News

Thoppigala bulldozered!

Published

3 weeks ago

September 4, 2023

editor

Environmentalists and representatives of local farmers’ organizations claim a group of 30 persons are using bulldozers to flatten the forest cover and areas of archeological value in the reserves of Thoppigala,Uthuchenai and Vadamunai.

‘Lankadeepa’ reports that around 1,500-acre area in these three reserves has been destroyed by them.

Noting that the group has been clearing the land day and night under the guise of starting paddy farms, the group has also been making firearms to kill animals for a wild meat racket, while felling many huge, valuable trees.

Residents have stated that wild animals including elephants have started to enter villages as a result of this.

They also say that many areas of archeological value have also been destroyed.

Noting that these racketeers are under the protection of certain politicians representing the districts of Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa, residents have also alleged that their complaints and pleas to the Forest Department, Divisional Secretariats have fallen on deaf ears.

Speaking to ‘Lankadeepa’, Residential Business Manager of Mahaweli B Zone – Mr. Sugath Weerasinghe has said that these lands did not fall under the Mahaweli areas but are under the purview of the Welikanda and Kiran Divisional Secretariats.

He has added that measures will be taken to look into the matter.

However, Welikanda Divisional Secretary – Ms. H. Nisha has said that the lands being destroyed did not fall under her secretariat.

(Lankadeepa)

News

Fmr. SDIG gets 5-yr. jail term

Published

2 hours ago

September 25, 2023

editor

The Ratnapura High Court has sentenced former Senior DIG Lalith Jayasinghe for five-year imprisonment for intimidating Kahawatte OIC not to arrest MP Premalal Jayasekera over a shooting incident.

Ratnapura High Court also ordered the convict to pay a fine of Rs. 20,000.

The shooting incident took place during the 2015 Presidential election campaign.

News

Notice on issuing revenue licenses in WP

Published

5 hours ago

September 25, 2023

editor

The Department of Motor Traffic has decided to temporarily suspend the issuing of revenue licenses in the Western Province due to a system update.

According to the department, the services will be unavailable from this Wednesday (September 27) to next Monday (October 02).

The Motor Traffic Department said in a statement that vehicles of which revenue licenses are expiring from Tuesday, September 26 can be renewed until October 10, without fines.

Meanwhile, the online service for revenue licenses was temporarily suspended from midnight yesterday (September 24) and will remain so until Friday, October 06.

The department added that the temporary service suspension was due to an update on the system maintained by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka.

News

CID ordered to hand over Schaffter’s remains to family

Published

5 hours ago

September 25, 2023

editor

The Colombo Additional Magistrate has ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to hand over the remains of late businessman Dinesh Schaffter to his family as postmortem examinations have been concluded.

The specialist doctors’ committee appointed to compile a report on Schaffter’s death had informed the courts that the relevant investigation activities have been concluded, and that the remains of the late businessman can be released.

Furthermore, Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya, also pointed out that the five-member expert committee headed by Prof. Asela Mendis, which was appointed by the court to compile a report on Schaffter’s death has informed the court that their judicial investigations have been completed.

Accordingly, the Additional Magistrate, who stated that the expert committee has requested the court to issue an order for the release of Schaffter’s remains, ordered the CID to hand over the body to his family under the supervision of Prof. Clifford Perera and Judicial Medical Officer P.R. Ruwanpura.

Later, the case was also ordered to be recalled on October 09, 2023.

(Source : adaderana.lk)