News

Schoolbus given by Bandula stops plying after just 1 day

Published

11 months ago

May 12, 2023

editor

Residents of Polonnaruwa alleged that the SLTB bus allocated to Polonnaruwa depot to transport children from remote villages in Polonnaruwa has been stopped.

Although the bus was given at a ceremony held in the village on May 9 with the participation of Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana, it has been stopped plying the next day.

Out of 500 buses received under the loan facility from India, 16 buses were given to the Polonnaruwa Depot. One out of the 16 buses was reserved for school children in the remote villages of Galthalawa in Welikanda, Rideepokuna, Aluthwewa, Ginidamana, Nelumwewa and Borawewa.

The parents said that although the children were transported to school by that bus on May 10, the children were not brought back home by the same bus and they had to come by other buses.

Meanwhile, Polonnaruwa SLTB Depot Superintendent D.A. Premasiri has told the media that it is not possible to run the bus in question due to the lack of employees, and that the bus will be operated again in the future.

SLPP MP Jagath Samarawickremane, who was present at the ceremony to handover the bus, told the media that eight out of the 16 buses were not plying due to the lack of drivers.

(Source – Aruna)

News

Easter Sunday bombings : Rs. 295 mn. paid as compensation

Published

9 hours ago

April 20, 2024

editor

The annual reports of the Office of Reparations have revealed that over Rs. 295 million (295,499,069) have been paid as compensation to victims and property damage of the Sunday Easter bombings.

Under this, Rs. 273,747,000 have been paid as compensation for 719 victims while Rs. 21,752,069 have been paid as compensation for property damages.

News

350 medical specialists have left SL

Published

9 hours ago

April 20, 2024

editor

A study conducted by a group of specialist doctors at the Ministry of Health has revealed that 350 specialists have left the country during recent times.

Many of them have left for countries such as UK and Australia. According to a spokesperson of the ministry, economic hardships have been cited as one of the main reasons for them to do so.
Doctors suggest that the government should provide an immediate solution to this issue.

Commenting on the issue, Secretary of the Health Ministry – Dr. Palitha Mahipala says that there is still a shortage of anesthetists and pediatricians after most of them had left the country.

However, some who have gone for training, are returning after their training is complete, he adds.

Meanwhile, sources in the Health sector also say that over 200 nurses too have gone overseas, but new recruits have enabled to prevent hospital operations from continuing without hindrance.

(Source : Lankadeepa)

News

Details of SL recruits in Russian military, sought

Published

10 hours ago

April 20, 2024

editor

Sri Lanka has sought a report from Russian authorities on details of Sri Lankan military recruits and how many of them have died during the Russian-Ukraine conflict, the ‘Aruna’ newspaper reports.

According to a directive by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Russia has forwarded this request to the Russian Ministry of Defence.

Previously, the Human Trafficking, Human Smuggling and Maritime Crime Investigation Division (CID) arrested a retired major and an employment agent, identified as leaders of an organized scheme that recruited retired military personnel as mercenaries for the Russian army.

The Defence Ministry in Sri Lanka has urged the Tri Force commanders to brief Tri Force personnel not to fall for such rackets.

(Source : Aruna)