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Thieves break into Saman Devala!

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A group of thieves had broken into the Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman Devala’s storage of offerings and stolen several hundred thousands worth of currency notes that were kept in sacks.

The storage is built attached to the official residence of the Basnayake Nilame, and covered with a metal door.

However, it has been revealed that the thieves have entered the storage through the roof, ceiling and iron mesh cover.

The theft had taken place in a background where there is a police post and 60 CCTV cameras operating 24 hours a day.

The Basnayaka Nilame said that he had made several written requests to the Ratnapura Police to deploy a police officer to provide security to the storage of offerings.

The offerings received to five tills are separated into notes and coins under the supervision of the officers of the Buddhist Affairs Department and the Basnayake Nilame.

The money is being taken to a state bank by its officials. The theft had taken place when the sacks of offerings were stored in the storage for nearly three days pending the arrival of bank officials.

The thieves had reportedly taken only the sacks of notes.

Basnayake Nilame Migara Jayasundara Bandara said the thieves had previously tried to enter the storage on the 4th and 10th of October last year.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the officers who were on duty at the police post at the Devala had been transferred following the theft.

Villagers who commented on this theft said that it was a result of mistakes by the administrators.

“It has been 6 to 7 months since 60 cameras were installed. They have not been maintained well. The authorities should look into these. The police didn’t do anything though they had a police post. At this rate, the thieves will end up taking the entire Saman Devala.”

“The suspects must be arrested. There are ancient ornaments inside the temple. Thieves will steal these as well if authorities fail to take proper measures.”

“A number of thefts took place in the past, but no one was arrested. Are they waiting for God Saman to punish them?.”

(Ada Derana)

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Lohan Ratwatte transferred to prison hospital 

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Former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte, who was arrested and remanded on charges of using a luxury car illegally imported from abroad and assembled in Sri Lanka, has been transferred to the prison hospital.

He was arrested by Mirihana Police on October 31 in Katugastota, Kandy.

Ratwatte was subsequently produced before the Acting Magistrate of Nugegoda from the Mirihana Police Station, and was ordered to be remanded until November 7.

However, the Acting Magistrate granted permission for Ratwatte to receive treatment at the prison hospital.

Police said that the former state minister was arrested in Kandy over an incident of discovering an unregistered car at his wife’s house in the Mirihana area of Nugegoda.

The car without registered number plates was found on October 26, 2024, according to police.

Police had found the luxury car in question during an inspection carried out based on information received by the police headquarters that there is a luxury car without number plates in a three-storied house in the Embuldeniya area in Mirihana, belonging to Shashi Prabha Ratwatte, the wife of former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte.

During the investigation, both Ratwatte and his wife had explained to the police that his mother-in-law resides in the said house. They had claimed that the car had been brought there three weeks ago by Ratwatte’s private secretary, who was recently found dead with gunshot injuries in the Katugastota area of Kandy.

(AdaDerana)
(This story, originally published by AdaDerana has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Bell 412 helicopter on standby for KDU bus accident patients

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The Defence Secretary has directed the Sri Lanka Air Force to keep a Bell 412 helicopter ready at the Diyatalawa Air Force Base for the potential airlift of patients injured in the recent bus accident to Colombo for further treatment if needed.

The accident, which occurred at Ambagas Junction on the Dunhinda-Badulla road around 7:45 AM on November 1, involved a bus carrying 42 people from the Kotelawala Defence University’s (KDU) Southern Campus. Among the group were 36 students from the 39th KDU Intake, three lecturers, an instructor, a senior military officer, and the bus driver.

Two female students, residents of Kurunegala and Nivithigala, tragically lost their lives. 

The remaining 40 were admitted to the Badulla General Hospital, with seven in the ICU and one in critical condition.

KDU’s Vice-Chancellor confirmed that arrangements for the funerals will be made with university support. 

Preliminary findings suggest a mechanical fault may have caused the accident, with a detailed investigation underway.

The Ministry of Defence has expressed condolences to the victims’ families and commended the prompt rescue efforts of local residents, as well as the swift response by Dr. Palitha Rajapaksa and the hospital staff.

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(Previous News : November 01, 2024 11.28 am)

2 dead in Badulla bus tragedy

Two persons have been reported dead after a bus carrying a group of university students had toppled across the road at Dunhinda Road in Badulla this morning (Nov. 01).

The accident had occurred between the third and fourth kilometer posts on the Badulla-Mahiyanganaya main road, near the Dunhinda access road, after the bus collided with a bund.

According to reports, the bus was carrying a group of students from the Southern Campus of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), who had been on a field trip.

Over 30 persons injured had been rushed to the Badulla Hospital, reports say.

(Pic : Accident 1st)

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Doctors at Karapitiya Hospital begin 24-hour strike over internal threats

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Doctors at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle have commenced a 24-hour token strike, according to the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA).

GMOA Treasurer Dr. Ubhaya Bandara Warakagoda stated that the strike was initiated in protest over threats made by a doctor against several other doctors of the hospital.

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