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Thieves cause Rs.6mn in damages to Kelani Bridge & Rs.200mn to E03

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The reports that copper wires and nails worth more than Rs.280 million have been removed from the newly constructed Golden Gate Kalyani built on loan assistance received from Japan is false, Road Development Authority (RDA) Director General L. V. S. Weerakoon said.

He said that there were many false reports circulating in the media that there has been a loss of Rs.280 million due to the nails of the New Kelani Bridge being removed, and that it is unsafe to use the bridge. 

“The truth is that some people who entered the New Kelani Bridge and the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway (E03) without permission have caused damage. However, there has been no theft of the nails of the Kelani Bridge. The nails fixed there can only be removed with special equipment. However, there has been damages worth Rs. 6 million caused to the boards under the bridge, electrical cables connected to security cameras, GI pipes, etc,”

Rs.200 million loss to E03

“It has been reported that a cable in a 13 km-long section of the Katunayake Expressway has been cut in several places. The damage is estimated at Rs.200 million. Necessary steps have been taken in this regard.”

“After conducting several rounds of discussions with the Inspector General of Police, a special police unit has been installed to protect the Kelani Bridge. The investigative teams have managed to uncover important facts about the places where the stolen parts were sold and about the people who sold these items. Several people have been arrested for allegedly damaging the expressway. Special security arrangements are being followed in this regard. Last week, the National Security Council chaired by the President also discussed this matter. It was advised to prepare a special plan for the security of such places with the support of external security services as required in addition to the security provided by the police.”

“Many such incidents have been reported during the period when the electricity supply was restricted from time to time in the past. However, this information was not disclosed to the external parties sooner as it may have hampered the investigations carried out by the security forces. Accordingly, I can confirm that the nails of the Kelani Bridge have not been removed. All necessary security arrangements are being implemented to prevent such acts of vandalism in the future,” he said.

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Names of Mayors and Chairpersons of several LG bodies gazetted

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A gazette extraordinary has been issued containing the names of Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairpersons, and Vice-Chairpersons of several local government institutions.

The names have been gazetted based on recommendations sent to the National Election by political parties and independents groups that secured a majority in local government bodies at the recently concluded Local Government (LG) election.    

Accordingly, the Election Commission has taken steps to publish the names from among the political parties and independent groups that secured a majority at the Local Government election held recently.

The names of the elected and nominated members for the respective local authorities, following the Local Government election were also published in the government gazette based on the respective administrative districts.

As per the gazette notification issued by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government on February 17, 2025, the term of office of local government bodies is scheduled to commence on June 2, 2025

පළාත් පාලන ආයතනවල සභාපතිවරුන්ගේ නම් ඇතුළත් ගැසට් පත්‍රය නිකුත් කෙරේ by poornima

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Weather Alert: Showers to ease in Southwest, strong winds forecast in North

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Prevailing showery condition in the southwestern part of the island is expected to reduced gradually from today (01st)

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Aluthgamage and Fernando assigned printing work in prison

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Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando, sentenced this week to jail for 20 and 25 years, respectively, have been assigned duties in the printing section at the Welikada prison, sources said.

Both of them are being held together away from the main section of the prison’s ‘chapel’ section, where prisoners serving life sentences and those convicted of murder and rape are held. The prison’s printing section prints its own documentation.

Prison sources said that in placing them in relevant wards to serve their jail term, the authorities had taken into consideration the security of the two convicts, as they might have had political enemies.

Mr Aluthgamage was handed a 20-year term of rigorous imprisonment, while Mr Fernando was given a 25-year term of rigorous imprisonment by a High Court trial-at-bar after being found guilty of causing a Rs 53 million loss to the state.

They were accused of importing carrom boards and checkers boards through Sathosa during the 2015 presidential elections and distributing them to clubs.

Their lawyers said yesterday they were awaiting the certified copy of the judgement to prepare the appeal papers. The appeal will be considered by the Supreme Court.

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

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