18 candidates contesting the 2025 Local Government (LG) Election have been arrested over election-related complaints during the period from March 03 – April 16.

According to a statement issued by the Police Media Division, 62 political party supporters and 14 vehicles have been taken into police custody during this period.

Meanwhile, 38 criminal complaints related to the LG Election and 138 complaints of election law violations have also been reported.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has today (April 17) announced that steps will be taken soon to resume ferry services between Mannar and Rameswaram.

Speaking during an election rally in Mannar, he said discussions have already begun with the Indian government in this regard.

The President also pledged to release lands seized during the war, reopen closed roads, and address land issues involving the Forest Department, enabling people to reclaim their lands and resume cultivations.

He has also said that steps will be taken to provide Aswesuma benefits to 400,000 new families from June this year.

The President further said that the government also hopes to connect Mannar and Puttalam through an alternative and new approach, through a road currently under construction. He added that discussions have been held on environmental concerns.

A 16-year old student had tragically died while preparing a ‘greased pole’ for  New Year celebrations in the Amugoda area, Pitigala, Galle.

The boy had died while he was on a ladder, applying grease on 40-foot pole for the seasonal game –  ‘Lissana Gahe Negeema’ (Climbing the greased pole).

He had died upon admission to the Elpitiya Base Hospital.

According to reports, the boy had been awaiting the results of the GCE Ordinary Level Examinations.

The postmortem examination will be conducted at the Elpitiya Base Hospital, while the Pitigala Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.

(Source : Lankadeepa)