News

Railways propose SMS alerts to prevent elephant-train collisions

Published

8 hours ago

July 9, 2025

editor

The Department of Railways has requested the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) to implement an SMS alert system for residents living in areas where wild elephants frequently cross railway tracks.

The formal request made by General Manager of Railways – Dhammika Jayasundara on July 07, aims to reduce collisions between trains and wild elephants – incidents that pose serious safety risks to the wild elephant population and passengers as well as cause extensive damage to railway property.

It further notes that residents in such areas have been encouraged to send information about elephant movements to the Railway Department’s 1971 hotline.

However, Mr. Jayasundara has noted that this measure alone is not sufficient and stressed the timely need for a system that immediately sends out SMS alerts to all mobile phone users in affected zones.

As the initial phase, the Railways Department has requested the TRCSL to send an SMS to all mobile subscribers islandwide, informing them that they can report elephant crossings by texting the 1971 hotline.

The proposal also calls for extra SMS reminders to mobile users in the elephant crossing areas. These residents are to be reminded weekly for a month, and then monthly for a year.

The proposal additionally calls to send an awareness SMS message to all mobile users who enter these zones.

News

Pillayan had prior knowledge of Easter attacks – Minister (Video)

Published

2 hours ago

July 9, 2025

editor

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala says that investigations have revealed that Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias “Pilleyan”, had prior knowledge of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

Making a special statement in Parliament today (July 09), the minister pointed out that Pilleyan was in custody at the Batticaloa Prison when the attacks took place, and that strong evidence exists that he had prior knowledge of the attacks.

(Video : Voicetube)

News

Student held under PTA for nine months to be produced in court

Published

2 hours ago

July 9, 2025

editor

The case of a 21-year-old student detained for nearly nine months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will be taken up in court today (July 9).

Mohamed Rifai Mohamed Suhail, an aviation student from Mawanella, was arrested in October 2024 after posting a video on Instagram showing the Israeli flag being trampled, BBC Sinhala reported.

He was initially taken into custody by Dehiwala Police near the Israeli consular office for failing to carry his national identity card and later released when the document was produced in court.

However, Suhail was re-arrested and remanded under the PTA in connection with the Instagram video, despite the court previously releasing him without bail. His lawyer alleges that no formal charges have been filed and no evidence has been presented by police to support the detention.

The prolonged incarceration has drawn criticism from rights groups, legal experts, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, which has been formally notified. Meanwhile, Suhail’s family has lodged a complaint, calling for his immediate release.

(dailymirror.lk)

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

News

Injured Wanindu ruled out of Bangladesh T20I series

Published

3 hours ago

July 9, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka’s T20I captain Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh after suffering a hamstring injury to his right leg.

The injury occurred while he was batting during the third and final ODI of the recently concluded series.

Following a medical evaluation, Hasaranga will return to Colombo to undergo rehabilitation at Sri Lanka Cricket’s High Performance Centre.

Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed that no replacement will be added to the T20I squad in his absence.

(dailynews.lk)

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