News

Fmr. MP who fired shots in the air, arrested

Published

3 months ago

June 14, 2023

editor

An investigation has been initiated into an incident where a former MP of Kalutara district had fired gunshots into the air.

The former MP – Mr. P.D. Abayaratne, who is the Horana organizer of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, had done so to scare a group of people.

Horana police says that Mr. Abayaratne has been arrested and his 9mm type firearm has been seized with 03 live bullets. He is to be produced before the Horana Magistrate Court.

According to the police, Mr. Abayaratne had gone to inspect a tea cultivation owned by him. He had fired shots into the air after a heated exchange of words with a group of persons who had trespassed on the land which had escalated to a level where one trespasser had attempted to attack the regional politician with an axe.

Police say that Mr. Abayaratne had fired two shots into the air and that investigations have revealed that he does possess a legal permit for the firearm.

News

Number of rabies deaths on the rise

Published

2 hours ago

September 21, 2023

editor

The Ministry of Health said that the number of people who have died from rabies has increased in the last few years.

Dr. Heshan Guruge, medical officer of the Anti-Rabies Division, said that the lack of knowledge about rabies as well as the bites of animals other than dogs have led to the increase in these deaths.

Dr. Guruge expressed these views while attending a discussion held yesterday (20) at the Health Promotion Bureau in conjunction with the World Rabies Day on September 28.

“When studying the human deaths that happened in the last few years due to rabies, we can see that a number of animals other than dogs have bit them. In some cases, it is not even possible to know who the animal is. Several people who had passed out after being drunk had been bitten by some animal. After a few days, the symptoms of rabies develop. Several such incidents were reported in the last two or three years. Proper first aid should be given in case of any animal bite. Wash the wound with soap and water. If you have alcohol at home, an iodine solution like betadine, surgical spirit, or an antiseptic liquid like hydrogen peroxide, you can use it. Then go to a hospital. If we do this, we can eliminate rabies from Sri Lanka,” he said.

Don’t get closer to new pets for two weeks

Meanwhile, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana, community specialist of the Epidemiology Unit, said that 12 people have died due to rabies in 2023 so far.

He said that there is a risk of contracting rabies from the bites of all mammals.

The Anti-rabies Unit said that 25 to 30 people die from rabies every year.

The Epidemiology Unit requested the people not to get closer to pets such as dogs and cats for 14 days after bringing them home.

Arrangements should be made to vaccine the dogs against rabies before a period of four weeks has passed.

When bitten by a dog, the area should be washed and cleaned with soap for ten minutes, and after that it is important to seek medical treatment immediately.