News

Vavuniya Prison closed due to spread of disease

Published

2 years ago

August 1, 2023

editor

The prison authorities have decided yesterday (31) to close down the Vavuniya Prison until August 15 with immediate effect.

The prison has been closed on the advice of the health authorities after six inmates of the prison contracted a disease similar to smallpox and several other suspected patients were found.

All the inmates in the prison have been given necessary treatment and medicines for smallpox and all the inmates have also been vaccinated.

Health authorities said if it’s smallpox, it can be contracted from a foreigner even though it has been eradicated from the country.

The authorities said that they will conduct extensive investigations to identify the disease.

The health authorities of Vavuniya have visited the prison and observed the situation. They have given instructions to the prison officials who said that the situation could aggravate due to the presence of a large number of inmates.

A prison official said that several requests were made to reduce the number of inmates or to improve the facilities of the prison due to insufficient space, but there was no positive response from the authorities.

Source – lankasara

News

“Reports of Wijepala – Nissanka meeting, fake”

Published

10 hours ago

April 18, 2025

editor

The Public Security Ministry has denied media reports claiming that the Public Security minister – Ananda Wijepala had met Nissanka Senadhipathi.

The Minister’s media secretary had clarified this in a letter to Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya.
Adding that the neither the Minister or a representative had ever met Senadhipathi as claimed, the letter calls for proper investigations into the fake news and legal action against those responsible.

News

Special allowance for policemen on duty at ‘Siri Dalada Vandanawa’

Published

14 hours ago

April 18, 2025

editor

A special transport allowance and a combined allowance will be provided to police personnel assigned to ensure the safety of devotees attending the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Siri Dalada Vandanawa) in Kandy, the police said.

The measure has been taken over the instructions of the Acting IGP, in consideration of the fact that these police personnel will be on continuous day and night duty for over 10 days, away from their regular stations and incurring additional personal expenses.

News

Ravi K’s Bill to repeal Online Safety Act, gazetted

Published

14 hours ago

April 18, 2025

editor

The Bill to repeal the Online Safety Act, No. 9 of 2024, and other regulations concerning the Act, has been gazetted.

The Online Safety Bill was passed by a majority vote in Parliament on Jan. 24, 2024.

The Bill that has been gazetted was submitted by opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake.

On Feb. 28, 2025, MP Karunanayake submitted a private member’s Bill to the Parliament Secretary-General, aiming to repeal the controversial Online Safety Act.