News

“India’s first voter” dies

Published

4 months ago

November 6, 2022

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The man dubbed “India’s first voter” has died at the age of 105.

Shyam Saran Negi is thought to have been the first person to cast a ballot when India held its first general election after gaining independence from British rule.

Mr Negi has voted in every election since then.

The centenarian had cast his ballot just three days ago before his death on Saturday, in the assembly elections for his state of Himachal Pradesh.

The retired teacher is thought to be the first person to vote in an independent India because his state opened polling booths five months early in 1951 for the 1952 election to avoid heavy snow.

The result was a landslide victory for the Indian National Congress and Jawaharlal Nehru became India’s first democratically elected prime minister, following nearly 100 years of British colonial rule between 1848 and 1947.

Earlier this week, officials from the Electoral Commission laid out a red carpet for Mr Negi when he cast his postal ballot ahead of the 12 November election.

Indian media reported it was the first time Mr Negi had not attended a polling booth, opting to post his ballot instead due to ill-health.

In 2014, Mr Negi was made a brand ambassador for the Electoral Commission in a bid to encourage voting and starred in a Google video encouraging people to vote in the year’s general election.

As he posted his papers on Wednesday, India’s The Tribute newspaper reported that Mr Negi made a statement urging young people to vote.

“Youth should come forward to participate in the democratic process as it is not only our right but also our duty to participate in the elections by exercising our franchise,” he was quoted as saying.

Speaking at an election rally on Saturday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Mr Negi. The government has said he will be cremated with full state honours at his village in Kalpa.

(BBC News)

News

12 Indian fishermen released on strict bail conditions

Published

3 hours ago

March 20, 2023

editor

Point Pedro Magistrate Ponnathurai Krishanthan has ordered ordered the release of 12 Indian fishermen who were arrested and remanded for fishing in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka.

The magistrate had ordered the release of the concerned fishermen under a suspended sentence of 1 1/2 – 10 years and forbade them from entering the Sri Lankan waters again.

The fishermen, who were released on strict conditions, are to be handed over to the Indian coastguard security officials through the Indian Consulate General in Jaffna with the help of the Navy.

(Source : Lankadeepa)

News

Closed area of ’18 Wanguwa’ reopened

Published

4 hours ago

March 20, 2023

editor

The stretch of the Kandy-Mahiyangana Road which was closed near the second bend of the 18 Hairpin Bends (18 Wanguwa) has been re-opened for traffic.

Police had announced last evening (March 19) that the 2nd hairpin bend of the ‘Dahaata Wanguwa’ on the Kandy-Mahiyangana road, was temporarily closed off due to an earth slip and rocks falling onto the road.

However, the stretch of road has now been reopened for traffic movement after clearing the debri.

The decision to reopen the road was taken after a joint site inspection by the Kandy district Disaster Management Centre, the NBRO and the RDA, says Director of the district DMC – Mr. Deshapriya Bandara.

However, he urged motorists to be cautious as there is a risk of further earthslips during heavy rain.

News

Kudu Salindu’s petition : AG given time to file objections

Published

4 hours ago

March 20, 2023

editor

The Court of Appeal today (March 20) granted time for the Attorney General (AG) to submit limited objections regarding the petition filed by the mother of Salindu Malshika Gunaratne alias “Kudu Salindu”.

She is requesting to ensure the safety of her son, who is currently detained under the custody of the CID.

Accordingly, the court has also ordered the Attorney General to file the relevant limited objections before April 04, 2023.

The petition was taken up before a judge bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice A. Marikkar.