sent for a post-mortem to the Rameswaram Government Hospital. The Rameswaram Town police have registered a case.

It is said that the group of swimmers had obtained all necessary clearances from both the Indian and Sri Lankan governments for the event.

(thehindu.com)

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

News

LG polls : postal voting dates revised

Published

2 hours ago

April 17, 2025

editor

The Elections Commission today (April 17) announced that the dates for postal voting of the upcoming Local Government elections, have been revised.

Making a special statement, Chairman of the Elections Commission R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that postal voting will take place on April 24, 25, 28 and 29.

Postal voting was earlier scheduled for April 22, 23, 24, 28 and 29.

Mr. Rathnayake also said that poll cards for all 339 local bodies were handed over to the Postal Department yesterday (April 16) distribution has already commenced.

Noting that distribution of poll cards will take place until April 29, he said that the public are requested to inquire from the relevant post office if they do not receive poll cards by then.

News

NTC receives 187 complaints on New Year bus services

Published

2 hours ago

April 17, 2025

editor

The National Transport Commission (NTC) has received 187 complaints over bus services during the recent New Year period.

NTC Director General Nayomi Jayawardena says that 63 of these complaints, made through the 1955 hotline, were related to bus operators not charging the approved fares.

She added that investigations into these complaints would be conducted once the New Year festivities conclude.

News

18 candidates arrested for flouting election laws

Published

3 hours ago

April 17, 2025

editor

18 candidates contesting the 2025 Local Government (LG) Election have been arrested over election-related complaints during the period from March 03 – April 16.

According to a statement issued by the Police Media Division, 62 political party supporters and 14 vehicles have been taken into police custody during this period.

Meanwhile, 38 criminal complaints related to the LG Election and 138 complaints of election law violations have also been reported.