News

No action taken against suspects of Yala incident: Environmentalists

Published

5 months ago

October 26, 2022

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Environmentalists have alleged that no legal action has been taken against the people who are accused of causing distress to the animals at the Yala National Park by entering zone number two on October 22 in 35 jeeps.

It was reported that Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera’s son Pasan is also among the accused.

Meanwhile, Manoj Vidyaratne, the caretaker of Yala National Park, said five vehicles entered zone number two in the morning along with three trackers.

“Another 35 jeeps arrived in the evening and they were given separate permits. We do not have 35 guides for 35 vehicles. Therefore, five vehicles were given to one guide. The people who came in these jeeps have taken other routes inside the park. Seven people from among the visitors have evaded the guides and have gone on their own way and driven vehicles in a way that harasses the animals.”

“It was the off-road team called “Iron Man” that came to Yala. They are residents of different parts of the country. We cannot turn down any park visitors. However, the issue is that the people went inside and caused destruction. Warrants will be issued to the owners of the seven vehicles through the Department of Motor Traffic,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking to the media, “Iron Man” organization’s owner Sam Chandrasoma said that he was also in the Yala National Park on the day of this incident but neither he nor his organization had anything to do with it.

He said that the company’s stickers are requested for the vehicles that have obtained services from his company, and that he cannot make a definite statement whether there were vehicles with those stickers inside the park.

Meanwhile, internal sources of the Wildlife Conservation Department told ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ that a powerful Cabinet Minister has informed the Director General of Wildlife Conservation to allow these jeeps to enter the National Park. The people who arrived in these jeeps have behaved in a way that causes distress to the animals.

It was reported that the authorities of the Wildlife Conservation Department had also learnt about this incident through social media a day after the incident.

It has been revealed that a group of members of the Wellawaya Motor Vehicle Association and the Nikaweratiya Poultry Farm Owners Association were among the perpetrators.

Wildlife Conservation Director General Chandana Suriyabandara said, “A group has gone inside the park and caused destruction. I informed the officials to file a case. These vehicles have been formally entered into the park but the issue is about their behavior inside the park. They have not entered the park by force.”

Mr. Nayanaka Ranwella, an environmentalist commenting on the incident, said that these perpetrators can be imprisoned for 7 years and imposed a fine of Rs.200,000 each.

News

New school term starts tomorrow!

Published

5 mins ago

March 26, 2023

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The first phase of the first term of the year 2023 in government and government approved private schools is scheduled to start tomorrow (27).

The semester will be held from tomorrow to April 4th.

Schools will then be closed for the New Year holiday from April 5th to 16th.

News

Accomplice of ’’Kudu Salindu’’ arrested

Published

2 hours ago

March 26, 2023

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A suspect running the drug network of the main shooter of “Kudu Salindu” has been arrested, the Special Task force said today (March 25).

Officers of STF organized Crime III had conducted a raid on the Panadura-Horana road where a 33 year old man was in possession of 10kg of cannabis and Rs. 100,000 was arrested.

The suspect had been transporting it on a motorbike in the guise of a food delivery.

The suspect was revealed to be the person who handled the drug network in Panadura and the financial affairs of the main shooter of Underworld mobster Kudu Salindu, “Beliatta Rana”, who is currently in Dubai.

In the past three years, the STF has seized 217kg 328g of heroin, 47kg 47g of ice, 4722kg of Cannabis, 70461 illegal drugs and 11023 drugs pills have been seized.

News

Mississippi tornado kills 26 and brings devastation to US state

Published

2 hours ago

March 26, 2023

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Search and rescue efforts are continuing in Mississippi after a deadly tornado hit the US state.

At least 25 people have died in the state, and one in Alabama, with dozens more left injured by Friday’s tornado.

The storms devastated several rural towns, with Rolling Fork in western Sharkey County almost completely wiped out.

Mississippi state governor Tate Reeves has declared a state of emergency to help respond to the damage.

US President Joe Biden also described the images coming out of Mississippi as “heartbreaking”, and said the federal government would “do everything we can to help”.

“We will be there as long as it takes. We will work together to deliver the support you need to recover,” he said in a statement.

More storms are predicted to hit parts of Alabama and Georgia early on Sunday and potentially bring large hail.

The storm system which ripped through Mississippi produced a tornado that has caused catastrophic damage to communities across the state. The biggest twister obliterated dozens of buildings in several small towns, flipping cars on their sides and toppling power lines.

The small town of Rolling Fork, located in Sharkey County in western Mississippi, has essentially been wiped out, according to its mayor.

“My city is gone,” Mayor Eldridge Walker told CNN. “But we’re resilient and we’re going to come back.”

He added that lots of families in his community were “affected and hurting”, and all he could see was “devastation”.

Rolling Fork residents said windows were blown out of the back of their homes.

Local resident Brandy Showah told CNN: “I’ve never seen anything like this… This was a very great small town, and now it’s gone.”

Drone footage of Rolling Fork, shared with the BBC, shows the devastation inflicted on the town. Trucks and trees are shown piled on top of buildings, with detritus scattered over large areas.