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Police officer involved in “Harak Kata’s” escape bid arrested

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A police constable has been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting notorious underworld figure “Harak Kata’s” recent escape bid at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The officer, who was taken into custody by the CID, will be handed over to the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) for further probes.

However, the other police constable, who was identified as “Harak Kata’s” aide, is still at large.

On September 10, “Harak Kata”, who was being interrogated by eight CID officers, had reportedly laced the officers’ tea with poison, with the help of the Police Constable in question, during his questioning.

He had subsequently requested to go to the washroom, and was escorted out of the interrogation room with his aide – a police constable, and another sub-inspector attached to the Police Special Task Force (STF), assigned for the suspect’s protection.

Although his handcuffs were removed at that point, the underworld kingpin had then walked out of the washroom acting as if he was still cuffed and had then attempted to snatch the STF officer’s firearm leading to a scuffle.

A group of other officers were quick to arrive at the scene, upon hearing the commotion and detained “Harak Kata” in their custody.

Amidst the altercation, the constable in question had reportedly fled the CID premises and remains in hiding to date.

On 18 September, the mother and brother-in-law of this constable were arrested. The police also obtained a 90-day detention to interrogate them.

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Special measles vaccination program from today

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The special measles vaccination launched by the Ministry of Health will commence from today (Nov. 04) until November 09.

The programme is planned to be held in 12 selected districts.

Although measles has been eradicated in Sri Lanka, the MoH has taken measures to launch the vaccination programme after cases were reported in several areas last year.

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Milco sales revenue tops Rs. 2 Bn in October

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Milco has achieved a monthly sales target of Rs.2 billion in October, marking the highest revenue recorded within a single month.

Livestock Ministry Secretary Nishantha Wickramasinghe stated that reaching this target within  a month after the new government took office is a positive achievement.

However, he also noted that Milco currently has an outstanding bank loan of Rs.1.8 billion with an annual interest payment of Rs.240 million.

He mentioned that while the previous government had decided to sell Milco due to prolonged losses, the new government has plans to turn it into a profitable entity.  Milco’s current Chairman, Hemajeeva Gotabhaya, reported that achieving the Rs.2 billion revenue in October was possible despite numerous challenges, including a severe labour shortage.

He highlighted that when he assumed the chairmanship, Milco was in poor financial condition and payments to dairy farmers were delayed by around two weeks. Additionally, the internal audit division had been inactive for years, leading to a lack of proper auditing and account verification. Gotabhaya emphasised that he and the board of directors are working to transform Milco into a profitable organisation. He added that plans are in place to ensure that Milco products are made available to consumers countrywide in the necessary quantities.

(dailynews.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Spain’s king and queen pelted with mud in flood-hit Valencia

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The King and Queen of Spain have been pelted with mud and other objects by angry protesters during a visit to flood-hit Valencia.

Shouts of “murderer” and “shame” were directed at the royal couple, Spain’s prime minister and other leaders as they walked through the town of Paiporta – one of the worst-affected in the region.

With mud on their faces and clothes, King Felipe and Queen Letizia were later seen consoling members of the crowd.

More than 200 people were killed in the floods, the worst in Spain for decades. Emergency workers are continuing to comb through underground car parks and tunnels in the hope of finding survivors and recovering bodies.

There has been anger at a perceived lack of warning and insufficient support from authorities after the floods.

Footage showed the king making his way down a pedestrian street, before his bodyguards and police were suddenly overwhelmed by a surge of protesters, hurling insults and screaming.

They struggled to maintain a protective ring around the monarch, as some of the protesters threw mud and objects.

The king engaged with several, even embracing them.

Images showed mud on the faces and clothes of the king, queen and their entourage, who held umbrellas over the monarch as they departed.

Queen Letizia in tears on visit to flood-hit Valencia

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the head of Valencian regional government, Carlos Mazón, joined the royal couple on the visit, but were swiftly evacuated as the crowd grew increasingly hostile.

Spanish media reports that objects were hurled at Sánchez, while footage verified by the BBC appears to show stones being thrown at his car as he was driven away.

After he left, the crowd chanted: “Where is Sánchez?”

“I’m just 16,” one boy, Pau, told the BBC through tears. “We’re helping – and the leaders do nothing. People are still dying. I can’t stand this anymore.”

Another woman said: “They left us to die. We’ve lost everything: our businesses, our homes, our dreams.”

The civil guard and mounted officers were later seen attempting to disperse the angry crowd.

The royal entourage had intended to travel on to Chiva, another town in the Valencia province badly impacted by the flooding, but that visit has since been postponed.

The king later said he understood the “anger and frustration” of the protestors in a video posted on the royal household’s Instagram account.

The mayor of Paiporta, Maribel Albalat, told the BBC she was shocked by the violence, but that she understood “the frustration and desperation of the people”.

Juan Bordera, a member of the Valencian parliament, called the king’s visit “a very bad decision”.

Authorities “didn’t listen to any warnings,” Mr Bordera told the BBC.

“It’s logical that the people are angry, it’s logical that the people didn’t understand why this visit is so urgent,” he added.

On Saturday, Sánchez ordered 10,000 more troops, police officers and civil guards to the area.

He said the deployment was Spain’s largest in peacetime. But he added that he was aware the response was “not enough” and acknowledged “severe problems and shortages”.

The flooding began on Tuesday, following a period of intense rainfall. Floodwaters quickly caused bridges to collapse and enveloped towns in thick mud.

Many communities were cut off, left without access to water, food, electricity and other basic services.

On Sunday, the death toll from the flooding rose to 217, with many more feared missing.

Almost all of the deaths confirmed so far have been in the Valencia region on the Mediterranean coast.

Some areas have been particularly devastated. Authorities in Paiporta, the town visited today by the royal delegation, have reported at least 62 deaths.

Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET issued its highest level of alert on Sunday for parts of southern Valencia – including the cities of Alzira, Cullera and Gandia.

Intense storms forecast to pass the area will not be on the scale of Tuesday’s, the agency said, with 90mm (3.45 inches) of rainfall expected.

(BBC News)

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